NZ Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting Level 4
Farming
A course by
EIT
Turn your passion for companion animals into a rewarding career by gaining practical and theoretical skills to assist in veterinary clinics, animal shelters, and related environments. This programme prepares graduates for support roles in the animal healthcare sector.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
Hawke's Bay Campus, Napier
It will take a total of 1 year
Core skills this course teaches
Healthcare support for companion animals
Develop practical skills in healthcare support for companion animals, including patient handling, infection control, and diagnostic assistance.
Professional and ethical workplace practice
Work safely and ethically within animal healthcare teams, ensuring high standards of animal welfare.
Client communication
Communicate effectively with clients regarding companion animal care in various animal healthcare environments.
What You're Signing Up For
This hands-on certificate equips students with the skills and knowledge to provide healthcare support to companion animals in veterinary clinics, boarding facilities, shelters, and other animal care settings. Learning covers patient handling, infection control, diagnostic assistance, surgical support, husbandry, client communication, and ethical professional behaviour.
Course Content
- Companion Animal Professionalism and Infection Control
- Companion Animal Anatomy & Physiology
- Introduction to Companion Animal Husbandry & Behaviour
- Companion Animal Practicum 1
- Companion Animal Health and Hygiene
- Companion Animal Clinical Assistance
- Companion Animal Preparation for Practice
- Companion Animal Practicum 2
What you need to know first
NZ Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) Companion Animals
40 credits at NCEA Level 1, including 10 Literacy credits and 10 Numeracy credits OR a relevant qualification at NZQF Level 2 or above
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Animal Care
Veterinary Services
Future employment opportunities might be
Veterinary Healthcare Assistant
Animal Care Assistant (animal shelters, boarding facilities, pet stores)
Support staff within veterinary practices
Animal Welfare Support Worker