Animal care worker

You could take a college course in animal care or management, for example:

• Level 1 Certificate in Introduction to Animal Care
• Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care

Entry requirements

You may need:

• 2 or fewer GCSEs at grades 3 to 1 (D to G), or equivalent, for a level 1 course
• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• funding advice
• search for courses

You can do an intermediate apprenticeship as an animal care and welfare assistant.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements
• guide to apprenticeships

It'll help to have some experience of working with animals before you start looking for a job.

Volunteering can sometimes lead in to paid work. You can find out about volunteering opportunities in your area from:

• Blue Cross
• RSPCA
• PDSA
• Cats Protection

Further information

You can find out more about careers in animal care from the National Land Based College UK and the College of Animal Welfare.

You'll need:

• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be flexible and open to change
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

As an animal care worker, you'll:

• monitor animals' health
• clean out kennels or cages
• prepare food and help out at feeding times
• clean and groom animals
• look after animals that become ill or distressed
• answer queries from colleagues and visitors
• exercisie dogs in a yard or take them for walks

You could work at an animal welfare centre, at a wildlife park or in kennels.

Your working environment may be dirty, outdoors some of the time and physically demanding.