Animal Management - Level 3 National Extended Diploma

Essentials

Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 1st September 2025
End date: 4th June 2027
Information Event: Yes

Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)

Course Content

This qualification is equivalent to three A Levels and is a full-time two-year programme.

The course will give you a wide range of knowledge and skills essential to progress within the animal sector through the study of units directly related. There is an attendance commitment requirement of approximately 16.75 hours per week, may vary dependant on the needs of the course.

There are a total of 15 units within this qualification 8 mandatory units and 7 optional units, which cover the following aspects of animal management:

• Animal breeding and genetics (Exam)
• Animal biology (Exam)
• Animal welfare and ethics (External Assessment)
• Practical animal husbandry
• Animal behaviour
• Animal health and diseases
• Work experience in the animal sector
• Investigative research project
• Business management in the animal sector
• Developing an Enterprise in the Animal Sector
• Exotic animal husbandry
• Zoological animal health and husbandry
• Wildlife ecology and conservation management
• Animal metabolism
• Advanced animal nutrition

If you are accepted onto this course without a Grade C in Maths and/or English you will be required to complete the relevant Essential Skills qualification.

Some of our Level 3 in Animal Management students share their experiences about the course.

Special Features

• 300 hours of work experience with an employer in the sector
• Students will be required to purchase a uniform pack
• Students will care for small animals in the College
• Visits to settings of interest are arranged

Applicants must be at least 16 years of age on or before 1 July in the year of proposed entry to the course and have a minimum 4 GCSEs Grade C or above including Maths, English and Science or equivalent, or Level 2 Diploma in Animal Care (at Distinction grade), subject to interview.

Medical evidence of current vaccination (or immunity) against tetanus prior to commencement of animal housework and work experience.

This qualification will give you the skills needed for direct employment in the animal management sector, and is suitable for those who wish to enter a particular specialist area of work, such as:

• Animal technician
• Animal breeding associate
• Animal welfare centre manager
• Pet-store manager
• Animal nutritionist
• Kennel and cattery Assistant
• Animal officer/inspector 
• Livestock manager.

There are many roles in this sector where recruitment is at graduate level.  The qualification carries UCAS points and is recognised by higher education providers as meeting admission requirements to many relevant courses, for example:

• BSc (Hons) in Animal Management
• BSc (Hons) in Agriculture
• Foundation Degree in Animal Management and Behaviour (FdSc)
• Foundation Degree in Animal Management (FdSc)
• HND Animal Management.