Animal Care & Veterinary Revision — GCSE & A-Level | MasteryMind

Animal Care & Veterinary Revision

Q: What careers can I pursue with Animal Care & Veterinary?

Veterinary Nurse: Supporting veterinary surgeons with clinical procedures and patient care. Animal Welfare Officer: Investigating and enforcing animal welfare standards. Zookeeper: Caring for exotic and endangered species in zoo environments. Dog Groomer/Behaviourist: Providing grooming services or addressing behavioural issues. Equine Groom: Managing horse care, exercise, and stable operations.

Q: What subjects pair well with Animal Care & Veterinary?

Agriculture: Livestock management spans both disciplines Applied Science: Biology and chemistry underpin veterinary science Environmental Science: Wildlife conservation connects both fields

Study animal biology, welfare, and veterinary nursing practices.

1st4sport, Agored Cymru, AIM Qualifications, Ascentis, BHS Qualifications, British Driving Society, British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust, Central Qualifications, City & Guilds Limited, City and Guilds of London Institute, Gatehouse Awards Ltd, Gateway Qualifications Limited, Institute of Animal Technology, iPET Network Limited, Lantra Awards, NPTC, OCN London, Open Awards, Open College Network Northern Ireland, Open College Network West Midlands, Open College Network Yorkshire and Humber Region trading as Certa, Pearson, Pearson Education Ltd, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Royal Society for Public Health, SEG Awards, Sheldrake Training Limited, Skills and Education Group Awards, VetSkill, Worshipful Company of Farriers aligned

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What is Animal Care & Veterinary?

Animal Care & Veterinary qualifications prepare learners for roles in veterinary practices, animal shelters, zoos, wildlife parks, and agricultural settings. The UK animal care sector supports over 100,000 jobs.

Students study animal biology, nutrition, health and disease, behaviour, welfare legislation, and practical husbandry skills. Clinical nursing qualifications prepare learners for regulated veterinary nursing roles.

From kennel assistants to registered veterinary nurses, the sector offers structured career progression. Veterinary nursing is a protected title requiring registration with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

What You'll Learn

Animal anatomy, physiology, and biology

Animal nutrition and feeding management

Animal health, disease, and first aid

Behaviour and welfare assessment

Veterinary nursing clinical skills

Animal welfare legislation and ethics

Animal Care & Veterinary at a Glance

~35,000 learners

students/year

Exam Boards & Specifications

We cover Animal Care & Veterinary across all major UK exam boards. Select a board to explore topics, or view the official specification.

1st4sport

601/4896/2

1 topics covered

View full specification

Agored Cymru

601/4731/3

30 topics covered

View full specification

AIM Qualifications

601/7552/7

2 topics covered

View full specification

Ascentis

501/1548/0

25 topics covered

View full specification

BHS Qualifications

501/1829/8

2 topics covered

View full specification

British Driving Society

603/3958/5

7 topics covered

View full specification

British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust

500/1570/9

View full specification

Central Qualifications

601/4854/8

9 topics covered

View full specification

City & Guilds Limited

500/8320/X

267 topics covered

View full specification

City and Guilds of London Institute

501/1149/8

1 topics covered

View full specification

Gatehouse Awards Ltd

603/7699/5

18 topics covered

View full specification

Gateway Qualifications Limited

603/2029/1

73 topics covered

View full specification

Institute of Animal Technology

600/0558/0

65 topics covered

View full specification

iPET Network Limited

610/6910/3

View full specification

Lantra Awards

610/3154/9

16 topics covered

View full specification

NPTC

500/1131/5

View full specification

OCN London

601/8457/7

99 topics covered

View full specification

Open Awards

603/6075/6

34 topics covered

View full specification

Open College Network Northern Ireland

601/0734/0

1 topics covered

View full specification

Open College Network West Midlands

603/5111/1

10 topics covered

View full specification

Open College Network Yorkshire and Humber Region trading as Certa

601/2490/8

4 topics covered

View full specification

Pearson

601/4530/4

91 topics covered

View full specification

Pearson Education Ltd

610/6440/3

7 topics covered

View full specification

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

501/0487/1

7 topics covered

View full specification

Royal Society for Public Health

100/5798/5

View full specification

SEG Awards

500/9652/7

374 topics covered

View full specification

Sheldrake Training Limited

610/1736/X

1 topics covered

View full specification

Skills and Education Group Awards

500/9741/6

43 topics covered

View full specification

VetSkill

610/4422/2

12 topics covered

View full specification

Worshipful Company of Farriers

100/2488/8

View full specification

Coming Soon

Curriculum data for this subject is being prepared.

Where Animal Care & Veterinary Can Take You

Career paths and opportunities for Animal Care & Veterinary students

Veterinary Nurse

Supporting veterinary surgeons with clinical procedures and patient care.

Animal Welfare Officer

Investigating and enforcing animal welfare standards.

Zookeeper

Caring for exotic and endangered species in zoo environments.

Dog Groomer/Behaviourist

Providing grooming services or addressing behavioural issues.

Equine Groom

Managing horse care, exercise, and stable operations.

University Courses

Veterinary Nursing

Animal Science

Zoology

Marine Biology

Veterinary Medicine

Wildlife Conservation

Subjects That Pair Well with Animal Care & Veterinary

These subjects complement Animal Care & Veterinary and are often studied together

Agriculture

Livestock management spans both disciplines

Applied Science

Biology and chemistry underpin veterinary science

Environmental Science

Wildlife conservation connects both fields

Looking for Past Papers?

Access our comprehensive library of past papers and mark schemes for Vocational Animal Care & Veterinary.

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Animal Care & Veterinary Revision

Overview

Studying Animal Care & Veterinary at secondary level gives you a hands-on introduction to the fascinating world of animal health, welfare, and husbandry. The qualification, typically a BTEC or City & Guilds Level 2 or 3, covers a broad range of topics: from animal biology and handling to nutrition, health, and workplace safety. You will learn how to care for a variety of species, understand their behaviour, and recognise signs of common diseases. Practical experience is central—you'll spend time in animal care settings, such as kennels, farms, or veterinary practices, applying your learning in real-world environments. This not only builds your confidence but also develops essential employability skills like teamwork, communication, and responsible animal stewardship.

The course develops a unique blend of scientific knowledge and practical competence. You will strengthen your understanding of anatomy, physiology, and genetics, while also gaining hands-on skills in animal handling, grooming, and first aid. Your ability to observe, analyse, and solve problems will grow as you monitor animal health and design care plans. Furthermore, you'll explore the ethical and legal frameworks that underpin UK animal welfare, preparing you for the responsibilities of working with live animals. Whether you progress to an apprenticeship, a higher-level qualification, or enter the workforce directly, the skills fostered—resilience, empathy, attention to detail—are highly valued across the animal care sector and beyond.

This subject is a springboard to diverse further education and career pathways. For those aiming to become veterinary nurses, the Level 3 Extended Diploma provides direct entry onto a university-level veterinary nursing degree or higher apprenticeship. It also lays solid foundations for degrees in animal science, zoology, or ecology. Even if you aspire to become a veterinary surgeon, this course can strengthen your UCAS application by demonstrating sustained practical experience and commitment. Alternatively, you could move into employment as a kennel assistant, animal welfare officer, or pet shop technician, with opportunities to specialise through CPD. The UK animal care industry is thriving, with growing demand for skilled professionals in welfare organisations, zoos, research, and the pet industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do I need to become a vet in the UK?

To become a veterinary surgeon, you need a degree in veterinary medicine from an RCVS-approved university, which generally requires A-levels in biology and chemistry (or equivalent) with high grades. However, a Level 3 Extended Diploma in Animal Management can sometimes be accepted alongside science A-levels, but you must always check specific university entry requirements. Gaining extensive work experience in veterinary practices and animal settings is also essential—an animal care course helps you secure and make the most of these placements.

Animal Care & Veterinary Revision

What is Animal Care & Veterinary?

What You'll Learn

Animal Care & Veterinary at a Glance

Exam Boards & Specifications

1st4sport

Agored Cymru

AIM Qualifications

Ascentis

BHS Qualifications

British Driving Society

British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust

Central Qualifications

City & Guilds Limited

City and Guilds of London Institute

Gatehouse Awards Ltd

Gateway Qualifications Limited

Institute of Animal Technology

iPET Network Limited

Lantra Awards

NPTC

OCN London

Open Awards

Open College Network Northern Ireland

Open College Network West Midlands

Open College Network Yorkshire and Humber Region trading as Certa

Pearson

Pearson Education Ltd

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Royal Society for Public Health

SEG Awards

Sheldrake Training Limited

Skills and Education Group Awards

VetSkill

Worshipful Company of Farriers

Coming Soon

Where Animal Care & Veterinary Can Take You

Veterinary Nurse

Animal Welfare Officer

Zookeeper

Dog Groomer/Behaviourist

Equine Groom

University Courses

Subjects That Pair Well with Animal Care & Veterinary

Looking for Past Papers?

Ready to boost your Animal Care & Veterinary grades?

Is studying animal care a good choice if I'm not sure about being a vet?

Do I need to have studied science GCSEs to take an animal care course?

What is the difference between animal care and veterinary science?

Can I work with animals without going to university?

How much practical work is involved in an animal care course?

What You'll Learn

Career Paths

Subject Pairings

University Pathways