CIB - 737 Animal Care and Management - apprenticeship and traineeships

Date of effect
14 January 2011

Updated
14 June 2019

Qualification

ACM40818 Certificate IV in Farriery

Terms of apprenticeship

Full-time:

• 48 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeship and traineeships

Probationary period

3 months

Date of effect
13 August 2021

Updated
16 December 2022

Qualifications

ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care

ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services

Terms of traineeships

Full-time:

ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care

• 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services

• 24 months or until relevant competencies are achieved
• 12 months or until relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care

The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary period

2 months

Date of effect
13 August 2021

Updated
16 December 2022

Qualification

ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training

• 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
• 24 months or until relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds ACM30121 Certificate III in Animal Care Services.

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary periods

Where the nominal term is:

• up to and including 24 months - 2 months
• greater than 24 months - 3 months

Date of effect
13 August 2021

Updated
16 December 2022

Qualification

ACM40222 Certificate IV in Animal Facility Management

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

ACM40222 Certificate IV in Animal Facility Management

• 36 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
• 24 months or until relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds ACM30321 Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care.

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary periods

Where the nominal term is:

• up to and including 24 months - 2 months
• greater than 24 months - 3 months

Date of effect
14 January 2011

Updated:
16 December 2022

Qualification

ACM40122 Certificate IV in Animal Regulation and Management

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

• 36 months or until relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

3 months

Date of effect
14 January 2011

Updated
25 October 2019

Qualification

• ACM30219 Certificate III in Animal Technology

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

• 24 months or until relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Date of effect
16 December 2022

Qualification

• ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training (Assistance Dog Training)

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training

• 36 months or until relevant competencies are achieved
• 24 months or until relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds ACM30121 Certificate III in Animal Care Services 

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

Where the nominal term is:

• up to and including 24 months - 2 months
• greater than 24 months - 3 months

Date of effect
16 December 2022

Qualifications

• ACM20221 Certificate II in Horse Care
• ACM30821 Certificate III in Horse Care

Terms of traineeships

Full-time:

ACM20221 Certificate II in Horse Care

• 12 months or until relevant competencies are achieved

ACM30821 – Certificate III in Horse Care

• 24 months or until relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

• ACM20221 Certificate II in Horse Care

The term for a school-based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 120 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary period

2 months

Date of effect
14 January 2011

Updated
25 October 2019

Qualification

ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

There is no direct entry into:

ACM40418 certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

• 30 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved for trainees holding one of the following qualifications:
  • Certificate II in Animal Care
  • Certificate III in Animal Care Services
  • Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care
  • Certificate III in Animal Technology
  • Certificate III in Horse Breeding
  • Certificate IV in Animal Regulation and Management

or

• can demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge in a relevant animal science discipline to any of the above qualifications.

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary periods

3 months

Date of effect
13 August 2021

Qualification

ACM30321 Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care

Terms of traineeship

Full-time:

ACM30321 Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care

• 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Certificate IV level work involves providing foot care services to horses in both routine and complex tasks and with limited supervision. Apprentices will learn about equine health related to foot care and how to:

• shoe all types of equine (or similar) feet, whether normal or defective, using blacksmith skills of fabricating, adapting, and adjusting metal shoes
• use and maintain power tools
• use, repair, and manufacture hand tools
• make standard shoes for a range of horses and accommodate special needs of horses through farriery techniques
• use knowledge of equine musculoskeletal system, biomechanics and pathology for effective hoof care
• maintain, repair and manufacture hand tools used in farriery
• determine hoof care and hoof protection plans
• fit shoes to alleviate moderate to severe abnormalities in horses
• handle horses safely*

Graduates may work for an established farriery business or operate their own business. Farriers travel to their customers' premises or competition venues to work and carry a mobile work shop of tools with them.

Jobs at Certificate II level offer an entry point into the animal care industry and prepare people for roles such as an animal attendant in a kennel, cattery, animal shelter or pet shop.

Trainees will develop the skills and knowledge required to care for animals in a variety of workplaces. They will learn about the health care needs of animals and how to:

• catch and handle a range of animals
• feed and water animals
• carry out animal care hygiene routines
• assist in Health care of Animals
• provide Basic animal first aid

Jobs at Certificate III level build on experience in working with animals. Job roles may include animal care receptionist or support officer, Animal Regulation and Management assistant, animal shelter assistant, animal health officer in indigenous communities or an assistant animal welfare officer. Trainees will learn to:

• carry out animal care hygiene routines
• maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing
• plan for and provide nutritional requirements for animals
• comply with infection control policies in animal work
• identify behaviours and interact safely with animals
• assess the welfare status of an animal

Jobs at Certificate IV level provides options for individuals wanting to work in animal-assisted services, animal rehoming/adoption, rehabilitation roles, exhibited animal facilities or who specialise in conditioning or training different species. Trainees will learn to:

• identify behaviours and interact safely with animals
• develop, implement and monitor enrichment strategies for animals
• Condition animal behaviour
• Assess animal behaviour
• Assess and maintain the welfare of an animal
• Advise on animal industry compliance and practices
• Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals

Jobs at Certificate IV level build on Certificate III or higher qualifications relating to Animal Care and involve supervisory responsibilities. Job roles may include coordinators or managers of boarding / daycare facilities, shelter or breeding facilities, senior zookeepers / aquarists or wildlife careers. Trainees will learn to:

• Develop, implement and monitor enrichment strategies for animals
• Advise on animal industry compliance and practices
• Oversee site biosecurity and infection controls working with animals
• implement and monitor animal welfare programs
• Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
• Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing

Jobs at Certificate IV level involve undertaking animal control and regulatory functions - urban animal management - for local and state and territory governments. Job roles may include animal control and regulation officer and animal management officer. In line with community management services, trainees will learn to:

• comply with animal control and regulation requirements
• assess and impound animals
• identify and respond to animal behaviour
• carry out pound procedures
• manage conflict situations in an animal control and regulation environment
• investigate and act on compliance issues
• plan, initiate and finalise investigations
• prepare and present animal control and regulation case
• conduct community awareness programs

Jobs at Certificate III level involve working at a junior or assistant level and undertaking animal technology functions within a biomedical research or production environment. Job roles may include animal technician, laboratory animal technician, technical officer and field technician. Trainees will learn to:

• carry out containment and exclusion procedures
• conduct euthanasia of research animals
• assist with surgery preparationnduct non-surgical procedures on animals
• monitor and maintain animal health and wellbeing
• provide behavioural enrichment for research animals
• carry out simple breeding procedures

Jobs at Certificate IV level provides options for individuals wanting to work in animal rehoming/adoption, rehabilitation roles, animal-assisted services including conditioning or training dogs or instructing handlers to train assistance dogs.

Assistance dog trainers typically train dogs to assist individuals with physical and/or mental disabilities (such as vision or hearing impairments, chronic anxiety disorder) and/or other medical conditions to work as a dog/handler team. 

Trainees will learn to:

• identify behaviours and interact safely with animals
• develop, implement and monitor enrichment strategies for animals
• Condition animal behaviour
• Assess animal behaviour
• Assess and maintain the welfare of an animal
• Advise on animal industry compliance and practices
• Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals

As part of the assistance dogs specialisation, trainees will learn to select appropriate equipment for an assistance dog and handler, assess prospective handler's suitability for an assistance dog, instruct handlers with disability to train assistance dogs, train dogs using operant and classical conditioning techniques and plan and conduct assistance dog training in specific and complex tasks. 

Jobs at Certificate IV level involve working with animals within a veterinary clinic in the role of a veterinary nurse.
Trainees will learn to perform veterinary nursing duties in a variety of workplace situations and under minimal supervision. Tasks will include:

• patient admission and discharge
• office procedures
• radiography, pathology, surgery and dental procedures
• nursing animals
• providing animal care advice to the public
• applying safe working practices in a variety of locations including examination rooms, surgical theatres, offices and outdoor animal facilities

Jobs at Certificate III level involve a range of animal care functions in a in a zoo, wildlife sanctuary, aquaria or other facility where animals are cared for or exhibited. captive animal facility or institution, such as a zoo or wildlife park. Job roles may include trainee keeper, assistant keeper, animal care attendant and wildlife animal carer. Trainees will learn to:

• provide nutritional requirements to animals
• work within a zoological facility
• assess the welfare status of an animal
• understand and identify animal behaviours
• interact safely with animals
• prepare and present information to the public
• maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing
• capture, restrain and assist in moving animals
• monitor animal reproduction

The ACMr6.0 Animal Care and Management Training Package includes the following qualifications that support apprenticeship and traineeship pathways:

Apprenticeship

• ACM40818 Certificate IV in Farriery

Traineeships

• ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care
• ACM20221 Certificate II in Horse Care
• ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services
• ACM30219 Certificate III in Animal Technology
• ACM30321 Certificate III in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care
• ACM30821 Certificate III in Horse Care
• ACM40122 Certificate IV in Animal Regulation and Management
• ACM40222 Certificate IV in Animal Facility Management
• ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training
• ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing*

*Entry requirements

There is no direct entry into ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. The entry is available to individuals who:

• hold a Certificate II in Animal Studies; or
• hold a relevant Certificate III or higher level qualification in an animal science discipline; or
• can demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge in a relevant animal science discipline to any of the above qualifications.

Apprentices employed under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020 are able to progress through the apprenticeship on the achievement of competencies rather than time served.

The rate or progress is based on the nominal term of direct entry or advanced entry into the apprenticeship. Advanced entry is allowed where the apprentice holds the lower level qualification specified in the VTO. For information on the competency based progression model and the rates of progress, see below.

Note: Competency based progression (CBP) applies to apprentices employed under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2010 only.

For apprenticeships with a full time nominal term of 48 months direct entry, the rate of progress will be determined as follows:

On successful completion of the relevant qualification:

• parties may apply to the Commissioner for Vocational Training for completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship prior to the nominal completion date of the training contract or;
• Training Services may issue letters from the Commissioner to both parties inviting them to consider competency based completion if it has received advice from the training organisation that the apprentice or trainee is eligible to receive their qualification.

Download a Request for Competency Based Completion form.

Applications under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 to establish an apprenticeship or traineeship will not be approved unless the Commissioner is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

Apprenticeships

Apprentices may be employed under the Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020. This Award allows for competency based progression and completion of apprenticeships.

Traineeships

Trainees may be employed under the following awards:

• Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020
• Amusement, Events and Recreation Award 2020
• Clerks-Private Sector Award 2020
• General Retail Industry Award 2020
• Manufacturing and Associated Industries and Occupations Award 2020
• Miscellaneous Award 2020

All private sector employers and employees in New South Wales are covered by the national industrial relations system administered by the Fair Work Commission (the Commission). The industrial instrument that applies is a national (modern) award or a current enterprise agreement registered with the Commission. Further information is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman by telephoning 13 13 94 or via their website.

Agriculture, Food and Animal Management  NSW ITAB has advised that the following qualifications are suitable for delivery in schools. For apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications available for delivery in schools, click here.

Traineeships

• ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care
• ACM20221 Certificate II in Horse Care

For further information on the delivery of training for school based part-time apprenticeships and school based part-time traineeships, refer to Training Arrangements.

For registered training providers which can deliver the traineeship qualification go to training.gov.au.

For registered training providers which can deliver apprenticeship and traineeship qualifications go to training.gov.au. A list of training organisations which are in contract with the NSW Department of Education to be paid for the delivery of the training is here.

When developing training plans, registered training organisations should ensure that the training program satisfies the qualification packaging requirements and, at the same time, reflects the nature of the business. Training plans should be customised so that the workplace activities support and align with the qualification units of competency.

On 1 January 2015 the NSW Government introduced new fee arrangements for government subsidised vocational education and training (VET). Under Smart and Skilled, all apprenticeship and most traineeship qualifications are subsidised. For a full list of all the qualifications refer to the current NSW Skills List. Information on the types and levels of subsidies can be found in the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy. Training for existing-worker trainees is not subsidised.

From 14 December 2015 Training Services and Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) transition arrangements will be aligned.
A superseded qualification in the Vocational Training Orders on this page can be specified on apprenticeship and traineeship applications for up to 12 months after the training package is released on the National Register. Registered training organisations (RTOs) may commence training in either the new or superseded qualification but must meet the requirements of ASQA. For more information refer to ASQA's General Direction - Learner Transition.

ASQA has extended the transition period for several ACM qualifications to 12 April 2023.

A copy of each Vocational Training Order is available for inspection on this internet site below or at any Training Services centre of the NSW Department of Education.