Animal Careers Direct is part of (Animal Jobs Direct & Animal Courses Direct) and was established in 2005.
Animal Careers Direct offers career advice and training solutions for those who have always dreamt of working with animals. We host a range of accredited courses and Ofqual regulated qualifications that meet the government’s regulated standards (Defra) in animal care.
We are passionate about animal welfare and conservation and have been improving animal welfare through education since 2005.
Animal Courses Direct is approved and accredited by the National Education Awarding Body Open College Network West Midlands.
Our Ofqual approved qualifications meet Defra Animal Activity Licensing (AAL) Regulations.
Raising Animal Welfare Standards
We understand how important it is to raise standards in the animal care sector through education; employees can make a huge difference to the animals in their care and to animal welfare if they are empowered with the right skills.
Team of Animal Care Experts
Our dedicated team have worked and recruited in the animal care sector for charities, businesses, and animal welfare organisations. We work closely with animal care and wildlife and conservation specialists, vets and veterinary nurses and canine behaviourists.
Enhancing Career Prospects
Our courses aim to explore and extend the standard and accepted levels and attitudes toward the care and welfare of animals. Our courses have been designed in consultation with employers, to enhance career and employment prospects.
Qualified Students
We have many students who have successfully achieved their goal of gaining meaningful employment in the animal sector and go on to achieve their dreams.
How to Start Training
Enrolment Procedure
Unless expressly stated, there are no entry or age requirements for our courses. Students have up to 2 years to complete their course unless stated otherwise. Most courses are open entry, and students can sign up at any time. We welcome students from all around the world.
To get started with your studies, click on the Enrol Now button on the course page. A secure payment page will give the option of paying in full or by instalments with a debit card, credit card or PayPal. (We also accept payment over the phone).
Enrolments are processed manually by our office team during office hours. If you are undertaking a qualification, you will be assigned a personal tutor who will send a welcoming email with logins to the e-learning platform.
If you are undertaking a CPD/QEL course, you will be sent an e-learning login, and then can begin your course. If you have a question, you can contact us via the ‘contact us’ facility on the website.
Studying
Our qualifications are studied online on a learning platform The qualification information will require some form of research and self-directed study. You will study your qualification entirely at your own pace and with full tutor support should you require it, and proceed through the course unit by unit.
Your tutor will be available to support you if you have any queries about the qualification and assessments, and you will receive your marked assessments back within 7 working days. You have 3 attempts at each assessment should you need it.
Qualification units can take anything from a week to a month or longer to complete depending on the learner’s ability, level, and time available to study. The average length of a qualification is described on the individual course page as GLH (Guided Learning Hours).
If you are studying a course, you will work your way through the units, with a short knowledge-based quiz at the end of each unit. Once you have completed this, you will be required to mark the course completion notification and provide some feedback. Your certificate will be processed by the Awarding Organisation and then posted to you.
How we assess your work
There are no exams to sit; each qualification module has a range of assessment tasks aimed at meeting the learning outcomes of the module. There are quizzes, essays, activities and research to do and several other methods to assess your understanding. If you do not understand anything contained within the course materials or assessment, please contact your tutor for advice – we are here to assist you!
Our team of animal care, welfare and conservation experts develop all the courses and qualifications we offer. Our courses are unique in that they have a strong emphasis on ethics and welfare.
Along with challenging assignments that will be marked and assessed by qualified Tutors, you will gain valuable knowledge about your chosen subject. Animal Courses Direct Tutors have all achieved a level of education and experience that matches the needs and expectations of anyone who undertakes our courses. Tutors support and assist achievement, whether for assessments, understanding particular topics or general support and encouragement.
We consult with organisations across the animal care sector to ensure that our training is relevant to employers and that it enhances career and employment prospects in a variety of roles.
Course information
Many of the qualifications that we offer are regulated & officially recognised by Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). Ofqual are the independent qualifications regulator for England. They regulate so that qualifications are sufficiently valid and trusted and they make clear and considered judgements for the benefit of those who study, and rely on, regulated qualifications. All of the Ofqual regulated qualifications that we offer meet Animal Activities Licensing (AAL) requirements.
Many training providers do not make it clear that their courses are NOT Ofqual regulated. Please note, if a course is not Ofqual regulated, it will not meet AAL requirements. To check whether a qualification is Ofqual regulated, search the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications.
If the course offered by a training provider isn’t on the Ofqual Register, it isn’t Ofqual regulated and it, therefore, does not meet Animal Activities Licensing requirements.
Some courses that we offer are not Ofqual qualifications. These have been designed by Animal Courses Direct to meet specific learners’ and employers’ requirements, which cannot be satisfied through current regulated qualifications. We construct courses according to the standards set in the QCF (Qualifications and Credit Framework) for Vocational or work-related qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The quality of learning and the level of demand within the courses, match the requirements of Entry Level to Level 6 learning. For quality assurance, our courses are endorsed by Open College Network West Midlands Quality Endorsement Licence (QEL). This scheme provides recognition for high-quality internal training programmes.
Accreditation means that Animal Courses Direct has undergone an external quality check to ensure that our organisation and the courses we offer meet defined quality criteria. Open College Network West Midland endorsement involves robust and rigorous quality assurance audits by external auditors to ensure the ongoing quality of courses. A review of courses is carried out as part of the endorsement process, and QEL numbers for each accredited course are shown clearly on each approved course page.
The courses match expected standards by arranging clear outcomes and matching criteria for achievement. Course specifications show these aspects, and you will be able to demonstrate to an employer both the topics covered in your course and the outcome criteria you have achieved.
Our courses include learning that matches the National Occupational Standards for the animal care industry. This could be either for the theory of animal care and welfare or, in some cases, the option and opportunity to show practical animal care skills. However, please note that the option and opportunity to show practical animal care skills in some of our courses, does not require you to be in a work place caring for animals.
Qualified and Experienced Tutors
Our team of animal care, welfare and conservation experts develop all the courses and qualifications we offer. Our courses are unique in that they have a strong emphasis on ethics and welfare.
Along with challenging assignments that will be marked and assessed by qualified Tutors, you will gain valuable knowledge about your chosen subject.
Animal Courses Direct Tutors have all achieved a level of education and experience that matches the needs and expectations of anyone who undertakes our courses. Tutors support and assist achievement, whether for assessments, understanding particular topics or general support and encouragement.
We consult with organisations across the animal care sector to ensure that our training is relevant to employers and that it enhances career and employment prospects in a variety of roles.
Disability Statement
Animal Courses Direct is Disability Confident Committed.
SafeBuy
Animal Courses Direct is Accredited and Assured with SafeBuy the consumer assurance scheme and we adhere to the eCommerce code of practices.
Student Achievement
Due to the expert support given to our students, we have an extremely high course completion rate with students achieving high pass marks. Upon successful completion, you will receive your certificate by email. Gaining a certificate will enhance your career and job prospects within the animal care and conservation sectors. It will also provide you with the knowledge to make a positive contribution in your chosen career path working with animals. We are very proud of our students and happy to share stories of their success!
Extra benefits when enrolling on an Animal Careers Direct course
Support
You will have support from our entire team who will do all they can to ensure you get the most out of your studies and putting your qualification to good use. Students enrolled on our Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6 Ofqual regulated qualifications are eligible to apply for a TOTUM Student Card.
- Reference: A reference from your Tutor on successful completion of your course. This is valuable for job or university applications.
- Jobs: We provide an online Job Board for all our students; once you have completed your studies, we suggest you upload your CV and apply for suitable vacancies.
- ZSL Fellowship: When you study a wildlife, zoology or conservation course with Animal Courses Direct, you will be eligible to apply for ZSL Fellowship. Fellows get unlimited access for them and a family guest to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos plus borrowing rights in the extensive ZSL library of rare zoological texts. Enrol on your course and apply directly to ZSL for Fellowship.
- Financial Assistance: You may be able to obtain financial assistance towards funding your studies, please click here for more information.
Please Click Here For Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
We understand how important it is to raise standards in the animal care sector through education; employees can make a huge difference to the animals in their care and to animal welfare if they are empowered with the right skills
