Level 2 Technical Certificate in Animal Care 2025-26

Love everything about animals, and fancy making a career out of caring for them? This is definitely the course for you!

Taught at the incredible animal care centre at our Houghall campus in Durham, this course teaches you to work with a number of small mammals and exotics, as well as farm livestock and dogs too.

There are many diverse businesses and opportunities within this sector, such as pet shops, animal boarding establishments, animal sanctuaries, animal training (in entertainment, education, working animals such as uniformed/security dogs), pet animal grooming, animal welfare charities, animal care services (such as animal hydrotherapy, dog walkers/sitters), zoos and farm/wildlife parks (including wildlife rehabilitation), animal visitor attractions and animal related public services (e.g. dog/animal wardens).

This qualification is suitable if you are 16 years old or over. You may or may not have any previous knowledge or experience in animal care. You will gain an understanding of the skills and knowledge that are important when you are working with animals, or progressing to further learning and training in this area.

• Maintain animal health and welfare
• Animal feeding and accommodation
• Animal behaviour and handling
• Working in the animal care industry
• Health and safety for the land-based industries

You will work with a range of species including small mammals, exotics, farm livestock and dogs.

• Animal behaviour, care, grooming, handler, nutrition, science, training, welfare
• Ecologist
• Education
• Farming
• Laboratory Scientist
• Nature Reserve Ranger
• Pet Retail
• Zoologist

... and so much more!

Progression options following successful completion of this course may enable you to progress into an apprenticeship in animal care or the Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Animal Management course.

Direct Entry
You will need to have either GCSE maths or English at a grade 4, plus 3 other GCSE subjects at a grade Grade 3 or above.
The course is a mixture of written work and practical assessments. Due to the practical nature of the compulsory course assessments, you must be physically able to carry out practical tasks by yourself after proper training.

Progressive Entry
Level 1 Diploma Land-Based Studies qualification, achieved at Merit, and have complete a successful external work placement and meet the maths & English requirements described above.
Learners who do not meet the maths & English may be offered an alternative qualification.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

East Durham College's Houghall Campus is committed to providing a supportive and welcoming environment for all our students. The campus, some of which is over 80 years old, has seen over £40m invested in new facilities over recent years. However, there are still some aspects of the site which are not fully accessible and would cause an issue for those with limited mobility or wheelchair users and due to the nature of the site, adjustments may not always be reasonable at this stage. The College is committed to further investment and improvements of the site, as we work towards ensuring the campus is as accessible as possible. If you have limited mobility or are a wheelchair user and wish to undertake a course at the Houghall Campus, please contact Student Services on 0191 375 4710 in the first instance to discuss your needs and options.

You will be assessed throughout the course with written assignments and practical assessments.

September 2025

1 Year, full time.

This full time study programme courses may also be available to study on a part-time basis if you are aged 18 or over on 31st August. Please check with Student Services for more details.