FATP · an independent directoryApprenticeship data sourced from DfE, ESFA and IfATEUpdated daily · GB
L3Apprenticeship7302 approved providers
The Level 3 Animal care and welfare manager, and the 2 providers delivering it.
Plan and manage the husbandry needs of domestic or wild animals in their care.
About this apprenticeship
What this apprenticeship covers
Apprentices learn to plan and manage the husbandry needs of animals across a range of settings, from kennels and catteries to farm parks and wildlife rehabilitation centres. The programme covers welfare assessment, care plan production, behavioural interpretation, preventative healthcare, feeding schedules, and biosecurity. Apprentices also develop the skills to supervise team members, liaise with veterinary professionals and licensing officers, handle customer complaints, and operate in line with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and other relevant legislation.
Day-to-day responsibilities
A typical week involves conducting welfare assessments, updating individual care plans, and carrying out or overseeing health checks using body condition scoring and behavioural observation. Apprentices will manage feeding schedules, maintain accommodation standards, and ensure cleaning and disinfection protocols meet biosecurity requirements. They will handle customer queries and complaints, brief junior carers or volunteers on animal requirements, and complete health and safety risk assessments. Record-keeping, including animal welfare records and equipment maintenance logs, is part of the regular workload.
Career outlook
Completing this apprenticeship opens routes into roles such as kennel or cattery manager, animal welfare officer, pet retail manager, farm park supervisor, or wildlife rehabilitation officer. Employers range from independent boarding facilities and grooming salons to national pet retail chains, animal charities, and local authority animal services. With experience, progression into senior management or specialist advisory roles within animal welfare organisations is a realistic path. The qualification also provides a foundation for further study in animal science or veterinary nursing.
2 approved providers
Sorted by achievement rate.
Bishop Burton College
Employer: 4.0
Bishop Burton College is a specialist land-based and technical education provider offering a wide ra...
City of London Corporation
The City of London Corporation delivers apprenticeships and adult learning through its Adult Skills ...
Career outcomes
Roles after completion
Completing this apprenticeship typically leads to supervisory or management roles within animal care settings. Common job titles include Kennel and Cattery Manager, Animal Welfare Officer, Farm Park Supervisor, Pet Retail Manager, Wildlife Rehabilitation Officer, Animal Day Care Supervisor, and Senior Animal Technician. Some completers move into Animal Collection Officer roles with local authorities or charities. The specific title depends on the employer type and species specialism developed during training.
Progression paths
Within three to five years, many people in these roles take on broader operational responsibility, moving into Area Manager or Regional Operations Manager positions within multi-site pet care businesses, or into Senior Animal Welfare Officer roles within charitable organisations. Those who develop a deep species specialism may progress into consultancy, education, or advisory roles with industry bodies or local authorities. Leadership-track candidates often take on staff management and compliance responsibilities across larger teams or facilities.
Where these roles sit
Hiring comes from a wide spread of sectors. National pet retail chains, boarding kennels and cattery groups, and grooming salon chains sit alongside independent operators at the smaller end. Charities and rescue organisations, local authority animal welfare teams, farm parks, wildlife rehabilitation centres, and zoological collections all recruit for these roles. The public and voluntary sectors account for a significant share of opportunities, particularly for welfare officer and collection officer titles.
How it's assessed
How the apprenticeship is assessed
Learning takes place in a real workplace setting throughout the apprenticeship, with the apprentice building competence across the knowledge, skills and behaviours required of an animal care and welfare manager. Before moving to final assessment, a readiness check (often called a gateway) confirms the apprentice and employer are satisfied that sufficient competence has been developed. Final assessment then provides independent verification that the apprentice can perform the role to the required standard, covering areas such as welfare planning, legislation, animal health, biosecurity and team supervision. Assessment models for many standards are currently being updated, so check the standard's gov.uk page for the current specification.
What learners need to prepare
Gathering workplace evidence as you go is far more manageable than trying to reconstruct it near the end of the programme. Keep records of welfare assessments you have carried out, care plans you have produced, and situations where you have applied relevant legislation or handled team supervision. Your training provider and employer will work with you to track progress against the knowledge, skills and behaviours in the standard. Regular reviews with both parties help identify any gaps early, giving enough time to address them before the gateway.
Choosing a provider
What good looks like
Look for providers with an achievement rate above 65% on their FATP profile, and check whether employer and apprentice satisfaction scores are both consistently high. For this standard, hands-on species work matters: ask whether apprentices practise welfare assessments, body condition scoring and behaviour interpretation across more than one species or setting, not just the one they work in daily. Strong providers will have clear links to veterinary professionals and licensing bodies, and tutors with current, sector-relevant experience in kennels, rescue centres, retail or farm park environments rather than purely academic backgrounds.
Red flags to watch for
Be cautious of providers with high learner volumes but achievement rates that have declined over consecutive years. If a provider cannot clearly explain how off-the-job training covers biosecurity, welfare legislation and care planning in practical contexts, that is a concern. Vague answers about how tutors stay current with Animal Welfare Act guidance or sector best practice suggest delivery that may be out of date. Opaque cohort sizes and an inability to point to alumni working in comparable supervisory roles after completion are also worth taking seriously.
Questions to ask before you commit
- What proportion of off-the-job training involves hands-on animal handling and welfare assessment, and in what settings?
- How do your tutors maintain current knowledge of Animal Welfare Act obligations and veterinary sector guidance?
- Can apprentices work across more than one species or environment during the programme, or is training limited to a single setting?
- How do you support apprentices who are supervising or mentoring junior staff as part of their day-to-day role?
- What is your current achievement rate for this standard, and how has it changed over the last two years?
- How do you assess behaviour interpretation and care planning skills practically, rather than just in written assignments?
- Can you put me in contact with an employer who has had an apprentice complete this standard with you?
Common questions
What entry requirements does an applicant need to start this apprenticeship?
Employers set their own entry criteria, but candidates typically need a genuine interest in animal care and some prior experience working with animals, whether paid or voluntary. A Level 2 animal care qualification or equivalent is commonly expected. Apprentices must be employed in a suitable role for the duration, with day-to-day responsibilities that involve overseeing animal welfare and supporting a team. Applicants will also need to meet the English and maths requirements set out in the apprenticeship funding rules.
How long does the apprenticeship take and how is the learning structured?
The typical duration is 18 months, though the actual time depends on the apprentice's prior learning and how quickly they develop competence. Learning happens on the job, supported by a training provider. Off-the-job training must be built into the working week. Current Skills England reforms may affect specific requirements, so check the latest funding rules and occupational standard on gov.uk before planning a programme.
How is the apprentice assessed at the end?
Before moving to end-point assessment, the apprentice must pass through a gateway, where the employer, training provider and apprentice confirm all knowledge, skills and behaviours have been developed to the required standard. The assessment itself tests competence in planning and managing animal welfare, conducting welfare assessments, applying relevant legislation, and leading a team. Assessment models for many standards are being updated under current reforms, so check the current assessment plan on gov.uk for the most accurate detail.
How does an employer pay for this apprenticeship?
The funding band for this standard is £9,000, which is the maximum government contribution towards training and assessment costs. Levy-paying employers draw this from their digital apprenticeship service account. Non-levy employers co-invest with government, typically paying 5% of the training cost with government funding the remainder. Employers with fewer than 50 employees who take on an apprentice aged 16 to 18 pay nothing; the government covers the full cost. Costs are paid directly to the training provider, not the apprentice.
What does an animal care and welfare manager apprentice actually do during the apprenticeship?
Day-to-day, the apprentice manages the husbandry needs of animals, writes and implements care plans, conducts welfare assessments, and monitors health using non-invasive methods. They handle biosecurity, manage accommodation, oversee feeding schedules, and carry out health and safety risk assessments. They also supervise or support junior carers and volunteers, liaise with vets and licensing officers, deal with customer queries and complaints, and ensure all activities comply with the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and other relevant legislation.
Where can an apprentice progress after completing this qualification?
Completers are well placed for senior roles such as kennel and cattery manager, pet retail manager, animal welfare officer, wildlife rehabilitation officer, or farm park supervisor. Some move into specialist areas such as wildlife rehabilitation or animal behaviour. For those who want to progress further academically, a Level 3 can provide a stepping stone towards higher or degree-level qualifications in animal science, veterinary nursing support, or wildlife conservation, depending on the entry requirements of the course chosen.
Not sure which provider fits?
Tell us a bit about your team and we'll send a shortlist.
Need help choosing a provider?
Tell us your requirements and we'll match you with the right training providers.
Curated by Alex Lockey, FATP founder and editor. Last reviewed: .
Sources include the apprenticeship's official specification on apprenticeships.gov.uk, Skills England guidance, IfATE archive records, DWP funding bands, and provider data sourced directly from the public Apprenticeship Provider and Assessment Register (APAR). Standard reference: 730.
Some sections on this page were drafted with AI assistance from published source data and reviewed by a human editor before publication. See our editorial methodology for how we maintain this content. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.