New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4) (Companion Animal Healthcare)

Southern Institute of Technology

Experience the reward of working with animals on this one year New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting Level 4 programme including practical handson training and experience in industry. You will gain a range of knowledge and skills required to assist vet doctors and nursing professionals in clinical veterinary practice. You will learn about animal communication and behaviour husbandry and hygiene handling and restraint infection control interpersonal relationships and clinical effectiveness.This new programme recognises the role of an animal healthcare assistant as distinct from a veterinary nurse or a veterinary technician. All those roles form an important part of the veterinary healthcare team and its been designed to create a solid training pathway for those wanting a career as an Animal Healthcare Assistant.The role of an Animal Healthcare Assistant is to support Veterinary Nurses Veterinarians in veterinary practices.You will graduate with the technical knowledge and skills you need to perform this job under broad supervision and will gain effective teamwork and communication skills.Satisfactory CompletionThe programme requires 240 hours of placement. This is equivalent to around one day per week. 80 hours of this must be in a veterinary clinic setting the other 160 hours can be completed at other animal facilities. You will need to get experience with cats and dogs and either rabbits or birds.The teaching team will provide more details on all work placement requirements at the start of course.Qualification PathwaysOn successful completion of the programme you can study our two year