Animal Care
Opportunities in the Animal Care sector are immense and the work is rewarding when you have a love for animals. Our qualifications equip you with the practical skills to manage and care for animals skilfully.
Our animal care qualifications will provide you with the perfect starting point if you want to work with animals in non-clinical roles or use this as a pathway into veterinary nursing. These programmes offer hands-on learning in companion animal husbandry, welfare, behaviour, and handling, preparing you for a rewarding career in the animal care industry.
With a strong focus on practical skills, you'll gain experience in settings such as boarding kennels, catteries, animal shelters, pet shops, and grooming facilities. If you're interested in pet grooming, our specialised training will equip you with the skills needed to work in the increasingly popular grooming industry.
Our flexible study options allow you to learn from anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand, with a blend of online coursework, practical placements and in-person training. Whether you're looking to start your career in animal care or use this as a stepping stone into veterinary nursing, our programmes will give you the skills and confidence to take the next step.
Animal Care qualifications
Animal Healthcare and Farming
This programme is great for testing interest in this area as it'll give you a taste of the wider range of animal-related qualifications available and allow you to get a feel for tertiary study before attempting a higher-level qualification. It's also a great first step if you want to enter an animal-related profession, such as SPCA work, pet shop work or kennel and cattery animal care.Duration
19 Weeks Full-time
1 Year Part-time
Delivery
Online with a work placement
Location
Online
Career potential
Animal Education, Animal Trainer, Kennel and Cattery Management, Pet Grooming, SPCA Work, Wildlife Management
Animal Healthcare and Farming
Designed to create a training pathway for those wanting a rewarding career as an Animal Healthcare Assistant, this new programme recognises the role as distinct from a Veterinary Nurse or Veterinary Technician.Duration
1 Year Full-time
2 Years Part-time
Delivery
Flexible facilitated
Location
Distance
Career potential
Animal Healthcare Assistant
Animal Healthcare and Farming
Gain the skills and knowledge you need to become an entry-level dog and cat groomer. You'll need to organise access to a pet groomer so you can do a 240-hour work placement, which can be started after you complete the first course in the programme.Duration
1 Year Full-time
2 Years Part-time
Delivery
Flexible facilitated, Online
Location
Online with block courses, Dunedin
Career potential
Pet Grooming
Animal Healthcare and Farming
This programme is designed to provide a clear, industry-relevant pathway for those wishing to start a career as a Rural Animal Veterinary Technician. As a graduate you will work directly and indirectly with veterinarians in rural practice to meet the healthcare needs of our primary production animals.Duration
2 Years Full-time
4 Years Part-time
Delivery
Flexible facilitated
Location
Distance
Career potential
Rural Animal Technician
Study Veterinary Nursing
Our programmes focus on promoting the health, husbandry and welfare of animals.
Student Story
Chris Neville
After graduating, Chris now supervises at a dog-care facility, interacting, playing with and monitoring the dogs in his care.
Specialise in Avian Wildlife
Our specialist avian wildlife courses are tailored to qualified veterinary nurses and vets.
Discover our Te Kura Oraka Kararehe | School of Animal Health
Get a taste of what it's like to study this field at Otago Polytechnic:
- See all programmes offered
- Meet your lecturers and find out what makes them leaders in their chosen area
- Hear about our latest news and events
- Learn first-hand what it’s like to study with us from real students and graduates
- Read about our postgraduate research and projects
Contact us
If you’re not sure what to study and would like some guidance, we’re here to help. Feel free to chat to us directly about any questions you may have.
