- Duration
1 year
- Attendance
- 3 days per week
- Location
- Plumpton College
Course Overview
Do you love animals? Are you looking to work with them in a cattery, kennel, pet shop or rescue centre?
If so, we’ve got a fantastic course for you at Plumpton where you’ll learn about household pets, exotics and large animals.
You can look forward to loads of practical hands-on experience with our different animals here on-site, plus learning all the theory you’ll need to be successful in your future role.
This course is designed to give you some experience of animal care, working with household pets, exotics, and large animals. You will spend one day a week on work experience, with three or four days at College divided between practical and theory sessions.
The course is ideal for those wishing to develop a career in kennels, catteries, pet shops and rescue centres, or to progress onto the Subsidiary Diploma or Extended Diploma in Animal Management for those with Distinction grades.
Work Experience
Study programmes include a minimum of compulsory work experience hours achieved through one day a week or block placements. The amount of hours required is dependent on the study programme.
Careers Hub
We offer impartial careers guidance to all of our students, email careers@plumpton.ac.uk to explore your next step or to book an appointment – we’re here to help.
Qualifications Gained
- BTEC Level 2 Diploma or First Certificate in Animal Care
- College award, Functional Skills or GCSEs in English & maths
Entry Requirements
First Award in Animal Care
- You’ll need to have achieved 2 GCSEs between Grade 9-3 (previous grade structure A*-D)
- Successful completion of a Level 1 course in another area, having studied English and Maths at GCSE
- Mature students without the above requirements will be considered
EITHER:
Technical Diploma in Animal Care
- You’ll need to have achieved 3 GCSEs between Grade 9-3 (previous grade structure A*-D) including either English or Maths at a Grade 9-4 Successful completion of a Level 2 course in another area
- Achieving a merit on the Level 2 First Award
- Mature students without the above requirements will be considered
What is it like to be a student on this course?
Bursaries
Financial support could be available to you depending on your household income, eligibility criteria, and level of study. A bursary, which is money given directly by the Government, could help fund bus travel, accommodation, course equipment, college meals, or educational trips.
Course Fees
Students aged 16-18 on 31st August in the year of starting the course do not pay tuition fees.
Students aged 19-23 studying their Level 1, 2 or first Level 3 may be entitled to tuition fee waiver depending on criteria eligibility.
Students aged 24+ who are studying a second Level 3 course or aged 24+ who are studying their first Level 3 course will have to pay tuition fees, depending on the course.
Students on low income who can prove they earn less than £25,000 (from September 2024); are unemployed; or receive state benefits could be entitled to a tuition fee waiver.
All students pay a standard facility fee of £150 to use communal, non-educational facilities.
Material fees apply to Floristry, Blacksmithing and Metalwork, Agricultural Engineering, and Motor Vehicle students, which contribute to quality resources and equipment for their studies.
Equipment & PPE
Students on a 14-16, Level 1, 2, 3, or Foundation Learning course may be required to purchase equipment such as a uniform, PPE, or kit before starting their course. Material fees are applicable depending depending on the course studied.
Work Experience
Work experience enhances your studies and is an important part of your course. It ensures you leave college ready for the world of work. It is compulsory to undertake an element of work experience when studying a Level 1, 2, or 3 course.
Course Dates
- Start Date
- 1 September 2025
- End Date
- 18 June 2026
- Start Date
- 1 September 2025
- End Date
- 18 June 2026
Other courses that may interest you
- Animal Care City & Guilds Level 1 Introductory Diploma Land-based Studies - Animal Care
- Animal Care and Management - Animal Management T Level
- Animal Care and Management - Animal Science T Level
- Animal Management BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma
- Equine and Animal Care (Nov Start) BTEC Level 1 Certificate in Land Based Studies