Understanding of Pet Health to the Next Level

Course Code: VAG035

Course Duration: 600 hours

• Professional Development
• Extended Learning
• Flexible - choose electives, self paced study (fast or slow from wherever suits you).

This courses has operated for around 2 decades, and been revised and updated every year or two, The teaching staff and course developers are experts with university training and decades of industry experience.

The course immerses you in learning about animal health for around 600 hours and after that experience you cannot avoid being far more aware of the opportunities and capable of meeting those opportunities in the animal health industry.

What You Study

You need to study four compulsory modules (400 hours in total) then move on to complete two other electives (a further 200 hours).

When you complete all six selected modules you will have achieved the Certificate in Pet Health Care.

Each module is taken from our large course catalogue, and can be studied on its own as a short course leading to a Statement of Attainment for that module.

Compulsory Modules

Animal Health Care (VAG100)

This module should be undertaken first. It is a course that was developed originally, to cover the basic training typically undertaken by veterinary assistants, and as such, provides a sound foundation upon which you can build, through the five modules that follow it.

Animal Diseases (BAG219)

This module provides you with a broad understanding of the many types of health issues that can affect animals of all types. Understanding what can go wrong with pet health, is the first stem toward understanding how to prevent problems ever arising.

Animal Feed and Nutrition (Animal Husbandry III BAG202)

This module teaches you about the different types of foods eaten by animals, and helps you to understand the differing needs that different types of animals have.

Natural Health Care for Animals (BAG218)

This module expands your understanding of preventative health care as well as natural therapies that are sometimes used in the care of pets.

Elective Modules

Choose two of the following:

Animal Welfare (BAG224)

This module can provide a broad based understanding of the scope, nature and operation of animal welfare services. This is an area of animal care  where some graduates may finds employment opportunities.

Genetics (BSC207)

This module is useful in this certificate because this is an area of increasing importance in the care and management of animals. Advancements in genetics since the start of the 21st century, have had an increasingly important impact upon the way we think about and respond to issues of animal care and welfare. In all likelihood, a fundamental understanding of genetics will become of increasing importance and having studied this module may give you a very real advantage as we move into the future.

Animal Behaviour (BAG203)

 This module can provide a fundamental understanding of the way in which animals think, and how they behave. For anyone handling animals on a daily basis, the studies undertaken here, when combined with hands on experience, will enable you to function in a workplace, with much greater confidence and efficiency. 

Other options:
Other modules may be accepted as elective alternatives to either Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, Applied Genetics or Animal Behaviour.

Why learning with ACS is more than just a Qualification

Some courses are simply about ticking the boxes on a checklist of what you are supposed to know. This Advanced Certificate is different.

• We are always focused on reinforcing learning.
• We teach in ways that have an impact on how you remember. 
• We want you to succeed when you graduate.

A Learning Led Approach

Education today is often more concerned with box ticking and assessment, and not enough about actual learning. This course is different and is more concerned with helping you to learn and retain what you have learned.

Our approach has been crafted by experts in education and psychology collaborating with animal experts.

The knowledge you retain after you finish your course is finished, and the ability to keep learning and applying what you know to new circumstances, are what will determine your future success.

Learn From A Team Of Animal Experts

We treat every student as the unique individual that they are, with only one goal - to improve your capacity to work with pets.

To do this we provide the support of a whole team of experts standing behind our pet and animal courses - updating courses, supporting you as a student, writing textbooks and blogs, and developing new courses. 

These are people who have studied animal and veterinary sciences at universities, kept and cared for their own pets, worked in pet, veterinary and animal industries, and together they bring hundreds of years of practical experience to the services we offer our students.

What Next?

There are endless opportunities for those with a passion and persistence to succeed with pets. Your goals may be personal, professional or a mix of both, but whatever the case this course will help provide the tools you will need to achieve your aspirations.