Animals · Zoology and Animal Science

Begin Your Journey Into Animal Science and Conservation

If you have always been the one who stops for every stray, this puts science behind the instinct. You cover animal behaviour, genetics, vertebrates, invertebrates, disease and health care. Short, cheap, and it has you covered for a first look.

From $29a week on a plan
30 hoursof study
Unlimitedcourse access
Seven modulesplus an introduction
No examsever
At a Glance

Course Snapshot

Study AreaAnimal Care & Science
Course TypeSingle course
Study Time30 hours
AccessUnlimited
Study ModeFully online, self paced
AssessmentNo exams, ever
PaymentsFrom $29 a week
Comes with
  • 10-Day Money Back Guarantee
  • No deposit, no credit check
  • Bondi Vet mentor series included
  • One to one vet nurse mentoring
Who It’s For

Why Do This Course

A Cheap Look Before a Long Path

Thirty hours tells you whether animal science holds your interest. Far less than a degree costs to find out.

The Science, Not Just the Cuddles

Genetics, breeding, vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, disease and health care. Proper ground to stand on.

Mentors Who Have Done the Work

Vet nurse Erin gives one to one time, and the Bondi Vet series adds welfare and handling.

Where The Skills Fit

Where These Skills Could Take You

Animal work in New Zealand runs through zoos, aquariums, rescue centres, sanctuaries and conservation projects. Most people start as an assistant and learn on the ground. The day is physical and routine-heavy: feeding, cleaning, observing, recording, and the odd moment that makes it worth it.

Zoo Keeper Assistant

Feeding, enclosures and daily observation.

Wildlife Field Assistant

Supporting surveys and habitat work outdoors.

Aquarium Support Assistant

Tank care and helping with public sessions.

Conservation Science Assistant

Data, records and fieldwork support.

Animal Care Assistant

Hands-on welfare work in shelters and centres.

Roles where these skills are useful, not promised outcomes. Every role is different, and some need more study or experience. Veterinary nursing, laboratory and government biosecurity roles need their own accredited study, which this course can lead into rather than replace.

The Course

What You'll Learn

01
Life and Behaviour
How animals act, and why they differ so much.
Zoology & Animal Science
Animal Behaviours & Diversity of Life
Genetics & Breeding
02
The Animal Kingdom Sorted
Two halves of the animal world, taught separately.
Vertebrate Zoology
Invertebrate Zoology
03
Keeping Animals Well
Illness, care and the rules around both.
Animal Diseases
Animal Health Care
Included

What You’ll Get

In the Course

  • Behaviour and diversity, how animals act across species
  • Genetics and breeding, the science underneath
  • Vertebrates and invertebrates, the animal kingdom in two halves
  • Disease and health care, including notifiable and zoonotic disease

As a Student

  • Tutor Rachel H, over twenty years in the animal industry
  • Vet nurse Erin, one to one mentoring time
  • 30 hours of study, short enough to finish in a fortnight
  • No exams, ever, no test week hanging over you
Why This One

What Makes It Different

Three reasons this one is worth thirty hours.

01
Wild and Domestic Both Covered

Habitat conservation and wildlife management sit next to pet and farm animal care.

02
A Bonus Mentor Series

Dr Kate Adams covers welfare needs, handling, rescue animals and basic first aid.

03
Unlimited Access

No deadline pressing on you, so it can sit alongside work or study.

The Credentials

What You'll Earn

COURSE

Zoology & Animal Science

Certificate of Achievement · The Career Academy

A Certificate of Achievement

Awarded by the college on completion.

A CPD Endorsed Credential

In animal science, welfare and behaviour.

The Bondi Vet Series

Ten welfare and handling sessions, included.

Getting Started

How It Works

Step one

Ask About the Course

An advisor sends the module list and the mentor details.

Step two

Enrol and Start

Any day. Weekly plan, or clear it in one payment.

Step three

Work the Modules

Seven modules plus the bonus welfare series from Dr Kate Adams.

Step four

Decide Your Next Move

Take the certificate, then choose whether the longer path suits you.

The Investment

How to Get Started

$29 / week
A flexible plan weekly, fortnightly or monthly, or pay upfront in full.
No deposit, no credit check
10-Day Money Back Guarantee
Start on any day
Unlimited course access
Enquire Now
Good to Know

Common Questions

Do I need a science background?

No. It is written as a starting point for anyone interested in animals, with no prerequisites.

What does it cost each week?

From $29 a week on a plan, with no deposit and no credit check. Enquire for current pricing.

How long does it take?

Around 30 hours, and access is unlimited, so there is no rush.

Who delivers the course?

You enrol through The Career Academy and Online Courses Australia, their education partner, delivers it.

Will this let me work as a vet nurse?

Not on its own. What it does give you is the science and welfare grounding those courses assume, for a fraction of the time and cost. It works as a foundation for further study in veterinary nursing, animal care or wildlife conservation, and a lot of people use exactly this to decide whether to commit.

Could it help me get into a zoo?

Zoos and sanctuaries hire assistants who understand behaviour, welfare and disease. This gives you that language plus something to show. Volunteering alongside it does more for you than either on its own.

Is this course accredited?

It carries a CPD endorsed credential and a Certificate of Achievement, and the college is an ICOES accredited centre with Official Accreditation from the CPD Standards Office. That is accreditation for professional development. It is not NZQA accredited, so it is not a national qualification. Those are different things, and for a first look at animal science this one does the job.

Can I get my money back?

Yes. A 10-day money back guarantee runs from enrolment.

Delivered By

About the College

You enrol through The Career Academy, an online college in New Zealand, and Online Courses Australia delivers this one as their area of expertise.

The Career Academy has run for over 15 years and helps more than 25,000 students a year. Tutor support is unlimited by phone and email in business hours.

Over 15 years runningDelivered by OCATutor Rachel HUnlimited access
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Picture the morning you walk into a centre knowing why the animal in front of you is behaving that way.

Enquire Now