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Additionally, finding the best training solution for your individual circumstances can be a time-consuming process. That’s why we have put together this list of questions and answers about our veterinary nursing, animal studies and horse care courses. Whether you are studying in Perth, a non-resident, or in one of our states or territories in Australia including rural areas you can find out more here. Additionally, finding the best training solution for your individual circumstances can be a time-consuming process. That’s why we have put together this list of questions and answers about our veterinary nursing, animal studies and horse care courses. Whether you are studying in Perth, a non-resident, internationally or one of our states or territories in Australia including rural areas you can find out more here.
All qualifications have been evaluated against the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) to determine the student’s proficiency in the essential core skills required for successful participation. These core skills include learning, reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy.
All applicants will be sent a request to complete a language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) assessment evaluated by an independent organisation to assess if their current core skills are of the required level, to determine their suitability for the course. Where minor skill gaps are identified in successful applicants, those students will be provided with the necessary support to develop the required skill level throughout the course.
The course will not be suitable for applicants where a significant core skill gap is identified in the LLN assessment. In such instances, unsuccessful applicants may be referred to an alternative study pathway or external support services to develop their core skills.
If you’re WA based, our Blended Learning study mode option for the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is a great online option if you cannot attend campus regularly but are seeking more guidance and interaction with our AVT Trainers and Assessors.
Virtual classroom sessions are held weekly. You will remotely join a live on-campus classroom session, where course content is delivered by a Trainer and Assessor and will include presentations, class discussions, training videos, industry related scenarios and guest speakers throughout the course. It is an interactive session where you can ask the Trainer and Assessor questions. These sessions complement the course material and help you better understand the content, rather than just reading all the information that is required.
Virtual tutorial sessions are held monthly with your Trainer and Assessor. These Zoom-like sessions (using Teams) are designed to cover particular areas of veterinary nursing, the course material and offer support to a smaller group of online students. These face-time sessions allow you time to speak to your Trainer and Assessor and your fellow classmates directly.
A relevant topic relating to the units you are studying at the time, is covered each month, and more time is spent answering questions about the assessments, workplace assignments and practical tasks that need to be completed. Useful tips on how to approach each subject area and the associated assessments is also covered.
On-campus workshops are essential hands-on practical training sessions occur during these on-campus workshops spread out over the duration of the course. During these compulsory workshops, you also get to meet with the AVT Trainers and Assessors and your fellow classmates, who you usually only see online.
We do not hold a formal Open Day, however we often attend careers expos and events organised by schools. Throughout the year we conduct information sessions which are offered by invitation. If you are interested in attending one of these sessions please contact us.
We offer two flexible study options for our Animal Care courses.
1) Self-paced + Online
You can select our self-paced online eLearning option, which includes workplace training at an approved location of your choice. Our online eLearning courses are available for enrolment year-round. To get started, simply visit the qualification pages:
2) On-campus + Workplace
We also provide on-campus and workplace blended courses for our Animal Care programs. You can choose from our Certificate II courses at Cat Haven (Shenton Park) and Greyhounds as Pets (Southern River), our Ascot campus, or our Certificate III course in collaboration with RSPCA (Malaga).
Each course has multiple intake opportunities throughout the year. For the latest course dates, we recommend checking our timetable and key dates. To learn more about our workplace blended courses, please visit the qualification pages:
If you’re a high school student, you can also explore our on-campus course in Ascot with two intakes available annually. Please note that Year 12 students are eligible to apply for the semester one intake. For more info, please see the qualification page:
The units are assessed using various methods. Throughout your course you may be expected to submit assessments via the following methods:
Animal Care Courses (Previously Animal Studies)
ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care and ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services (previously Animal Studies) are Online Courses except for the on-campus / on-site courses below:
For the online courses, you do not need to attend lessons. A majority of your study will take place at home, online. You will also need to attend an approved workplace to complete practical training. All assessments are completed and submitted online.
Veterinary Nursing
Our ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing course is offered as online eLearning or on-campus delivery modes. If you choose our on-campus mode, you will be expected to attend classes at our campus each week throughout the term. Online students, do not need to attend classes.
Animal Behaviour and Training
ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training is offered via blended learning. Your theory and interactive lessons are studied from home via online eLearning and Zoom classes, plus you will attend group training workshops at a training facility in Perth WA.
All online eLearning students from Animal Care, Animal Behaviour and Training, Horse Care and Veterinary Nursing qualifications are invited to attend workshops throughout the year. These helpful training sessions provide practical experience and give you face-to-face access to our lecturers and tutors. Workshops are held at our campus in Perth, Western Australia. For more information, visit our Workshops Page.
We have a team of highly qualified Trainers and Assessors who have worked in various areas of the animal industry (take a look at our ‘Meet Our Team’ page!). Our Trainers and Assessors are always on hand to answer any questions or provide further support, explanations or clarification of any of the course material. They’ll mentor and coach you through the course material when required. You can contact our Trainers via phone, email or video call.
All of our accredited courses and TAFE accredited courses share the same qualification upon completion. For example, our Veterinary Nursing course, ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, provides graduates with the same nationally recognised qualification as TAFE offers.
Similarly, all of our animal care courses such as ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care provide graduates with the same qualification and benefits as TAFE offers such as meeting the prerequisite for Veterinary Nursing.
As a private Registered Training Organisation, with 25 years of experience in the Australian Animal Care training industry, our offering to students is uniquely different to that of TAFE and Tech Colleges.
No, upon successful completion, both our courses and TAFE courses grant the same qualification. The qualification is recognised by industry bodies and employers. The difference lies in our delivery approach and industry focus as mentioned above.
AVT offers high quality study material written, reviewed and delivered by Veterinarians, Animal Scientists and Veterinary Nurses with formal training qualifications. Our in-house training team have spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours creating course resources for our units of competency across all courses.
The difference between registered training providers’ course content across all RTOs including TAFE is often the units contained in the course and the quality of the material. There are many units that can be included in a course and training providers nominate a selection of units they will offer to students.
Our courses are broad-based and give an excellent introduction to working with animals across all species. They provide a fantastic opportunity to learn about many different animals and most importantly allow you to apply what you learn from our online course material or in the classroom to the workplace.
To find out more about the units offered within each course visit the Course Content section on our qualifications pages.
There are many online training providers offering “Certified” courses in animal care such as the Vet Assistant Certificate, Advanced Certificate in Veterinary Assistant and Animal Welfare, Dog Grooming Certificate, Equine Studies Certificate, Cat Care and Training Certificate, Animal Welfare Certificate and many others. Generally, these online courses are not accredited and therefore not nationally recognised by the Australian Government.
Only nationally accredited certificates offered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) meet the prerequisite for Veterinary Nursing. RTOs are regulated and audited by the Australian Skills Quality Authority or the relevant State regulator to ensure the course content meets certification standards and the provider complies with the legislation required to deliver the VET Quality Framework. The best way to find a nationally accredited organisation offering nationally accredited courses is to search training.gov.au. Also, as a general rule, animal care related courses, commence with a code starting with ACM e.g. ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care
There are a number of online trainer providers providing animal care related courses that are not RTO’s and therefore their courses do not meet the prerequisite for ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Many of these courses are theory based and do not require you to obtain practical skills or have contact with animals which is essential for the prerequisite. If you are considering a course in an animal care related area, we highly recommend choosing an accredited course. This ensures your certificate will be recognised by a future employer and you can continue your study pathway to veterinary nursing or another area of study.
For more information about the prerequisite and entry requirements for veterinary nursing visit: Selection Criteria and Entry into Veterinary Nursing
All Veterinary Nursing (Certificate IV level) students receive a hard copy textbook at the commencement of the course.
If you are studying via our online course you will be given access to the units and additional study materials digitally via our Online Learning System.
If you are studying online, some retired unit textbooks are also available to purchase via our online store. Browse our store here >>
To successfully complete our on-campus / on-site Animal Care courses, attendance is compulsory for all practical training days and classroom days.
If you’re unwell, you’ll be asked to contact your Trainer in advance to arrange a time to catch up. Due to the intensive nature of the course, if you’re absent more than two (2) days, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to successfully complete your qualification within the given timeframe.
The application process for our Animal Care on-campus / on-site courses are as follows:
For an overview of all important dates and deadlines including details of the next intake for all AVT courses, visit our timetables and key dates page.
The table below details the duration and maximum allowable time you can take to complete our courses. Our online courses are self-paced, meaning you can obtain your qualification much sooner if you wish to as long as all assessments and training have been successfully completed.
Extensions are available on a case by case review. For more information about extensions please visit our Student Policies page.
This is an intensive course and your practical days will be spent at our Animal Care Facility where tasks will be hands-on and working alongside fellow students. Theory classes will have a maximum of 36 students, while practical classes will have a maximum of 12 students.
The RSPCA Program is delivered two days a week. You will attend a theory and practical day at AVT, as well as a practical day at the RSPCA, where you will have the opportunity to work closely with fellow students, our qualified teaching team, and the RSPCA behavioural team.
You are required to commit to two (2) days of training per week during the week.
Due to the intensive nature of this course including the volume of study and practical hours required, all students are expected to meet the 100% attendance requirement for the weekly practical training and on-site training days.
This is an intensive course and a majority of the days spent at the Cat Haven and Dogs’ Refuge Home will be hands-on working alongside fellow students, as well as practical classroom activities with our qualified teaching team at our Ascot campus. In order to maximise your practical training, and provide as much support to individuals as possible, your class size will be no more than 12 students. Your theoretical sessions will be in larger groups.
Individuals employed by a business under an Apprenticeship or Traineeship arrangement can nominate any RTO (Registered Training Provider) with the relevant qualifications on scope to provide training for their chosen qualification, provided that RTO has the capacity to deliver the qualification under traineeship conditions.
Often the choice of RTO is a joint decision made between the Employer and the Trainee/Apprentice, to ensure the mode of delivery is suitable for both Trainee and Employer needs,
AVT currently only accepts new entrant traineeship nominations for ACM20117 Certificate II in Animal Studies, where the trainee has an approved training contract registered with the Apprenticeship Office.
Further information about Apprenticeships and Traineeships can be found at www.apprenticeshipsupport.com.au/states/Western-Australia
We are only offering on-campus / on-site courses in Perth, Western Australia.
For students outside of WA, we recommend:
Our Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is offered on-campus at our Ascot training centre.
Our part-time course is 18 months long and commences mid-year. There are 6 academic terms, each term runs for approximately 8–10 weeks with a 2–3 week break between terms. Classes run from 8am – 5pm with a morning, lunch and afternoon break. For the term schedule, including breaks, visit our calendar.
You will attend on-campus classes 1 day a week and you will attend your veterinary work placement for one day a week. You will also require approximately 4-6 hours per week for home-based study. During this time you will complete all homework assigned to you for that week, including reading course materials, completing online assessments and assignments, study and revision for any in-class tests and revision of your practical skills workbook and assignments.
You will also be required to attend excursions throughout the year. Your Trainers will assist you in managing your schedule to attend these events.
Entry requirements do not include experience or previous qualifications working with animals. Your practical work placement will provide this exposure.
No, you do not need to complete a previous qualification for entry into ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services.
For more detailed information about entry requirements for these courses, please visit the “Entry Requirements” section on the following pages:
Non- Perth based vet nursing students including those living in Australian rural areas and in the eastern states are encouraged to apply.
Yes absolutely, non- Perth based students including those living in Australian rural areas and in the Australian eastern states are encouraged to apply. Although, please be aware that to be accepted onto the online learning course from outside WA, you must have a practical work placement arranged.
Please see the Entry Requirements section on our course page for the latest information on how to apply.
The minimum age requirement for the Certificate II in Animal Care is based on academic school year. For the Certificate II in Animal Care, this is Year 10 High School or equivalent. Some exceptions may be possible. Please note the minimum age for our Intensive Courses is 18 years of age due to the policies of our work placement facilities.
The minimum age requirement for the Certificate III in Animal Care Services is based on academic school year. For the Certificate III in Animal Studies, this is Year 11 High School or equivalent. Some exceptions may be possible. Please note the minimum age for the RSPCA Program is 18 years of age due to RSPCA policy.
Due to the nature of the qualification including exposure to radiology equipment, pharmaceuticals, procedures and situations that require a high level of maturity, we require Veterinary Nursing students to be a minimum of 18 years of age or be turning 18 during the academic year.
No, there is no requirement to find a work placement position for the Horse Care Fundamentals short course. The course is completely delivered online, allowing you to complete your learning and assessments at your own pace over a 6 month period.
As a veterinary nursing student, your work placement or practical training work hours can be completed at one or more workplaces. Student placements within veterinary practices are highly sought after, so it can prove difficult to find more than one practice throughout your training.
To complete your placement at two or more workplaces, you must complete and submit the Practical Work Placement Approval Kit for each workplace.
Yes, you can complete your practical training at more than one establishment if you have the opportunity to do so. Whilst it’s not compulsory, training at two different workplaces can be very beneficial and provide you with valuable experiences. However, in saying this we would recommend that you limit your practical training to no more than two different organisations.
Please keep in mind, when choosing these workplaces, your practical placement must correspond with the species-specific unit that you choose as your elective unit.
Finally, we require a signed ‘Workplace Approval Form’ for each placement to ensure the suitability of the placement for your studies.
You will receive a Practical Task Workbook containing a logbook and all the practical assessments you must complete during your placement.
Practical assessments include ‘Workplace Assignments’ that include activities such as case studies, photographs, written descriptions of workplace procedures and video evidence of practical tasks. These assessments are designed to see how well you can apply the information covered in the theory component of each unit.
Each unit also includes ‘Practical Task Worksheets’ outlining various tasks that you are expected to complete during your placement, with each task signed off by a supervisor once successfully completed. All practical assessments must be submitted to us via our online learning platform for assessment by one of our tutors.
A student attendance record is also included in the Workbook and your supervisor must sign this to confirm that you have completed the required number of hours during a placement.
During your placement, we will contact your supervisor to obtain feedback on your performance. This feedback will then be relayed to you.
Self-organised work placements are only required for selected courses and delivery methods. As a general rule, our intensive, on-campus or on-site courses do not require you to organise a work placement. Check the relevant practical training/workplace information on the course page for more information.
Special note for ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing Students: Only non-funded regional WA and interstate Vet Nursing students are required to organise their own work placement.
Prior to starting your workplace practical placement, you must submit a signed ‘Workplace Approval Form’.
This form must be signed by the person who will be supervising you during your placement and returned to us BEFORE your placement starts.
The purpose of this form is to highlight the animals, facilities and equipment available to you and the types of work you will be exposed to during your work placement.
You must wait to receive confirmation from us that your work placement has been approved before beginning your practical placement.
If your work placement is not approved by AVT, and it is unsuitable for the purposes of this course, then any hours already completed there will not contribute to the completion of this qualification or any of the units of competency.
Many of our Animal Studies and Animal Care students, unless employed at a suitable workplace, complete their required hours in a voluntary position whether that be as a volunteer in an animal or wildlife shelter or an animal-related business.
Prior to commencing your work placement, you will need to submit a Practical Work Placement Approval Kit. Once received, our Student Liaison Officer will assess the organisation to ensure it meets the workplace criteria for your course.
It is a general rule that we prefer you to do your practical work placement during the week. Often weekend practice is quiet and might only see emergency cases. If the practice you are considering offers a full service, including sterilisations on weekends, then it might be a possibility. You can discuss this with our Student and Industry Liaison Officer.
Unfortunately no, it does not matter how much time you have spent in practice or amount of experience you have prior to starting the course, you still need to enrol in each unit to enable us to verify your practical skills. Your workplace supervisor may decide that you have the skills required based on previous observations, but we need to ensure you are completing the practical tasks with the theoretical knowledge you are obtaining during your studies.
If you have previous experience working in the veterinary industry you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning (RPL). To find out if RPL may be relevant to you please visit our RPL page.
All of our courses are vocational, which means that they are specifically designed to provide students with the skills, experience and knowledge to enter the animal care workplace. Working in an animal care facility, where you are responsible for a number of different animals and sometimes a range of different species on a daily basis is very different to caring for your own pets at home.
Therefore to successfully complete your qualification you will need to secure a formal workplace practical training placement in a animal related business or organisation. If you are completing our veterinary nursing qualification, you will need to complete your placement in a veterinary practice.
Below are just a few examples of the types of skills and knowledge that must be covered in all of our courses, which cannot be learned from caring for your own animals –
For the Certificate II in Animal Care, you are only required to work with two different species as part of your work placement or workplace practical training. One must be a companion animal and one must correspond with the elective ‘Species-specific’ unit you have chosen as part of your course.
Yes, our qualifications in Vet Nursing, Horse Care (previously offered) and Animal Studies/Care are nationally recognised and accredited.
Our company, Applied Vocational Training (AVT), is fully registered by the Australian Government training registration authority ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority). Our Registered Training Organisation (RTO) number is 5273. The qualifications we offer are nationally recognised Certificates.
We’re also supported and endorsed by the Australian Veterinary Association. Our registration authority can be viewed on the training.gov.au website, which is the Australian Government’s website for details of registered courses and training providers – view our details here.
We strongly recommend you search the training.gov.au website for any training organisation you may be considering.
The Animal Care and Management Package, (ACM10), outlines the qualifications and contents of the individual nationally recognised qualifications. Over the past years, this package has been updated to reflect the needs of the animal care industry and as a result, the course code and name have evolved over this period.
In November 2017, Certificate II in Animal Studies was upgraded from ACM20110 to ACM20117. The content and requirements for this particular certificate did not change and the newer certificate was deemed equivalent to ACM20110.
In April 2021, ACM20117 Certificate II in Animal Studies was superseded by ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care with changes to core and elective units. For more detailed information about this upgrade and course availability see the detailed post Certificate II and Certificate III in Animal Studies Qualifications to be replaced with updated training packages ACM20121 and ACM30122
ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services is the latest training package at a Certificate III level in animal care. ACM30110 Certificate III in Animal Studies, ACM30117 Certificate III in Animal Studies, ACM30121 Certificate III in Animal Care Services are now superseded by the new course.
Course codes change from time to time because the Government department that oversees the training packages, including the Animal Care Package (ACM10) regularly review courses and revise content guidelines in line with industry feedback. These guidelines are then provided to Registered Training Organisations such as ourselves so we can revise and update our course material. This results both in changes to the content within certain units and in some cases, units being replaced. Some qualifications may change significantly, some others may not.
When qualifications in the Animal Care Package are updated, training providers generally have between 12 and 24 months to transition students to the new course code. This transition time can differ from time to time depending on extensions permitted by the government.
Each superseded certificate is deemed equivalent to the new qualification.
For more information about the changes to ACM40412 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing to ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing we recommend reading Important changes to the National Qualifications in Animal Studies and Veterinary Nursing
Please note the new course code is ACM40418. ACM40417 was not released.
We follow the national training package for all qualifications. The latest version of the training package can be viewed here. Training.gov.au is the Australian Government Website for registered training courses and providers.
Concession fees are only available to eligible students for selected courses that have been granted government funding. Currently, this applies to the following courses offered by AVT:
For more information on the eligibility criteria please see the fees section of the course pages above.
The Certificate 3 Guarantee supports eligible students to complete their first post-school certificate III qualification.
The program also supports school students to access training and Queensland’s Year 12 graduates to transition to employment by providing free training in high priority qualifications.
Unfortunately, AVT is unable to assist students under the Queensland Government Certificate III Guarantee Funding Programme at this time. AVT is not a registered provider under the funding programme scheme. We can only accept general applications from full fee paying students who wish to study online with us.
Find out more about our online course option for Certificate III in Animal Studies here
You may be able to find a local provider and further information by visiting http://www.skillsgateway.training.qld.gov.au
WA based students, studying the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing may be eligible for a government subsidised place (Jobs and Skills WA). You can find out more information by visiting the Fees section on the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing page.
You may also be able to apply for financial or government assistance such as Austudy. You can find out more information by approaching The Department of Human Services (Centrelink).
We offer flexible monthly payment plans with instalments for all students. We do not require upfront full payment for any of our courses. Total course fees and payment plan structure vary with each course and individual circumstances. Visit the relevant qualifications page for more information or contact us for further details.
This answer specifically addresses students who wish to study in Australia on a Student Visa.
Unfortunately, we cannot assist individuals studying as international students as we do not hold the required CRICOS (The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) registration.
The following link outlines the main steps to study in Australia homeaffairs.gov.au. This will require applying for a student visa under the Vocational Education and Training Sector. However, you will need to have been accepted into a full-time study course by a CRICOS approved provider and then apply for a student visa. These normally take approximately 46 days to process.
You may find CRICOS registered training institutions in Australia that can offer qualifications to international students. Some TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutions hold CRICOS registration and offer Animal Studies and Veterinary Nursing courses.
Related FAQ’s:
Can an RTO enrol an overseas visitor into a course and not be CRICOS registered?
I live overseas, can I still study your courses online?
Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?
I am a non-resident visa holder, can I study with AVT?
Tags: international, overseas, visa, CRICOS
In some cases, registered training organisations (RTOs) may enrol non-resident students who are temporarily visiting or reside in Australia on certain visas, other than study visas. However, some visas include restrictions on training. Most visas and sub-class visas clearly outline what your study rights are in Australia. It is the responsibility of the individual to check their study and work rights according to their individual visa. Further information is also available from the Department of Home Affairs.
Students wishing to be considered for funded places in the ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing should visit this page for more detailed information about eligibility.
Students wishing to be considered for funded places in the ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (Health & Welfare) course should visit this page for detailed information about eligibility.
Students wishing to be considered for funding places in the ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services (RSPCA) course should visit this page for detailed information about eligibility.
Related FAQ’s:
In some cases, a registered training organisation (RTO) may enrol students who are temporarily visiting or reside in Australia on certain visas, other than study visas. However, some visas include restrictions on training. Most visas and sub-class visas clearly outline what your study rights are in Australia. It is the responsibility of the individual to check their study and work rights according to their individual visa* . Further information is also available from the Department of Home Affairs.
*Any course undertaken by a student visa holder must be registered on CRICOS and training must be provided by a CRICOS registered provider (The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students). Applied Vocational Training is not a registered CRICOS provider and as such we are unable to accept applications from individuals wishing to study on a student visa.
Related FAQ’s:
I live overseas, can I still study your courses online?
I am a non-resident visa holder, can I study with AVT?
Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?
Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?
Tags: international, overseas, visa, CRICOS
This answer specifically addresses international students who wish to study in Australia on a Student Visa.
Unfortunately, we are unable to assist individuals with studying as an international student in Australia as we do not have the necessary registration with our government to enrol students in Australia on a Student Visa. The required registration for this is CRICOS ‘The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students’.
To find out more about studying in Australia we recommend visiting the Australian Government website: homeaffairs.gov.au. This will require applying for a student visa under the Vocational Education and Training Sector. However, you will need to have been accepted into a full-time study course by a CRICOS approved provider and then apply for the student visa. These normally take approximately 46 days to process.
You may find CRICOS registered training institutions in Australia who can offer qualifications to international students. Some TAFE (Technical and Further Education) institutions hold CRICOS registration and offer courses in Animal Studies and Veterinary Nursing
Related FAQ’s:
Is the Australian Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing recognised worldwide?
Can an RTO enrol an overseas visitor into a course and not be CRICOS registered?
I wish to study in Australia on a student visa. Can I study with Applied Vocational Training?
I live overseas, can I still study your courses online?
I am a non-resident visa holder, can I study with AVT?
Tags: international, overseas, visa, CRICOS
Credit transfer and recognition of prior learning (RPL) are two methods to receive credit towards your course, but they differ in how credit is awarded.
Credit transfer is available if you have previously completed the same unit, or one that matches in content and outcomes, at another recognised VET or higher education provider. To apply, you must provide verifiable evidence, such as a Statement of Attainment or qualification certificate, proving your competency. Once approved, you will not need to repeat assessment for that unit.
Please note that many of AVT’s courses are clustered. Clustering involves delivering and assessing two or more units together in groups (or blocks), in a meaningful and purposeful way. It avoids duplication and repetition and creates a logical flow to the delivery of your course. As a result, you may still need to complete training and assessments that cover similar concepts found in the unit for which you’re requesting a credit transfer
Recognition of prior learning (RPL), on the other hand, allows you to be assessed on the skills and knowledge you’ve gained through previous training, work experience, or life experience. To apply for RPL, you must supply evidence, such as records of completed training, assessment items, or declarations from your employer. Your provider will then assess your competency against the requirements of the course to determine if further training or assessment is needed.
Both options can reduce your study load, but RPL assesses existing skills, while credit transfer recognises previously completed qualifications.
For more information about AVT’s process for credit transfer and recognition of prior learning, please see our policies page.
To receive a credit for a unit of competency that you have previously been awarded, you must be able to supply a verifiable Testamur (certificate) or Statement of Attainment obtained from the issuing provider.
A Testamur or Statement of Attainment must either contain the wording ‘The qualification is recognised within the Australian Qualifications Framework’ or the AQF logo authorised by the AQF Council.
A Record of Results or Statement of Academic Record by itself is not sufficient when applying for a credit transfer of a nationally recognised unit of competency.
If you do not have a copy of your Testamur or Statement of Attainment you are responsible for requesting a copy from the issuing provider, we are unable to do this on your behalf.
For more information about RPL see our frequently asked questions here.
Yes. If you have completed and passed the exact same unit as delivered by AVT, you will receive a credit transfer for the unit. You must be deemed competent and be awarded a PASS in the unit.
At the time of application, you will be required to provide us with a Statement of Attainment from a recognised and approved training provider. We will verify your previous studies with the training provider.
For information about fees and charges that apply to credit transfers, please see our student policy page.
Credit transfer fees do not apply for students who have completed a previous qualification with AVT.
Students with eligible credit transfers may apply, however, due to the course delivery format, 100% attendance is required for induction and practical training/on-site days and therefore full course fees will apply. Credit transfer fees do not apply for Jobs and Skills WA funded students.
Yes. You can use units of competency received from a prior qualification even if the unit is different from an elective unit required by AVT. You can claim a credit transfer (CT) for these units as long as:-
If this is the case, then you may use previous units of study to fulfil the elective component of the qualification.
You will be required to provide us with a Statement of Attainment from a recognised and approved training provider at the time of application. We will verify your previous studies with the training provider.
For information about fees and charges that apply to credit transfers, please see our student policy page.
Please note, we are unable to offer RPL or Train and Assess any other elective unit of competency other than the ones provided in the courses offered on our website.
For a full list of our qualifications visit our Qualifications Overview page
In meeting the required rules of evidence and principals of assessment, AVT is unable to provide recognition of prior learning (RPL) to candidates who can not demonstrate recent and current skills and knowledge.
Applicants need to be able to demonstrate that they meet the competency requirements of the current training package including application of current industry techniques using the latest technology, equipment and supplies in accordance with the current standards and regulations.
If you wish to gain certification as a veterinary nurse or animal carer without having current experience, you will need to enrol in and complete the full course.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is available to enrolled students of AVT qualifications. The prior learning may be in the form of previous studies or completed qualifications (including superseded qualifications), on the job experience or volunteer work.
To find out more detailed information about RPL visit our RPL page.
AVT has been delivering Vet Nursing and Animal Care related courses for over 25 years. It's safe to say there are no plumbing or hairdressing courses here!
A recent NCVER VET student outcomes report found 93% of AVT graduates were employed or enrolled in further study after training and 95% of graduates would recommend the training provided by AVT.
Our qualified teaching team have many years of experience as well as extensive backgrounds in the veterinary and animal care industry. They're approachable and dedicated to helping students succeed.
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The leader in delivery of Australian Nationally Recognised Qualifications including ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (formerly Animal Studies), ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services, ACM40818 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training.
Applied Vocational Training (AVT) delivers a range of qualifications and short courses for students wishing to pursue a career working with animals.
AVT is a Registered Training Organisation based in Perth, Western Australia, providing on-campus and online courses to students studying throughout Australia. More about us →
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the land where our campus is based, the Whadjuk people of the Noongar Nation. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging and we commit to walking alongside our indigenous brothers and sisters. We extend that respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in our community.
Applied Vocational Training (AVT) is proudly a Registered Training Organisation (RTO 5273).