Cert II in Animal Studies - FAQs

How much study will I need to do?

We’ve designed this course to be completed in 12 months. It is more intensive than traditional Cert II courses.

We find most students need to dedicate at least 5 hours per week to study, undertaking the required reading and completing the assessment tasks.

Of course, you can complete the course more quickly if you wish. Additional fees apply if you want to extend your study time past 12 months.

Deferment of up to 12 months is also available if your circumstances change.

How is the course delivered?

The course is delivered entirely by distance education using our online 'Student Portal.'

This allows you the flexibility to study when it suits your schedule.  You won’t need to attend any on-campus classes. We’ve designed the course to fit around your work and lifestyle.

Once the course starts, you’ll receive printed learner's guides, which will guide you through your studies and prepare you for assessments. You’ll also have access to the extra study resources available via our  ‘Student Portal’ online.  You can submit assignments through this portal, too.

Each subject contains various assessment tasks:

• Expect to complete written assessments like assignments, case studies, projects, quizzes and exams.
• Workplace-based assessments for practical skills will be completed during your Internships.
• On average, expect to submit one short assessment task each week. Larger assessment tasks still have due dates but we ensure you don’t have as many smaller tasks around them so you’ve got plenty of time to study.

What about Internships?

Two internships are an integral feature of this course. They build up your practical skills and are an essential part of your learning.

You’ll usually do internships in two-week blocks at veterinary clinics or other animal related workplaces. One must be undertaken in a veterinary clinic.

Some students may require additional days of work experience to complete the skills component of the course. We can arrange for this at no extra charge.

For those who need more flexibility, internships can be broken up into smaller, regular chunks as long as you complete a minimum of 20 full time days over the duration of the course (e.g. 1 day per week or 4 x 1 week blocks). During your internship, you are fully covered by the Australian Agricultural College Corporation's insurance.

You are required to find you own placements, however we’ll assist where we can. We provide you with all the tools you need to help find internships, as well as assistance with writing cover letters and resumes.

What if I gain employment as a vet nurse whilst studying?

Congratulations!  You will be automatically transferred to our Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing and are well on the way to a recognised qualification in your chosen field.

We will adjust your course costs accordingly to match the standard Cert IV price. If you’ve gained competency in Cert II units not in the Cert IV prior to transfer, you’ll still need to pay for them at a cost of $190 each. This usually only applies after you have finished some of the internships for the practicals.

In some cases you may be required to pay $180-240 for a subject completed that is not included in the Cert IV.

Pathways to Further Study

Ready to learn more?  After you’ve completed this course you can move on to: 

• ACM30110 Certificate III in Animal Studies
• ACM30210 Certificate III in Animal Technology
• ACM30310 Certificate III in Captive Animals
• ACM30410 Certificate III in Companion Animal Services
• ACM40410 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing