National Code: ACM30122
Name: Certificate III in Animal Care Services
Duration: 18 months part-time
Nationally Recognised Training: Yes
Traineeships: Yes for eligible NSW residents and workers
Government funding: Smart and Skilled Government Funding is available. You must meet the eligibility requirements – residents who live or work in NSW.
Delivery: Virtual classes

Course Description

This qualification describes the skills and knowledge required to work in a broad range of roles in animal care facilities and services, including boarding/day care, breeding, shelters/holding centres, pet grooming, pet sitting and other animal businesses.

Individuals in these roles perform a range of animal care tasks under broad direction which involve discretion and judgement in handling animals, selecting and operating tools and equipment, coordinating resources and problem solving. They are required to take responsibility for their own work including, carrying out assigned tasks, compliance with animal welfare, organising processes, solving problems and working to schedules.

The qualification allows for specialisation in:

Animal Care
Pet Grooming
Customer Service

What are the entry requirements?

There are no academic prerequisites. However, it is valuable to have completed Certificate II in Animal Care before undertaking this course. You will also need to complete a pre-enrolment review interview and a Language, Literacy & Numeracy Test (ACSF Level 2 – 4). You will also need:

Computer and Printer access (either PC or Apple Mac)
Intermediate to Advanced Computer Literacy
Internet access
Email account
Access to Microsoft Office suite of programs

Certificate III in Animal Care Services

It is strongly recommended when doing this course that you attend an Animal Care workplace one day a week throughout the duration of the course to gain practical experience whilst studying.

How is the course delivered?

This course is run via virtual Teams classes. You will join virtual classes with other students around Australia.

Our Learning Management System (LMS) is Microsoft Teams. As a student at NTM, you will have your own FREE Microsoft 365 account, giving you access to all popular products, including Teams, Word, and PowerPoint. For the duration of your course, we will provide you with an educational Microsoft account, giving FREE access to the Office 365 product family. As you will have your own account, this will save you on purchasing the Office 365 suite or a subscription. If you already have your own subscription to Office 365 or are planning on purchasing Office, remember you will get all the Office products for FREE when you enrol with NTM.

Course day and delivery time?

January 2024 | TERM 1 | THURSDAY | Online

Day: Thursdays
Mode: Online via Microsoft Teams, Virtual Classroom
Training: 1-hour per week
Time: 2.30pm to 3.30pm – NSW Eastern Daylight Savings Time
First Training Session: 25 January 2024
Holidays: NO CLASSES held on NSW gazetted School and Public holidays
Last Training Session: June 2025
Availability: Enrolments OPEN NOW!
Duration: 18-months

What are the units I am required to complete?

You need to complete 17 units for this qualification, seven core and ten elective units of competency. All course material is included in the price, including all course online resources via Teams.

Core units

ACMBEH301 Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals
ACMGEN303 Assess the welfare status of an animal
ACMGEN304 Promote positive wellbeing in self and others in animal care workplaces
ACMGEN309 Provide basic animal first aid
ACMGEN315 Communicate effectively with clients and team members
ACMINF301 Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work
ACMWHS301 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes

Elective units

ACMSPE316 Provide general care of domestic dogs

ACMSPE317 Provide general care of domestic cats

ACMGEN302 Care for young

ACMGEN310 Provide reception services for an animal care facility

BSBOPS304 Deliver and monitor a service to customers

ACMBEH302 Provide enrichment for animals

ACMGEN311 Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing

ACMGEN312 Provide nutritional requirements for animals

ACMGEN205 Source and provide information for animal care needs

ACMSUS201 Participate in environmentally sustainable practices

What is the course cost?

This course is available as a Smart and Skilled, NSW government-funded course for eligible students*. The price for the course is $0-$8,540.00 full fee, and may change depending on your eligibility for a concession or exemption or your eligibility for other funding options~.

$4,400.00* (Smart and Skilled FEE for NSW residents)
$0 Exemption ~ (please see below)
$8,540.00 Fee for service (non-subsidised cost, this is the full price of the course and for those NOT living or working in NSW)

Fee Free, Exemptions and Concessions

~ Exemption: if you have a disability, chronic health, medical or psychological condition, you may be eligible for an exemption, which means that the NSW Government will cover the full cost of the course. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders are entitled to an exemption from the course fee.
~ Concession: if you receive a Centrelink/Commonwealth means-tested payment, you may be eligible for a concession

Full fee Cost: $8,540.00 + insurance cover for volunteer work placement.

Payment plans are available at no cost, we do not use Ezy Pay or other interest and fee bearing payment plans.

You can pay via credit card or direct deposit, we do not accept cash or cheques.

How interactive and practical is the course?

Although this course is delivered using Teams virtual platform. It is practical, interactive, and engaging with other students from a variety of animal workplaces across Australia. You will have sufficient time to complete all your assessments. This course includes interesting readings and practical assessment work to be completed at home or at work. There will be written assessments, projects and case studies and video evidence as part of your assessment activities.

Pathways to further study and university

The further study pathways available to learners who undertake this qualification include:
ACM30321 – Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care
ACM40418 – Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (NTM does not offer this option)
University options will vary depending on the institution.

Note: NTM may not offer all qualifications listed above in possible pathways

Employment Pathways

The following employment pathways are available to students who complete this qualification:

animal shelters
kennels
catteries
veterinary clinics
pet shops
animal conditioning and training centres

Microsoft 365 and Teams

Our Learning Management System (LMS) is Microsoft Teams. As a student at NTM, you will have your own FREE Microsoft 365 account, giving you access to all popular products, including Teams, Word, and PowerPoint. For the duration of your course, we will provide you with an educational Microsoft account, giving FREE access to the Office 365 product family. As you will have your own account, this will save you on purchasing the Office 365 suite or a subscription. If you already have your own subscription to Office 365 or are planning on purchasing Office, remember you will get all the Office products for FREE when you enrol.

I would like to discuss the course before I enrol

Please call our learning consultants on 1300 653 501 to discuss the course. At NTM we are committed to enhancing your learning potential by providing a range of services. If you would like to speak to a qualified Career Development Practitioner before enrolling or to discuss Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) about your previous qualifications or workplace training experience, just contact our office.

To support your learning journey, we have a range of support services available including Career Development, Counselling, Disability and Adult Basic Education services. As a student of NTM, these support services are available at no extra cost.

Unique Student Identifier (USI)

From the 1 January 2015, anyone enrolling in a TAFE or Registered Training Organisation needs a Unique Student Identifier (USI). If you do not have a USI or have lost it, you can get it quickly and at no cost, at www.usi.gov.au A USI gives you access to an online account and will contain all your nationally recognised training and results from 1 January 2015 onwards.

How do I enrol?

Enrolling is easy by following the steps below.

Download the NTM Enrolment form: NTM_Animals_Enrolment form 2024_v3.4
Please email your enrolment form to [email protected]
If you have any questions or would like to speak to a consultant, please call: 1300 653 501
Once you submit your Enrolment form, our Senior Animal Trainer will call you to discuss enrolment options.

We are a 100% Australian-owned and operated company. Our headquarters is in beautiful Kiama on the South Coast of NSW. When you call NTM you will speak to a real local person, not an overseas call centre. All our teachers are located in Australia with local qualifications, experience, and training

TJ Fred

03:41 24 Apr 24

After my recent completion of Cert IV in TAE at National Training Masters, Kiama, I can gladly say it was one of the best course... experiences I've had in my time.Carly, our classroom trainer (and at times guidance counsellor), had the patience of a saint and the with her extensive knowledge, experience and fun nature made the learning a joy. She maintained a fabulous tone and helped us all collectively and individually to understand topics and assessments. The class discussions with the best. Carly's teaching style helped me to complete the course with confidence, for which I am grateful for.David and Dirk were very supportive and enthusiastic with their high amounts of SM knowledge.I highly recommend completing this course with NTM in the Kiama campus.read more

Philip Perkins

07:55 22 Apr 24

I recently completed my certificate IV in training and assessment through NTM. It was a fantastic and enjoyable experience, Carly... and David were fantastic trainers who were knowledgeable, supportive and enthusiastic at all times........I would highly recommend NTM!!!read more

Susan Reive

05:15 22 Apr 24

Have just completed CERT IV IN TAE with NTM at Kiama. Wonderful teachers. Carly and David injected enthusiasm into every lesson.... They were supportive ready to help each student with any material we were unsure of. It was a big learning curve but with such experienced teachers, made the course enjoyable.read more

Tina Cairns

05:41 21 Apr 24

I recently completed my Training and Assessment certificate with National Training Masters. I found the course location at Kiama... to be very accomodating and comfortable. The classroom environment was great, and our teacher Carly was very supportive. The assessment and presentation part of the course was well structured. Support was always available if required. All classroom participants were also friendly and the learning envirnment was very interactive and fun throughout the course.read more

Julia K

08:32 20 Apr 24

A fast-paced course (TAE) but you will get all the support you need. I liked that I needed to attend just one day a week for... face-to-face instruction, which allowed me to get on with my other life committments. Recommend.read more

Donna Phillips

06:48 20 Apr 24

I recently completed the TAE40122 course with David Liptak’s College - National Training Masters, and it was a huge learning... experience. Under the guidance of our instructor - Carly Clarke, I was able to work my way through the incredibly meaty course.Carly is patient and supportive and clearly experienced and capable. Carly was able to to address any questions or concerns our class had.NTM’s resources were comprehensive and well-structured, aiding me in my studies and making sure I had everything I needed to succeed. Additionally, the flexibility of the course allowed me to balance my studies with other commitments, with face to face classes at Kiama and online/Teams sessions.Carly Clarke went above and beyond to ensure that each of us received personalised attention and support and Dirk and David offered tutorials for those of us who needed to catch up.In conclusion, I highly recommend the TAE40122 course with National Training Masters. If you are looking to further your education, National Training Masters is the perfect choice for quality training and professional development.read more

Sharma Hansen

23:50 19 Apr 24

I had a great time completing my Cert IV in TAE at NTM Kiama. Carly and David, our instructors, were really supportive and knew... their stuff. They made sure we understood the material and were always ready to help us apply what we learned in real situations. The classes were practical and engaging. I definitely recommend NTM Kiama if you're looking to boost your skills in training and education. It was a fantastic experience thanks to the amazing staff!read more

Bharat Nepal

10:42 19 Mar 24

I had one of the most challenging yet enjoyable experiences while doing Cert IV in TAE at NTM Western Sydney. Our trainer Ms... Neelima Kaushal was most helpful, professional, and dedicated to making sure we learned. Neelima went beyond her duty to support students. Thank you so much Neelima and NTM team. Highly recommend NTM to anyone thinking about doing this course.read more

Michael Pahuta

05:10 12 Feb 24

My teacher was Adam Nabbe, and it was an awesome learning experience for me, especially coming into a field in which I was a... beginner. I found Adam to be very patient, motivating and allowed me to absorb the content rapidly. I would highly recommend Adam and the NTM team for further learning as all staff have been so helpful and friendly. Thank you NTMread more