Becoming an Animal Care College Accredited Petcare Professional
Why become and Accredited Petcare professional? The maze of qualifications (and the worrying number of people with no qualifications whatever) has encouraged the Animal Care College to introduce this new award which can be recognised across the sector.
It will be the subject of considerable publicity and will quickly gain wide UK recognition as the major public awareness campaign is planned.
Who may apply? Whether you are a veterinary receptionist, groomer, pet shop assistant, worker for a major animal charity, boarding or breeding kennel or run your own business as a pet sitter, dog walker or home boarder, the Animal Care College Accredited Petcare Professional Award will establish and/or enhance your reputation for dedication and excellence in every aspect of your work and be the public’s guarantee of quality service and professionalism within the pet care sector.
If you feel you have the qualifications or the experience to merit the award, complete the attached form (the spaces expand as you type so it is very easy) and click on Submit’. The College’s internal verification team will evaluate your qualifications and will either recommend that you be awarded the qualification, ask for further information or suggest courses which would enable you to fulfil the requirements of the Award.
Topping up your qualifications: This does not stop you completing any of the College’s individual courses and many professionals use them to fulfil the Continuing Professional Development demands of their employers or to extend their skills and knowledge depending on their career objectives. They all provide specific qualifications widely recognised by the animal care sector. But being an Accredited Petcare Professional is likely to ‘give you the edge’ when it comes to advertising your services or applying for a job in the industry.
What qualification may be used to gain the award? You will see from the form that a wide range of professional experiences may be cited to support your application for the award as well as any awards or qualifications already achieved. However, the award must be seen as both relevant and robust so you should recognise that Accreditation will only be awarded for the equivalent of 320 hours unique work. This is an important standard - you may have 320 hours working in a grooming parlour but if you have been bathing dogs which involves repeating the same process lasting three hours one hundred times, this cannot be seen as the equivalent of 320 hours unique work. On the other hand, given that practice makes perfect it might quality for perhaps 30 hours.
Accredited awards through the Pet Care Trust, City & Guilds, NOCN, private accredited schools and colleges, NVQ’s and Modern Apprenticeships may all count toward the Accredited Petcare Professional award as will documented and successful experience in practice. ‘Experience’ will have to be certified through clients, mentors or fellow professionals and the college will need references to confirm any statements made. The College’s Internal Verification team may suggest courses from the College’s range to ‘top up’ the number of unique hours required for the award. Membership of an organisation such as the Pet Care Trust, the Association of Pet Dog Trainers or the British Institute of Dogs Training cannot, of itself, contribute to the award although the successful completion of accredited or acceptable courses they deliver will be eligible.
Costs and benefits: There is a Recognition Fee of £85 (Plus Vat) covering the costs of the assessment first year’s membership and an annual fee for the maintenance of the award, currently £35.00 (Plus VAT) per year. If the evidence and portfolio is not accredited we may have to charge a further fee, and you will be advised of the cost before we proceed with the verification. Holders of the award will be required to show that they have completed relevant Continuing Professional Development learning, research, training or contributed in some other practical way to the development of their skills on within any three year period.
Being a member of the Accredited Petcare Professional Register will attract other benefits which will include a listing on the Register’s website, commercial legal protection and legal helpline, a regular Newsletter delivered direct to you email inbox, access to a Members Area which will include a Situations Vacant and Situations Sought pages. Plans are also in hand for an Annual or Bi-annual Conference in association with another established body working within the sector, and commercial legal protection and legal helpline.
Getting more information: Full details of all Animal Care College courses and the Units** they deliver can be found at www.animalcarecollege.co.uk which includes a video introduction to the College, a page-by-page version of the Prospectus, summaries of each course available, our extensive student support package as well as useful links to information about working in the sector, our bookshop and Frequently Asked Questions.
*The Animal Care College was established in 1980 and is recognised as the leading organisation for distance learning in the sector because of its reputation for quality, professionalism and value. Founded by David Cavill for pet care enthusiasts, the College now has over forty courses at every educational Level for professionals working in, or intending to work in, animal care.
** A ‘unit’ requires about 30 hours of work at Levels 1 and 2. Each unit can usually be completed in about a month and attracts 3 nationally recognised ‘credits’ for each unit. At Level 3 about 60 hours of work (about two months) is required for each Unit which gains the student 6 credits for each unit. ‘Work’ includes the time required for research, reading and attending classes or seminars as well as listening and/or watching various related programmes.
Initial application for assessment
On receipt of your application, the details will be assessed and should there be any requirement for further details, the appointed Internal Verification Team will contact you personally. This might be for:
• The clarification of any award specified.
•A request for supporting evidence from customers/clients or for
• Personal recommendations/testimonials
The Internal Verification team will also provide advice regarding further qualifications or support from clients or employers, which would be required to fulfil the criteria of the award.
If the assessment is positive you will be sent a formal application form for registration as a holder of the award, an invoice for the Recognition Fee and a standing order for the ongoing subscription.
