New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting

Te Pukenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Subject area

Veterinary Assisting

Qualification

Check out Fees Free to see whether you are eligible for a year of fees-free study or two years industry training. Contact your provider to confirm your study options meet the criteria.

Entry requirements

Programmes leading to this qualification must:

1. Ensure currency with amendments to, and replacements of, relevant legislation, regulations, and codes of practice which may include some or all of the following: Veterinarian's Act 2005; Animal Welfare Act 1999; Health and Safety at Work Act 2015; Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996; Resource Management Act 1991; Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997; Privacy Act 2020.

2. Abide by Animal Welfare Act 1999 Part 6 legislating ethics surrounding use of animals in learning and teaching, including seeking Animal Ethics Committee Approval where applicable.

Providers must ensure learners complete health declaration and declaration of any criminal convictions to ensure fitness to work with animals.

A Programme Guidance document is available on request from Muka Tanga Workforce Development Council - qualifications@mukatangata.nz.

The Graduate Outcomes of this qualification align with the Allied Veterinary Professional Regulatory Council (AVPRC) Graduate Competencies available from: www.avprc.org.nz.

About the course

What can I expect out of this qualification?

The purpose of this qualification is to provide the animal healthcare sector with people who have technical knowledge and skills to assist in the provision of healthcare for animal patients, working in collaboration with clients and multidisciplinary animal healthcare teams, and following protocols in all aspects of clinical veterinary practice or animal healthcare settings.

Graduates will have the technical knowledge and skills to assist veterinarians and veterinary nurses in a clinical veterinary setting. They will work under broad supervision, or guidance, within their scope of practice, in a wide range of dynamic and often unpredictable situations.

This qualification is stranded to recognise the specialist skills required for providing healthcare assisting to either companion animal, equine, or rural animal veterinary practice.

Graduates will be eligible to apply for registration on the New Zealand Register of Animal Healthcare Assistants.