Animal care jobs and careers

Many young people want a job working with animals – what could be better than turning a childhood love of furry creatures into a fulfilling animal care career

There is a wide variety of job options in the animal care sector, ranging from animal shelter assistant to veterinary surgeon. It is important to have a clear idea of what career path would suit you best, in terms of your own interests and the reality of gaining the right qualifications you’ll need to do the job you’d like to do.

Where to start

If you simply love animals, you could consider working for an animal shelter. Shelters rely on unpaid volunteers but if you want a paid job, animal welfare organizations such as the RSPCA, the PDSA and the Blue Cross all offer jobs in animal care. A career in animal care can be hugely fulfilling knowing that you’re helping animals in need but it’s not a job for the faint-hearted, as you’ll often be dealing with sick animals, some of which will have been subjected to ill-treatment or neglect. For more info go to: www.pdsa.org.uk/careers

www.bluecross.org.uk/1739/jobs. www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/jobs

Qualifications and wages

Some employers may ask for GCSEs but you may not need formal qualifications for animal shelter work. Once you are employed as an animal care worker, you will usually receive training on the job. You would probably start on the minimum wage and eventually earning up to £14,000 a year.

Pet grooming

Animal care activities can also include pet groomer. Pet groomers can be employed at animal welfare clinics or can be self-employed, working from home or in a grooming parlour or by travelling out to clients homes. For more info, go to: www.petcare.org.uk/index.php/vacancies

Equine

If horses are your passion, the equine sector offers many options, with jobs in horse breeding on stud farms for example. In the leisure sector, there are jobs and apprenticeships available, such as teaching in a riding school or in a pony trekking business. The horse racing industry has a wide variety of jobs and apprenticeships too – check out our ‘Backing a winner’article for more info.

Apprenticeships

Equine apprenticeship and foundation degrees in equine studies are another option. On an equine studies course, you’ll study the anatomy and biology of horses as well as the business side of the equine industry. Equine management courses cover stable management, coaching skills and the leisure and tourism-related aspects of the equestrian world. For more info, go to: www.brightknowledge.org/knowledge-bank/sport-and-leisure/careers-and-courses/working-in-the-equine-industry

Intermediate level apprenticeships in the animal care sector include animal/dog groomer, pet shop assistant or dog handler and at advanced level there are apprenticeships in zoo/animal keeping, animal/dog training, or animal management technician. A good place to look for recruitment in this sector is NGTU’s Animal jobs section.

Zoology

If you want to study animals then a degree in zoology is an option. Studying zoology can lead to jobs in zoos or wildlife parks or with environmental protection or research institutions. www.prospects.ac.uk/options_zoology.htm

Veterinary medicine

The most well known occupations in animal care are those of veterinary nurse and veterinary surgeon (vet). These are the most competitive professions to get into so it is important that you build up a portfolio of work experience and work hard for the grades necessary to get on to a university degree course.

Veterinary nursing

To be a veterinary nurse you’ll need at least two A-levels, preferably in chemistry and/or biology and at least 5 GCSEs, grades A- C, including English language, maths and science. You can qualify by doing an apprenticeship and work-based training or by doing a degree.A variety of universities offer degree courses in veterinary nursing, each with different entry requirements. For info on apprenticeships and work-based learning go to: www.caw.ac.uk/study-with-us/

For info on veterinary nursing degrees, go to: www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/courses/options/veterinary-nursing/

Veterinary surgeon

Becoming a vet takes a great deal of hard work and dedication. Universities ask applicants for top grades in A-level science subjects and demand evidence of a high level of work experience. Only seven universities in the UK offer degrees in veterinary medicine and/or veterinary science. Despite the competition, more young people than ever are applying to study the subject.

Depending on which university you apply to, you will study for one of the following qualifications: BVMS, BVM&S, BVetMed, BVM, BVS, VetMB and BVSc. They all have the same course code – D100 and are all five-year degrees which allow you to practice as a vet once you have graduated.

For those who secure a place on a degree course, staying on the course is just as challenging and exams are frequent. But if you’re up to the challenge, those who eventually qualify as a vet can find themselves enjoying an exceptionally fulfilling and very well-paid career. For more info, go to: www.rcvs.org.uk/education/i-want-to-be-a-vet/#careerops or check out our careers in agriculture page.