Animal care and veterinary nursing remain popular career choices for students who enjoy working with animals and want to build practical skills before progressing to higher education. PLC (Post Leaving Certificate) courses in Animal Care provide hands-on training in animal handling, welfare, and veterinary support skills, while also creating progression routes to veterinary nursing, zoology, animal science, and related degree programmes.
These courses are typically offered at QQI Level 5, with many colleges also offering Level 6 advanced programmes for students who want to specialise further.
Animal care PLC courses focus on the practical and scientific knowledge needed to work with animals in professional settings such as veterinary clinics, kennels, grooming salons, wildlife centres, and farms.
Most programmes lead to the QQI Level 5 Certificate in Animal Care (5M2768) and usually run for one academic year.
Typical modules include:
Animal anatomy and physiology
Animal welfare and behaviour
Small animal husbandry and housing
Veterinary assisting skills
Animal grooming
Biology
Communications and work experience
Work placement is a key part of many courses, giving students real-world experience with veterinary practices, animal shelters, or grooming services.
Several further education colleges across Ireland offer strong programmes in this field.
Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute (DFEi)
Offers an Animal Care Assistant course designed to prepare students for work in the animal healthcare sector or progression to higher education.
Waterford College of Further Education (WCFE)
Provides an Animal Science and Grooming programme that combines practical grooming skills with animal science and includes work placement opportunities.
Bray Institute of Further Education (BIFE)
Runs an Animal Care and Management pre-university course aimed at students planning to progress to veterinary nursing or related science degrees.
Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE)
Offers a Level 5 Animal Care programme and an Advanced Animal Science Level 6 course for students who want to develop more specialised skills or progress to degree programmes.
Mayo College of Further Education and Training
Provides a Level 5 Animal Care course focused on animal handling, welfare, and veterinary assisting skills.
Many students use an Animal Care PLC as a pathway to third-level study. Graduates with strong QQI results can apply through the Higher Education Links Scheme to degree programmes in areas such as:
Veterinary Nursing
Animal Science
Zoology
Agricultural Science
Animal Behaviour
Some colleges also offer QQI Level 6 Animal Science or Animal Care programmes, allowing students to gain additional experience before applying to university.
After completing an Animal Care PLC, graduates may pursue roles such as:
Veterinary assistant
Animal care technician
Dog groomer
Kennel or cattery assistant
Animal welfare worker
Pet store specialist
Many graduates combine practical experience with further study to pursue careers in veterinary nursing, animal science research, or wildlife conservation.
Students who succeed in these courses usually have:
A strong interest in working with animals
Good practical skills and patience
An interest in biology or science
A willingness to complete work placements and hands-on training
For anyone passionate about animal welfare and veterinary careers, Animal Care PLC courses provide a practical and supportive starting point into one of the most rewarding fields of study.
