New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Companion Animals) (Level 3)

Graduates of this qualification are likely to be employed in a range of businesses associated with the care of animals.  This may include working as assistants in pet stores, animal rescue centres, pet grooming, animal day care, greyhound racing kennels, animal breeders, animal trainining, boarding facilities, aquaruim facilitites, horse recreation businesses and lifestyle block owners.

School Leavers

Applicants should be a minimum of 16 years of age, and have attained NCEA Level 2 as follows:

• 60 credits at Level 2 or above, plus 20 credits from any level, and
• Literacy – minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either specified assessment standards available through a range of subjects and English for Academic Purposes, unit standards 22750 and 22751 (minimum total of 10 credits), or unit standards – package of three literacy unit standards (26622, 26624, 26625 – all three required)
• Numeracy – a minimum of 10 credits at Level 1 or above through either achievement standards – specified assessment standards available through a range of subjects (minimum total of 10 credits), or unit standards – package of three numeracy unit standards (26623, 26626, 26627 – all three required)

Mature Applicants

Applicants over the age of 20 years at time of enrolment will be considered where they can demonstrate the ability to succeed in a programme. Examples of demonstration of ability to succeed are the provision of evidence of successful completion of a programme of study at Level 2 or above and/or employment in the related sector for one or more years. They may be admitted subject to programme regulations approved by the head of faculty in consultation with the programme manager as appropriate. Personal commitment and a belief in one’s own ability to succeed are important personal traits and will always be taken into consideration during the selection process.

English Language Requirements

Applicants, whose first language is not English, or who come from a country where the language of instruction in schools is not English, are required to provide evidence of having achieved one of the following

NCEA Level 3 with University Entrance, or

an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Cambridge A- level qualification for which the teaching and assessment was conducted in English; or

Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA),or Trinity College London Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CertTESOL);or

Successful completion of all primary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand primary school years 1 to 8) and at least three years of secondary education (being the equivalent of three years from New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand,,Australia,Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States one of the countries listed in Rule 18.5 where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of at least five years of secondary education (being the equivalent of New Zealand secondary school years 9 to 13) at schools in either New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States where the student was taught using English as the language of instruction; or

Successful completion of a Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Bachelor Honours degree, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Masters' Degree or Doctoral Degree, the language of instruction of which must be in English and which must be from a tertiary education provider from New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States or

Successful completion of one of the following internationally recognised proficiency tests listed below to the level required of the programme of study and with all scores achieved in a single test during the two years preceding the proposed date of enrolment

IELTS test - General or Academic score of 5 with no band score lower than 5
TOEFL Paper based test (pBT) - Score of 500 (with an essay score of 4 TWE)
TOEFL Internet based test (iBT) - Score of 35 (with a writing score of 14)
Cambridge English Examination - B2 First or B2 First for schools with a score of 154. No less than 154 in each skill.
OET - Minimum of Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
NZCEL - a) Expiring Level b) Current: a) Level 3 (General) or (Workplace) b) Level 3 (General)
Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 36 with no band score lower than 36
Language Cert - B1 Achiever International ESOL Written (LRW) PASS with no less than 25/50 in each skill and Spoken (S) PASS
Trinity ISE - ISE I with no less than distinction in any band

* New versions of some NZCEL qualifications, and in some cases new qualifications, were published on 13 June 2017. These are intended to replace pre-existing versions and qualifications, which have been given expiring status until discontinued on 31 December 2019. (a) denotes expiring (b) denotes current

Full time study

According to Study Link, full time study is completing 36 credits in one 12-week intake. This requires around 35 hours of study per week for the duration of the intake.

Full time acceptance in to the programme is at the Programme Manager’s discretion and is not guaranteed.

A suggested full-time example study plan is:

• Intake 2 ACS100, 103, 104, + two electives (38 credits)
• Intake 4 ACS101, 102, 105, + two electives (42 credits)

Part time study

The number of papers you select to study per intake should depend on work, family, and other commitments. You may enrol in the papers in any order that you wish to study them. You may select any combination of papers, that add up to 30 or 31 credits.

A suggested part-time example study plan is:

• Intake 1 ACS103, 104 + one elective (20 credits)
• Intake 3 ACS100, 102 + one elective (25 credits)
• Intake 5 ACS101, 105 + one elective (25 credits)

It is recommended that all students complete ACS101 in your final enrolment in the programme.

When selecting papers, try and spread the number of credits evenly across each intake you are applying for. For example, if you wish to complete the certificate in one year, you could for example, apply for study in Intake 1, Intake 3, and Intake 5. You might wish to apply for 15 credits in Intake 1, another 15 credits in Intake 3 (about 12.5 hours of study per week in each intake), and then complete ACS101 (10 credits) in Intake 5 (about 8.5 hours of study per week).

All work for a paper must be completed during the intake in which you are enrolled in it. If you do not complete the paper within the intake, you must re-enrol in the paper in a later intake.

Use the ‘Study Load Calculator’ table on the following page to calculate approximately how many hours per week you will require for your chosen study plan.

Additional Information

• As a guideline, one credit equates to approximately 10 hours study within an intake period.  Click HERE to download a Study Load Calculator (spreadsheet)
• All papers selected within a particular intake must be completed within that intake unless a transfer is requested (conditions apply; see FAQs)
• Online enrolments are on a year by year basis and students are welcome to apply for multiple intakes in one enrolment.  Further enrolment is the responsibility of individual students.  There is no automatic enrolment rollover

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Students who have previously completed any NZQA unit standards relating to the above papers can apply to have the unit(s) recognised on their record of learning at SIT2LRN. This is done by filling in a ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ (RPL) application form and attaching proof of achievement. The RPL application form is available here: http://www.sit.ac.nz/Students/Academic-Support.

Please use the following checklist to ensure that all relevant information and documentation has been included. Remember, your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide us with.  Processing of your application will be delayed if we need to come back to you for missing information.

• I have read all sections of the Programme Information on this page
• I have read the SIT2LRN Frequently Asked Questions section
• I have met all admission criteria for the programme (found under "Application Criteria")
• I have selected the paper(s) I wish to study
• I have selected intake(s). (I have selected alternate intakes rather than overlapping intakes)
• I know my intended payment method
• If my organisation/company is paying for my studies, I have a completed and approved purchase order to attach to my online application.  I am aware that should my organisation or company not pay my fees, these will become my responsibility
• New students – I have provided an active NSN in the name I am enrolling in or I have verified ID and will attach it to my online application
• New students – I will attach academic documentation (NZQA record of achievement/academic transcripts/certificates).  These do not need to be verified. (If you do not have any academic documentation to support your application, please attach a comprehensive CV outlining your education and work experience)
• I have computer access, an Internet connection and access to software to create electronic documents e.g. Microsoft Word or Open Office

What is the Zero Fees Scheme?

The Zero Fees Scheme means we do not charge tuition fees, however there is a Student Direct Material Cost that you need to pay. The administration fee is for processing your application and the Student Direct Material Cost gives you secure access to Blackboard® our online learning environment and to student support services throughout your study with us.

Who qualifies for the Zero Fees Scheme?

• A New Zealand citizen completing the full qualification or 
• An Australian citizen/New Zealand Resident or Permanent Resident who will be residing in New Zealand for the duration of your enrolment.

Instructions to help you with your application:

1. Read the Programme Information on this page and the SIT2LRN Frequently Asked Questions and find out if you meet the application criteria for both the programme and the unit/s you wish to study.
2. Check your eligibility for Zero Fees. If you are not eligible to study under this scheme, please call
   0800 748 257 for further options.
3. Complete your online enrolment checking that:

If you are a new student …

• Provide an active NSN number in the name you are enrolling in (contact NZQA on 0800 697 296 to get your NSN number if you do not know it);
• If you do not have an active NSN, then attach a copy of your verified ID in the name you are enrolling in
• If you are a Resident or Permanent resident of NZ, please provide a copy of proof of residency;
• Attach all academic documentation to support your application including copies of any certificates of courses you have undertaken / NZQA record of achievement / transcripts / CV;

Attach supporting documents as required and outlined on the previous page.

1. Please check that you have included all the required information and supporting documents.  Your application will be assessed based on the information that you provide. Missing information will delay the processing of your application.
2. Please scan and email all additional documentation to sit2lrn@sit.ac.nz.

What happens next?

• You will receive an automatic email confirmation when we receive your online application. Processing may take up to three weeks. However, we will get in touch with you sooner if we require further documentation
• Once your application has been accepted you will be sent a conditional offer of acceptance with an invoice and instructions on how to make payment
• Once we have received your payment (or if you have opted to pay by Credit Card, Student Loan or Purchase Order) you will be sent an Enrolment Confirmation Letter and Important Information Booklet. Closer to the start of the intake you will receive a Time To Get Started Letter which will give you all the necessary information, tools and guidance to start your study with us

To satisfactorily complete the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Companion Animals) (Level 3), and be awarded this qualification the student must successfully achieve:

• A minimum of 70 credits in accordance with the Programme schedule for the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Companion Animals) (Level 3).
• The student will normally be expected to complete the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Companion Animals) (Level 3) full-time over six months or part-time over two years.

Please Note: Students failing to engage in study as per programme requirements may forfeit Zero Fees entitlement.

Graduates of this Level 3 Certificate may wish to apply for one of our on-campus Veterinary Nursing programmes.

Assessments for this programme typically include short answer and multi-choice questions and some short written reports. There are no exams for this programme.

Some papers require a practical component as part of their assessment.

For more information on required and recommended textbooks for this course please refer to the textbook list here. 

Please note that textbooks need to be ordered at least 3-4 weeks prior to the commencement of your study