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Animal Management (BTEC Level 2 Technical Diploma or First Award)

Plumpton College

Ditchling Road, Plumpton, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 3AE

National Award (BTEC)
Level 2
Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care

Available start dates

Available start dates

Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Plumpton College
1 Year(s)
Full time
Daytime/working hours

Course Summary

Do you love animals? Are you looking to work with them in a cattery, kennel, pet shop or rescue centre?

If you're leaving school or college, we've got a fantastic course for you at Plumpton where you'll learn about household pets, exotics, and large animals.

You can look forward to loads of practical hands-on experience with our different animals here on-site, plus learning all the theory you'll need to be successful in your future role.

This course is designed to give you some experience of animal care, working with household pets, exotics, and large animals. You will spend one day a week on work experience, with three or four days at College divided between practical and theory sessions.

The course is ideal for those wishing to develop a career in kennels, catteries, pet shops, and rescue centres, or to progress onto the Subsidiary Diploma or Extended Diploma in Animal Management for those with Distinction grades.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Study programmes include a minimum of compulsory work experience hours achieved through one day a week or block placements. The amount of hours required is dependent on the study programme.

CAREERS HUB

We offer impartial careers guidance to all of our students, email careers@plumpton.ac.uk to explore your next step or to book an appointment – we’re here to help.

QUALIFICATIONS GAINED

BTEC Level 2 Diploma/First Certificate in Animal Care

College award, Functional Skills or GCSEs in English & maths

Course Details

Indicative Programme Content

You can look forward to a varied programme of modules that also includes a work placement. You'll also continue your English and Maths up to GCSE level. Modules include:

  • Maintaining animal accommodation
  • Practical animal feeding
  • Conservation and improvement of British habitats
  • Animal health and welfare
  • Basic principles of animal biology
  • Work experience in the animal care industry
  • Nursing of animals
  • Employment Skills
  • English & Maths GCSEs and Functional Skills are also delivered and assessed throughout the programme

Entry requirements

First Award in Animal Care

  • You’ll need to have achieved 2 GCSEs between Grade 9-3 (previous grade structure A*-D)
  • Successful completion of a Level 1 course in another area, having studied English and Maths at GCSE
  • Mature students without the above requirements will be considered

Technical Diploma in Animal Care

  • You’ll need to have achieved 3 GCSEs between Grade 9-3 (previous grade structure A*-D) including either English or Maths at a Grade 9-4 Successful completion of a Level 2 course in another area
  • Achieving a merit on the Level 2 First Award
  • Mature students without the above requirements will be considered

Your next steps...

Following satisfactory completion of the programme, at Distinction Level students may progress to the following programme:

  • BTEC Level 3 in Animal Management

Alternatively, students might gain employment in areas such as:

  • Kennels
  • Catteries
  • Rescue Centres
  • Pet Shops
  • Zoos

Additional information


For more courses like this, check our courses page.