Animal Care Attendant Personal Service Workers
SaveWhat Does an Animal Care Attendant Do?
Animal care attendants provide routine care for non-production animals, which may include feeding, watering, cleaning, exercise and enrichment, grooming, training and monitoring of the health and welfare, in accordance with national legislation.
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Where Do I Start?
Animal Welfare
Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become an Animal Care Attendant
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialAnimal Welfare knowledge
Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit …
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EssentialAnimal Welfare Legislation knowledge
The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialEnvironmental Enrichment For Animals knowledge
Types, methods and use of enrichment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, including the provision of environmental stimuli, feeding activities, puzzles, items for manipulation, social and training …
Recommended Books
1 book -
EssentialSafe Work Practices In A Veterinary Setting knowledge
Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialBiosecurity Related To Animals knowledge
Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.
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EssentialAnimal Nutrition knowledge
Aspects of how different animal species are fed and provided water. Different types of animal food, the quality criteria for animal food and methods to feed and give water to …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialSigns Of Animal Illness knowledge
Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAnatomy Of Animals knowledge
The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAnimal Behaviour knowledge
The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialPhysiology Of Animals knowledge
The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAdvise On Animal Welfare skill
Prepare and provide information to individuals or groups of people on how to promote the health and well-being of animals, and how risks to animal health and welfare may be …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Safe Work Practices In A Veterinary Setting skill
Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssess Animal Behaviour skill
Observe and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialAssist In Transportation Of Animals skill
Assist with the transportation of animals, including the loading and unloading of animals, the preparation of the transport vehicle, and maintaining the wellbeing of the animal throughout the transport process.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialControl Animal Movement skill
Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialHandle Veterinary Emergencies skill
Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialImplement Exercise Activities For Animals skill
Provide exercise opportunities that are suitable for respective animals and meet their particular physical requirements.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMaintain Animal Accommodation skill
Make sure animal enclosures such as habitats, terrariums, cages or kennels are in the appropriate and hygienic condition. Clean the enclosure and provide new bedding material if called for.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Animal Biosecurity skill
Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Animal Hygiene skill
Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialManage Animal Welfare skill
Plan, manage and evaluate the application of the five universally recognised animal welfare needs as appropriate to species, situation and own occupation.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMonitor The Welfare Of Animals skill
Monitor animals' physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide An Enriching Environment For Animals skill
Provide an enriching environment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, and including adjusting environmental conditions, delivering feeding and puzzle exercises, and implementing manipulation, social, and training activities.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide Animal Training skill
Provide training in basic handling, habituation, and obedience to enable the completion of day-to-day tasks while minimising the risks to the animal, the handler, and others.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide First Aid To Animals skill
Administer emergency treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition, suffering and pain until veterinary assistance can be sought. Basic emergency treatment needs to be done by non-veterinarians prior to first-aid …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialProvide Nutrition To Animals skill
Provide food and water to animals. This includes preparing food and water for animals and reporting any changes in the animal feeding or drinking habits.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialGroom Animals skill
Prepare the environment for grooming, select the correct grooming equipment and grooming methods for the animal. Apply occupational health and safety principles of basic animal anatomy and physiology, including the …
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 22 displayed)
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OptionalAnimal Training knowledge
Animal responses to specific conditions or stimuli. Animal behaviour, ethology, learning theory, training methods, equipment, as well as communicating and working with animals and humans.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalAnimal Production Science knowledge
Animal nutrition, agronomy, rural economics, animal husbandry, hygiene and bio-security, ethology, protection and herd health management.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalAnimal Species knowledge
The characteristics of different species and breeds of animals (relevant to the occupation).
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalMicrochip Scanners knowledge
The different types of scanners available, their limitations, and how to prepare, use and maintain them; the environmental constraints of using a scanner, including what external factors can affect the …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalApply Numeracy Skills skill
Practise reasoning and apply simple or complex numerical concepts and calculations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalAssess Animal's Condition skill
Inspect the animal for any external signs of parasites, disease or injury. Use this information to determine own actions and report your findings to owners.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCalculate Rates Per Hours skill
Make simple calculations regarding the money that should be earned in relation to the number of hours worked.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCare For Juvenile Animals skill
Assess the needs of the offspring and juvenile animals. Take appropriate action without delay in case of problems with the health of the offspring or juvenile.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCollaborate With Animal Related Professionals skill
Collaborate with veterinary and other animal related professionals through communication of animal details, case records and summary reports orally or via written or electronic transfer.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCope With Challenging Circumstances In The Veterinary Sector skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalCreate Solutions To Problems skill
Solve problems which arise in planning, prioritising, organising, directing/facilitating action and evaluating performance. Use systematic processes of collecting, analysing, and synthesising information to evaluate current practice and generate new understandings …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalDeal With Challenging People skill
Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalHave Computer Literacy skill
Utilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalInterview Animal Owners On Animals' Conditions skill
Ask questions appropriate to the setting and purpose, with the aim to elicit accurate information on the animal's health condition, in order to facilitate a correct diagnosis.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMake Decisions Regarding The Animal's Welfare skill
Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal's well-being.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalTake Advantage Of Learning Opportunities In Veterinary Science skill
Use different channels and learning styles such as journals, courses, and conferences to obtain new information, knowledge, skills, and know-how in relation to working with animals.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalTreat Animals Ethically skill
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUnderstand The Animal's Situation skill
Categorise and verify information about the environment and its impact on the animal. Analyse the situation, such as what the animal may want or need.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse Different Communication Channels skill
Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEstablish Aquarium skill
Arrange the aquarium, introduce the species, ensure maintenance and monitoring.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalManage Care Of Veterinary Patients In Accommodation skill
Manage the care for veterinary patients in accommodation including the preparation, suitability, hygiene, and monitoring of the condition of animals. Monitor and maintain animal accommodation. This includes selecting and preparing …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalScan An Animal To Locate A Microchip skill
Scan the animal carefully, using the correct procedure for the type of scanner, to locate the possible presence of a microchip. Check the data on the relevant database or other …
Course recommendations coming soon.