Animal Care Diploma

Course information

Learn the basic skills to start your career working with animals on our Level 1 Animal Care course. If your GCSEs were not what you expected, this course is an ideal starting point in order to progress onto Level 2.

You will learn the basic skills and knowledge associated with animal care working with a wide range of animals including: feeding, cleaning and exercising and general care. Our campuses are also home to a large variety of animals which include bearded dragons, snakes, pigs, tortoises, rats, rabbits, donkeys, poultry and cattle.

Caring for animals can be an extremely fulfilling and rewarding career. From working in kennels and catteries to pet shops, rescue centres or sanctuaries, there is a wide range of careers available on successful completion of your course. With access to animal collections on campus you will gain the practical training you need to pursue a career in this exciting industry.

What You Will Learn

Learn the essential skills to start your career working with animals, there will be the possibility of progression to Level 2 on completion of this course. You will study how to care for small mammals, birds and farm animals, handle and feed animals, clean their accommodation and carry out basic health care.

This course includes plenty of practical hands-on sessions to build those all-important practical skills.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for external applicants and school leavers
• Two or more GCSEs at Grade 2 or above, or successful competition of Entry Level Qualification.
• Learners with relevant industry experience but no GCSEs at Grade 2 may be considered based on interview.

Entry requirements for existing learners with the Cornwall College Group
• Successful completion of previous course and, where relevant, progress in maths and/or English.

GCSE English and Maths at Grade 2 or 3 plus two additional GCSE’s or equivalent qualifications at Entry Level 3.

Work Experience

As part of your course you will be required to carry out 60 hours of internal work experience.

Assessment

A range of written and practical assessments and exams

Progression

Continue your studies on one of our full-time courses, such as Animal Care Level 2 (please see relevant entry requirements) or an Animal Care apprenticeship.

Bicton College

Bicton College

Bicton College is based in East Devon, near Exeter, and set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just two miles from the Jurassic Coast. The historic Georgian mansion, commercial farm, animal husbandry school, modern veterinary nursing building, world-class engineering and heavy plant machinery workshop, walled garden and arboretum are all set in over 200 hectares of historic parkland.

Find out more about our Bicton campus

Events

Open Event

Bicton College

Open Event at Bicton College

• 18 Jan 25
• 26 Apr 25

Bicton College

Practical Workshop – VetSkill Observed Structured Clinical Examination

• 13 Feb 25
• 8 May 25