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Animal Care · Advanced Certificate

Turn Your Passion for Animals
Into a Career in New Zealand

Learn the practical skills to work with animals in New Zealand. This comprehensive course covers everything from safe handling and nutrition to shelter operations and basic grooming. It's the knowledge you need to start a career in veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, or rescue organisations.

Free first lesson
Or enrol on the spot
Rated 5 by our students
From $25
Per Week
ICOES + CPD
Endorsed Certificate
14-Day
Money-Back Guarantee
100%
Online, Self-Paced
24/7
AI Tutor
Where this can take you

Upskill. Career or Business. Made for New Zealand.

And if you ever wanted to take it further, these are the kinds of roles it could lead to:

Animal Attendant
Animal Shelter Worker
Pet Care Assistant
Veterinary Clinic Assistant
Wildlife Carer
Animal Welfare Officer
Curriculum

What You’ll Learn.

10 modules · 100 lessons · Study at your own pace

01Welcome & IntroductionFree
02The New Zealand Animal Care Industry: Roles, Settings, and Career Paths
03Animal Classification: Understanding the Species You Will Work With
04Basic Animal Anatomy: What Is Inside and Why It Matters
05How Animal Physiology Differs Across Species
06The Animal Care Workforce: What Professional Conduct Looks Like
07Animal Welfare in New Zealand: The Basics You Need to Know
08Observation Skills: Learning to Read an Animal Quickly
09Record-Keeping in Animal Care: Why It Matters and How to Do It Well
10Introduction to Workplace Health and Safety in Animal Care
11Setting Career Goals in Animal Care: Mapping Your First Steps
Included with your course

Your 24/7 AI Tutor.

It knows where you are

Your tutor sees the lesson you are on and what you have covered, so every answer fits your progress.

Explains Until You Get It

Confused by a concept? Ask for a simpler take, a real-world example, or a quick quiz to test yourself.

There at 11pm

Study when it suits you. Your tutor is available around the clock, every day of your enrolment.

Inside this course · Your tutor
Can you explain the main law I need to know for animal welfare in New Zealand?
Of course. The key piece of legislation is the Animal Welfare Act 1999. It sets out the duties of care for anyone in charge of an animal and is the foundation for most regulations you'll encounter. It covers everything from basic needs like food and shelter to preventing unnecessary pain or distress. Would you like me to explain the 'Five Domains' model the Act often refers to?
ModernEdu
This certifies that
Charlotte Reeve
has successfully completed the
Advanced Certificate in Animal Care NZ
Issued by Modern Education New Zealand
Certificate No. ME-2026-04871
Verify at modernedu.co.nz/verify
Your certificate

Proof of What You Know.

Endorsed

Endorsed by ICOES, the International Council for Online Educational Standards, and CPD-eligible.

Verifiable online

Every certificate carries a unique number an employer or client can verify on our site in seconds.

Made to share

A printed hard copy is included with upfront enrolment, and a digital version for LinkedIn and your CV.

Student reviews

What People Are Saying.

5 average rating

Set up a plant styling business, and maintain it too

The content was clear and practical — including the set-up of a plant styling business, and ongoing maintenance too.

Emily P. · Verified student

The financial part of the business

Learning about the financial part of the business.

Kristine S. · Verified student

The first weeks are the foundation, not a warm-up

The first weeks in the home are not a warm-up phase, they are the foundation. The guidance we give owners during this window can prevent months of remedial work later, making early intervention one of the most powerful tools we have as trainers.

Gaylene D. · Verified student
What you get

Everything Included.

In this course

100 lessons across 10 modules, read, listen, or watch every one
Your 24/7 AI tutor, built into every lesson
Assessments and your ICOES-endorsed, CPD-eligible certificate
12 months access, with extensions available on request

As a Modern Edu student

Student discount on any additional course
Printed hard-copy edition of your course
More student extras on the way
How it works

Four Steps to Your Certificate.

01

Try It Free

Start lesson 1 right now, free. See the course and meet your tutor before paying anything.

02

Enrol Easily

Pick the option that suits you. Every option is covered by the 14-day guarantee.

03

Make Real Progress

Read, listen, or watch each lesson. Go at your own pace with your tutor beside you.

04

Get Your Certificate

Pass your assessments and receive your endorsed, verifiable certificate.

Enrolment

Easy Ways to Get Started.

Try the first lesson free. When you are ready, split it into four with Afterpay or Klarna, save $200 upfront, or take the simple weekly plan.

Start Here · No Card Needed
Free first lesson
Start lesson 1 right now and meet your AI tutor. See exactly how the course works before you decide anything.
No card. No commitment. Your progress carries over when you enrol.
When you are ready to enrol
Recommended · Split Into Four
$199.75 ×4
Afterpay or Klarna covers the $799 upfront price for you. You get every upfront bonus and the $200 saving, then repay in four fortnightly amounts. Nothing more after that.
A second course free, your choice
Printed edition of your course included
Save $200 compared with the weekly plan
Continue With Afterpay or Klarna
Four interest-free payments of $199.75 for approved applicants. Late fees may apply.
Upfront · Save $200
$799
One payment by card if you would rather settle it in one go. Same bonuses: second course free and the printed edition.
CardAfterpayKlarna
Enrol Upfront for $799
Afterpay and Klarna split $799 into 4 payments of $199.75.
Weekly Payment Plan
$25 /week
40 weekly payments · $1,000 total
Upfront bonuses not included.
Start the Weekly Plan
Visa · Mastercard · Amex · Afterpay · Klarna accepted.    14-day guarantee
Not sure yet?
Before you enrol

Is It Right for You?

This course is for you if

Anyone in New Zealand wanting to turn their passion for animals into a career.
People looking for the skills to work in a kennel, cattery, shelter, or pet store.
Career changers who want a structured path into the animal care industry.
Current volunteers who want to formalise their knowledge and boost their resume.
Aspiring pet groomers or sitters wanting foundational knowledge before they start.

It is probably not for you if

Anyone wanting to become a registered veterinarian or veterinary nurse. Those roles require a specific university or polytechnic degree.
People looking for an NZQA-accredited qualification. This is a professional development course endorsed by ICOES.
Someone who needs hands-on, in-person training with live animals. This is an online course focused on building your knowledge base.
Experts in a specific field like wildlife rehabilitation. This course is a broad foundation for companion animal care.

14-Day Money-Back Guarantee.

Try the full course for two weeks. If it is not for you, we refund you in full. No questions asked, no conditions.

More from students

“I love that it has different ways to learn! I'll keep learning about each flower's conditioning needs — I feel I've learnt so much already.”

Tammie O. · Verified student

“Very informative, and I like the focus on clients. It's better to give advice in small segments — just as we do with our dogs. Small steps.”

John H. · Verified student

“Real world responses — wow. The laws, and what it means to run a facility, is an eye opener. Even the less-common-pets section was eye opening — rabbits are illegal to keep as pets here in Queensland!”

Lee P. · Verified student
Good to know

Common Questions.

Do I need any experience with animals to enrol?+
No prior experience is needed. The course starts with the fundamentals, covering animal anatomy, physiology, and how to read animal behaviour before moving into hands-on topics like handling, nutrition, and hygiene. It is designed for people starting out in animal care, not those who already work in it.
What animals does this course cover?+
The course covers dogs, cats, small mammals like rabbits and guinea pigs, birds, and reptiles. You will learn how each species communicates, what they need to eat, how to handle them safely, and how to spot signs of illness. There are dedicated lessons on each group across behaviour, nutrition, housing, and grooming.
How long does it take to complete?+
The course includes 100 lessons across 10 modules, with an estimated 237 study hours in total. If you want to move faster, the fast-track path can be completed in around 21 hours by focusing on the core content. You have 12 months of access, so you can pace it around your work or family commitments.
What kind of certificate will I receive?+
You will receive an Advanced Certificate in Animal Care NZ, issued by Modern Education New Zealand. The course is accredited by ICOES, the International Council for Online Educational Standards. It is not a nationally recognised qualification under NZQA, but it is a credible credential you can add to your CV when applying for roles in kennels, shelters, pet retail, or veterinary support settings.
Is this course relevant to New Zealand specifically?+
Yes. The course covers New Zealand animal welfare legislation, council requirements for animal care businesses, and the regulatory framework that applies to workers and facilities here. There are also dedicated lessons on toxic plants and substances found in New Zealand, and career pathways relevant to the local industry across cities like Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
How is this different from watching animal care videos on YouTube?+
YouTube can give you general ideas, but it does not give you structure, depth, or a way to check your understanding. This course works through 100 lessons in a logical sequence, with an AI tutor available on every lesson to answer your specific questions. You also finish with a credential from an internationally accredited body, which a YouTube playlist cannot provide.

Start With a Free Lesson.

Start with the free first lesson, or enrol on the spot from $25 a week.

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Advanced Certificate in Animal Care NZ
First lesson free · $25/week · 14-day guarantee