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Certificate I in Animal Care Industry Pathways

This qualification provides knowledge and skills for initial work, community involvement and/or further learning. It provides a pathway to learn about work in the animal care and management industry and to assist with routine activities performed under close supervision in an animal care facility or service organisation. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

Register your interest and we will email you if this qualification opens through a delivering RTO.

Important:RPL it Australia is a student support service. All assessment and qualification issuance is conducted by the delivering Registered Training Organisation. RPL it does not deliver training, conduct assessments, or issue qualifications.

Qualification overview
ACM10121
LevelAQF 1Certificate I
Units75 core, 2 elective
PackageACMAnimal Care and Management Training Package
AvailabilityNot yet available through RPL it. No delivering RTO, fee or timeline is confirmed yet. Registering interest is not an enrolment and does not guarantee future availability.
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Recognition of Prior Learning

What is an RPL qualification?

Recognition of Prior Learning assesses skills you already have against a nationally recognised qualification. Demonstrate competency, and you receive the same nationally recognised qualification, issued by a registered training organisation (RTO), as someone who completed the full course.

Who is eligible for RPL?

  • You have years of experience in your field
  • You learned the work on the job, through mentoring or on your own
  • You need the qualification for licensing, promotion or migration
  • You hold overseas qualifications you want recognised in Australia
An RPL it team member sorting an electrician's job photos and reference letter into his evidence folder at a ute tailgate on a building site

If This Qualification Opens Through an RTO

  1. Register interest

    Tell us you are interested in ACM10121. There is no commitment or obligation.

  2. Availability confirmed

    We contact you when a suitable delivering RTO and current servicing details are confirmed.

  3. Evidence planning

    If you choose to proceed, we help you understand the workplace evidence an RTO may need to review.

  4. RTO assessment

    Formal assessment and any qualification outcome are handled only by the delivering Registered Training Organisation.

Career Outcomes

Explore Roles Associated with this Qualification

If your current or past work looks like one of these roles, this qualification may suit you.

  • 01

    Animal Care Assistant

    Providing basic support in animal shelters or boarding facilities by maintaining hygiene and assisting with feeding routines.

  • 02

    Pet Retail Assistant

    Supporting the daily operations of a pet store, including enclosure maintenance and basic animal welfare checks.

  • 03

    Kennel Attendant

    Performing supervised routine tasks in a boarding kennel environment to ensure the comfort and safety of animals.

Evidence Checklist

What Suitable Evidence Can Support Your Evidence Portfolio?

Your consultant can help you identify relevant workplace records. The delivering RTO decides whether the evidence is sufficient and current.

Work History & Roles
  • Records of volunteer work at animal shelters or rescue groups
  • Evidence of work experience in pet retail or grooming salons
  • Position descriptions for entry-level kennel or cattery assistant roles

Animal Handling & Care
  • Logs documenting the safe approach and handling of calm animals
  • Evidence of assisting with routine feeding and watering schedules
  • Photos or videos demonstrating basic animal grooming or hygiene tasks

Safety & Environment
  • Workplace induction checklists for animal care facilities
  • Evidence of using personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly
  • Records of cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures or workspaces

Communication & Digital Skills
  • Diary entries or logs documenting daily animal observations
  • Evidence of following simple spoken instructions in a work team
  • Records of using digital devices for basic workplace data entry

Qualfication comparison

RPL and Traditional Study

Two routes to the same qualification, assessed against the same RTO competency standards.

RPL PathwaySupported by RPL it, assessed by the RTO
Traditional StudyDelivered and assessed by the RTO
Starting point
Your existing, current workplace skills and evidence
A planned course of learning and assessment
How competency is shown
Workplace evidence mapped to the qualification requirements
Learning activities, assignments, practical work, and assessment
Assessment decision
Made by a qualified assessor from the delivering RTO
Made by a qualified assessor from the delivering RTO
If gaps are identified
Additional evidence or targeted gap training may be required
Learning and assessment continue through the course structure
Qualification outcome
Issued only when the RTO determines all requirements are met
Issued only when the RTO determines all requirements are met

RPL it Australia reviews

What our clients say

Selected Google reviews. Individual experiences vary. Every applicant is assessed against the same requirements, and some require gap training or additional evidence.

Frequently asked questions

Recognition of Prior Learning, your experience, and your next step.

Got more questions?
Can I apply for this qualification now?

Not yet. The Diploma of Conservation and Ecosystem Management is not currently available through RPL it Australia, and no delivering RTO, fee or timeline is confirmed. Registering interest is not an enrolment and does not guarantee future availability.

What happens after I register my interest?

We keep your details and email you if this qualification opens through a delivering RTO. At that point we explain which RTO would assess you, the fee and the evidence it needs, and you decide whether to go ahead. Registering interest is free and there is no obligation.

Can I start preparing evidence now?

You can start keeping records of your work, such as position descriptions, references and examples of projects you have worked on. The evidence checklist on this page gives examples. The delivering RTO decides what evidence it needs and whether it is sufficient, so what you gather now may not cover everything.

Is there a qualification I can apply for now?

Possibly. The related qualifications on this page are open for applications. You can also start a free skills review and we will tell you whether any qualification that is open now suits your experience.