Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
This course is an ideal foundation for careers in the pet and animal care industry, with a special emphasis on setting up your own business. Perfect for entrepreneurial students with aspirations to work in, or start their own, animal care business, including Kennels/Catteries, Pet shops, Dog Groomers, Animal-Assisted therapies to Canine First Responders.
You explore the animal industry in a science-based, hands-on and stimulating course covering animal handling, science, welfare and animal grooming. Students learn the practical skills, knowledge and experience required to work directly with animals, including in managing small mammals. You will also learn business skills required for successful participation in industry.
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
-
Animal Anatomy & Physiology
Animal Grooming
Animal Welfare
Small Animal Husbandry and Housing
Business Administration and Skills
Start your own business
Communications
Work Experience
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
| QQI Code |
| 5M2768 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
- Animal Care Roles
- Animal Welfare Organisations
- Boarding Kennels
- Catteries
- Animal Parks and Zoos
- Grooming Parlours
- Large & Small Animal Clinics
- Pet Shops
- Stable Yards
- Animal Assisted Therapy