Qualification details
Title
New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Fish, Horses, Companion
Animals, and Lifestyle Block Animals) (Level 3)
Version
1
Qualification type
Certificate
Level
3
Credits
70
NZSCED
061103
Health>Veterinary Studies>Veterinary Assisting
Qualification developer
Primary ITO
Next review
December 2018
Approval date
December 2014
Strategic purpose statement
The purpose of this qualification is to provide individuals with the
skills, knowledge and attributes to maintain the welfare of
animals in the companion, recreation, or lifestyle block animal
sectors.
This qualification is targeted at individuals who are, or are
intending to be, caring for animals in non-production contexts, for
example: pet stores, animal rescue centres, pet groomers,
boarding and training facilities, lifestyle blocks, and animal
recreation businesses.
The community will benefit from a qualification that ensures
individuals in a wide range of animal care roles can care for the
welfare of animals within welfare standards and practices.
To achieve this qualification graduates will be able to carry out
animal care tasks relevant to one of the following contexts:
Companion Animals, Fish, Horses, Lifestyle Block Animals.
Outcome Statement
Graduates will be capable of operating under limited supervision.
Graduate profile
Education pathway
Graduates of the qualification will be able to:
-
comply with all regulatory requirements and relevant
industry codes of practice for animal care
-
respond to normal and abnormal health and behaviour in
animals
-
assist with the day to day care of animals.
This qualification may build on the National Certificate in
Educational Achievement (Level 2) [Ref: 0973] with Vocational
Pathways Primary Industry endorsement, or the New Zealand
Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2) [Ref: 2218].
Graduates may progress on to the New Zealand Certificate in
Animal Management (Level 4) with strands in Canine Behaviour
and Training, Captive Wild Animals, and Companion Animals
[Ref: 2489].
Qualification Reference 2487
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Page 1 of 5
Employment pathway
Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed in a
range of businesses associated with the care of animals.
This may include people working as assistants in pet stores,
animal rescue centres, pet grooming, animal day care,
greyhound racing kennels, animal breeders, animal training,
boarding facilities, aquarium services, horse recreation
businesses, and lifestyle block owners.
Qualification specifications
Qualification award
This qualification may be awarded by the Primary ITO as the
qualification developer and the industry training organisation
arranging training leading to the qualification under section 5 of
the Industry Training Act and Apprenticeships Act 1992.
This qualification may also be awarded by an education
organisation which has, under section 249 of the Education Act
1989, had a programme approved by the New Zealand
Qualifications Authority (NZQA) or which has been accredited,
under section 250, to provide an approved programme.
The formal document certifying the award of this qualification will
display the NZQF logo and may also include the name and/or
logo of the awarding education organisation.
Evidence requirements for
assuring consistency
All TEOs either arranging training or delivering programmes that
lead to the award of the qualification are required to participate in
a consistency process scheduled by NZQA.
New requirements for assuring consistency of graduate
outcomes are being developed. Please refer to the Guidelines for
approval of New Zealand qualifications for listing on the New
Zealand Qualifications Framework available at
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers-partners/consistencyofgraduate-outcomes/
The purpose of the managing consistency event is to:

review evidence associated with achievement of qualification
outcomes at the level of the qualification.

identify issues or opportunities associated with outcome
achievement.
The review process may include:

comparison of similar evidence across education
organisations

consultation with graduates and employers (including visits)

consideration of internal qualityassurance processes and
external reviews.
Further information can be found on the NZQA website.
Credit transfer and recognition of
prior learning arrangements
Qualification Reference 2487
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Education organisations must have policies and procedures in
place for managing credit transfer, and assessing recognition of
prior learning and recognition of current competency. These
policies and procedures, and information about associated fees,
must be available to the candidate prior to enrolment.
Page 2 of 5
To facilitate credit transfer education organisations must clearly
demonstrate the equivalency or comparability between each of
the outcomes in the graduate profile, and the assessment
components of their programmes.
Minimum standard of
achievement and standards for
grade endorsements
The minimum standard of achievement required for award of
the qualification will be the achievement of all graduate
outcomes in the graduate profile through successful completion
of an NZQA approved programme.
Entry requirements (including
prerequisites to meet regulatory
body or legislative requirements)
There are no mandatory prerequisites for this qualification but it
is recommended that NCEA Level 1, with strengths from the
Vocational Pathway Primary Industries sector, be a minimum.
Qualification conditions
Overarching conditions relating to the qualification
Conditions for programme
structure
Nil
Conditions for programme
context
This qualification must be completed in one of the following
contexts: fish, horses, companion animals, or lifestyle block
animals.
The Fish and Horses contexts require in-depth knowledge of a
single animal species and are intended for those who are
specialising in the care and handling of these species.
The Companion Animal and Lifestyle Block Animal contexts
require general knowledge about the care and handling of
multiple animal species and are intended for those caring for the
day to day needs of a range of animals.
The Companion Animal context must include learning and
assessment of general skills and knowledge relating to the care
and handling of a minimum of three species commonly kept as
domestic pets, or assistance animals, including but not limited to:
cats, dogs, birds, rabbits rodents, reptiles, amphibians,
The Lifestyle Animal context must include learning and
assessment of general skills and knowledge relating to the care
and handling of a minimum of three species commonly found on
a lifestyle or peri-urban properties in a non-commercial context ,
including but not limited to: sheep, cattle, alpacas, pigs, goats,
emu, ostriches.
Programmes registered with NZQA which lead to the Companion
Animals and Lifestyle Block Animals contexts of this qualification
must state the three (3) animal species covered in the
programme.
For the fish or horse contexts the learning and assessment must
relate to the comprehensive and specific care and handling of
whichever is relevant, fish or horses.
Where learners require the skills and knowledge recognised by
more than one context they may repeat the qualification provided
the programme includes new learning and assessment.
Qualification Reference 2487
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
Page 3 of 5
Other conditions
Compliance with animal welfare standards, cultural awareness
and sensitivity, health and safety requirements, and sustainable
practices, applies across all outcomes.
All programmes leading to this qualification must have numeracy
and literacy embedded in the learning and assessment.
Specific conditions relating to the Graduate profile
Qualification outcomes
1
Comply with all regulatory
requirements and relevant
industry codes of practice for
animal care
Credits 5
2
3
Conditions
Mandatory
or Optional
Programmes should include the following topics
in the appropriate context:
Mandatory

codes of practice for welfare

legal requirements

local by-laws

ethics.
Respond to normal and
abnormal health and
behaviour in animals
Programmes should include the following topics
in the appropriate context:

signs of normal and abnormal behaviour
Credits 15

emergency procedures

signs of ill health

basic health procedures

animal first aid.
Assist with the day-to-day
care of animals
Credits 50
Programmes may include the following topics
appropriate to the animal species stipulated in
the programme:

care to maintain a positive state of welfare

zoonosis

breeds

anatomy and physiology

husbandry

nutrition

housing

transportation

handling and hygiene

cleaning and grooming

equipment and machinery.
Mandatory
Optional
Transition information
Replacement information
This qualifications replaces the National Certificate in Greyhound Care and
Training (Kennel Hand) (Level 3) [Ref: 1477] and the National Certificate in
Equine (Care and Handling) [Ref: 1540].
Qualification Reference 2487
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
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Learners currently enrolled in programmes leading to the replaced qualifications may either complete the
requirements, or transfer their results to this replacement qualification.
The last date for entry into programmes leading to the replaced qualifications is 31 December 2016. The
last date for award of the replaced qualification is 31 December 2018.
It is the intention of Primary ITO that no existing trainee should be disadvantaged by these transition
arrangements. Any person who considers they have been disadvantaged may appeal to the Primary ITO,
PO Box 10383, The Terrace, Wellington 6143. Email standards@primaryito.ac.nz.
Qualification Reference 2487
© New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2014
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