How Studying Animal Care Courses Online Can Lead to an Exciting Career.

Would your ideal job be one working with animals? Are you passionate about animal welfare and want to become an expert in animal care? Well, by studying animal care courses online, you will transform into a desirable candidate for many jobs in this exciting industry.

Given that our planet is home to different animal species from all corners of the Earth, there are a vast array of careers to explore, from pet care to wildlife conservation. If you are revaluating your professional life and would love an opportunity to work with animals, then continue reading to discover animal care training courses and the careers you can pursue!

What is Animal Welfare?

Before you begin considering the type of career that is suited to your preferences and ambitions, you should understand what animal welfare means. Essentially, animal care or welfare refers to the wellbeing of animals, in both a mental and physical manner.

When working in this sector, professionals are responsible for making sure that the animals under their care are healthy, safe, and content. However, there are many approaches that fall under this umbrella. For example, conservation efforts for wild animals in Africa is a form of welfare, as are pet services, such as dog grooming and cattery care.

How Do I Start a Career with Animals?

There are many careers that involve working closely with animals, and if you are keen to explore this arena, then you are probably asking yourself ‘what animal job qualifications do I need?’. Well, that depends on the career you want to pursue. Some jobs involving animals will require degree-level qualifications, while others may require qualifications from accredited animal care courses.

Getting the right qualifications behind you is important if the animal jobs you want have certain requirements. However, the information you learn from an animal care training course is not just a means to an end, it also gives you essential knowledge that will ultimately benefit the animals you work with.

Why Do You Want to Work with Animals?

The motivating factor behind working with animals varies from person to person, but there are some common reasons why individuals choose to enrol on a course related to animal care. These include:

Flexibility – If you are not the type of person who thrives in a 9-5 job, then a career with animals offers you the flexibility you crave. This is because many roles offer part-time and weekend work, while some professions allow you to work for yourself as self-employed
Provide essential care – Whatever course your career path takes, working with animals will allow you to make a real difference to their lives, whether that involves something as simple as clipping their nails to preserving a wild animal’s natural habitat
High demand – Many roles involved in animal care are crying out for professionals, particularly those involved in conservation. With climate change causing plenty of disruption to the environment and wildlife, there are many animal jobs that focus on keeping habitats safe and thriving

What is the Science that Helps in Studying Animal Life?

The term that refers to the science of studying animal life is Zoology. This focuses on the conservation and welfare of the natural world and all the animals that walk the planet. Essentially, if you want to work for an organisation that researches and analyses data and behavioural aspects of animals, with the ultimate aim of protecting their livelihoods, then Zoology is a great direction to go down.

If you opt to study accredited animal care courses in this subject, then you will explore a combination of:

Biology
Psychology
Environmental Science

All of these elements will enable you to get a grasp on Zoology and pursue an important role in animal conservation.

Our Animal Care Courses

Studying animal care training courses is one of the most effective ways of mastering the role you are pursuing, even if you don’t need qualifications to achieve your chosen profession. Even for the roles that require a degree, gaining foundation knowledge through animal care courses online will be hugely beneficial.

We here at Stonebridge Associated Colleges are one of the UK’s leading distance learning providers, and among our course offering are a range of animal care training courses. Below, we have picked out a few courses to give you an idea of what we can help you achieve!

Veterinary Physiotherapy with Hydrotherapy

If you are keen to work in animal rehabilitation, then we provide a course that gets you qualified as a Veterinary Physiotherapist. This course is a blend of online learning and practical training, teaching you the skills, knowledge, and techniques you need to help injured or unwell animals back to health.

The Veterinary Physiotherapy with Hydrotherapy Level 6 Diploma is broken down into three sections, and you can study the course in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 separately. The key features of these animal care training courses include:

Learn advanced therapy methods used to treat animals, such as dogs, cats, and horses
Understand how to treat animals using both land and water-based techniques
Study the theory online and undergo 25 days of physiotherapy training
Complete 800 hours of clinical practice at a veterinary physiotherapy clinic

Upon successful completion of this course, you will gain a recognised qualification and will be qualified to work as a professional Veterinary Physiotherapist.

Veterinary Nursing Assistant

Another great way of working in animal welfare is as a Veterinary Nursing Assistant. One of the most essential places for injured and unwell animals is a veterinary practice, and by training as a Veterinary Nursing Assistant, you will play a significant role in helping animals recover. To become a professional in this setting, you can study our Veterinary Nursing Assistant Level 2 Diploma.

This Veterinary Nurse Assistant course is delivered via long-distance learning. This means that the course is entirely online, meaning that you can complete the course at your own pace and from any location that has a stable internet connection!

While studying these online animal courses, UK learners will navigate through a series of modules, including the following:

Principles of Animal Health
Principles of Body Language and Behaviour
Principles of Hygiene, Cleaning and Disinfection
Reception and Administrative Duties in a Veterinary Practice
Pharmacy in a Veterinary Practice
Euthanasia and Bereavement
Principles of First Aid
Veterinary Instruments
Care of Wildlife in Veterinary Practice

Upon successful completion of this animal care training course, you will be a qualified Veterinary Nursing Assistant, able to work in a veterinary practice or venture into other avenues of animal welfare.

African Wildlife and Conservation Studies

If your career ambition is to work on sustaining the lives and habitats of Africa’s wild animals, then our African Wildlife and Conservation Studies Diploma is an ideal next step for you. Through this online course, you will explore the biological and behavioural characteristics of primates, big cats, birds and African predators.

During these online animal courses, UK learners will delve into deforestation and poaching, gaining an understanding of how these activities are negatively impacting wild animals that roam African plains. During the course, you will study the following modules:

Ecological Crises and African Wildlife Ecology
African Big Cats
Alternative African Predators
Herbivores of Africa
African Primates
African Birds

With this diploma, you will be equipped with the knowledge to pursue a career in animal welfare and conservation. You could also take this knowledge and progress into the environmental sector should you decide to go down that career path. This qualification can also guide you towards further study.

Small Animal Care and Welfare

Many people in the UK look after domesticated animals, so it is no surprise that there are plenty of career opportunities in this sector. Our Small Animal Care and Welfare Level 3 Award is a regulated course that focuses on the knowledge and practical skills needed to look after small animals, such as:

Dogs
Cats
Hamsters
Rabbits
Guinea Pigs and more

The course is broken down into two units, with the first focusing on first aid for animals, including how to dress and treat wounds, as well as how to help animals that are choking or displaying signs of hyperthermia.

The second unit of this course delves into the welfare aspects, such as the legislation and codes of practice relating to animal welfare. In this part of your course, you will learn how to look after small animals and how to monitor their health and behaviours.

With the qualification you gain from this course, you will be in a solid position to pursue a role within the pet care sector or for dedicated charities.

Dog Grooming and Salon Management

A different type of welfare for animals falls into the grooming sector. Dog Groomers are not just there to enhance the appearance of our favourite pet pooches, but they also improve and maintain the hygiene of dogs through tried and trusted treatments.

By studying our Dog Grooming and Salon Management Level 3 Diploma, you will gain a recognised qualification that will enable you to work in a salon or set up your own! The course is a blend of online learning and practical training, which consists of 30 days spent at a state-of-the-art dog grooming centre in Winsford, Cheshire.

The course is broken down into 8 modules, consisting of:

Health and Safety in a Dog Grooming Environment
Promote the Welfare of Dogs Conforming with Relevant Legislation
Customer Care and Managing Complaints
Assess and Plan Dog Grooming Styles and Maintenance of Equipment
Health Checking, Handling and Canine Behaviour
Prepare, Style and Finish a Range of Dog Breeds
Canine Emergency First Aid
Planning the Operation of a Small Canine Business

Accredited by the iPET Network, this qualification is widely recognised and provides you with the skills you need to thrive in this industry.

What Can You Do with an Animal Care Course?

As outlined above, there are many career opportunities that span from our learning distance courses. You have an opportunity to channel your passion for animals into a job that makes a real difference. Our flexible online course options and recognised qualifications provides a platform that can propel you towards the following:

A role in your chosen sector
Further education
Degree-level study
Training opportunities

What Skills Do You Need to be an Animal Scientist?

As well as having the relevant qualifications and training required to work in the scientific study of animals, you also require certain skills and attributes to fit into this kind of profession. Some of these skills include:

Strong communication skills – During your role, you will have to communicate findings from research and relevant information to figures both internal and external to your organisation
Time management – Given the various types of projects you will be working on, you’ll need to have the ability to manage your time well and effectively so that you’re not neglecting certain duties
Ability to work independently – Much of your research will require you to work alone with little supervision, so you should be confident in carrying out research methods on your own

What is the Highest Paying Job with Animals?

Most people who pursue careers with animals do so because they have a passion and desire to make a difference. However, the financial aspects of a job can also be a motivating factor, and if you are wondering what the highest paying job with animals is, then peruse our list below:

Veterinarian - £71,000 per annum
Zoologist - £52,000 per annum
Wildlife Biologist - £47,000 per annum
Conservation Officer - £46,000 per annum
Animal Nutritionist - £39,000 per annum

Start Studying Animal Care Courses Online Today!

If you are thinking about reviving your life with a new career that sees you working with animals, then consider our fantastic range of online animal courses. Whether you want to focus on a course that explores wildlife in Africa or the welfare of domesticated pets, then we have a course that will suit your ambition.

Our learning distance courses are varied, offering essential training and knowledge that you can use to pursue your career goals. While our course offering is varied, with some including practical features, all provide an online learning element. When you enrol on one of our courses, you will benefit from the following: