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Animal care courses
10 animal care qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 10
on this page
- Providers
- 111
across all qualifications
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The animal care qualifications
10 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Certificates and diplomas
Certificate III in Equine Studies
4 providersView qualification →Certificate II in Animal Care
49 providersThis is where most people start if they want to work with animals.
Certificate IIView qualification →Certificate III in Animal Care Services
32 providersThis qualification prepares you to look after animals in places like boarding kennels, day care, shelters, breeding facilities and grooming salons, and to handle the day to day running of those settings.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate III in Racing (Trackwork Rider)
3 providersThis qualification trains you to ride thoroughbreds in trackwork, the early morning gallops and pacework that keep a racehorse fit between races.
Certificate IIIView qualification →Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training
9 providersThis qualification suits people who already have hands-on experience caring for animals and want to move into training or behaviour work.
Certificate IVView qualification →Certificate IV in Farriery
4 providersThis trade qualification trains you to look after horses' feet: trimming hooves, making and fitting shoes, and changing how a shoe is shaped or positioned to alter the way a horse stands and moves.
Certificate IVView qualification →Certificate IV in Racing (Racehorse Trainer)
3 providersThis is the qualification behind a licensed racehorse training business, in either the thoroughbred or harness code.
Certificate IVView qualification →Diploma of Animal Technology
3 providersThis diploma prepares people to work at a senior technician or supervisory level in animal technology, mainly in biomedical research, teaching and production facilities where animals are bred and kept for study.
DiplomaView qualification →