FIELD                        AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES

 

Review of Animal Care qualification

 

National Certificate in Animal Care [Ref: 0241]

 

National Qualifications Services (NQS) has completed the review of the qualification listed above that was reviewed and registered in October 1999.

 

Date new versions published                        December 2005

 

In 2003, NQS, with the Animal Nursing and Technology (ANTECH) Board of the New Zealand Veterinary Association as its primary advisory body, initiated a review of the qualification along with a review of selected Animal Care and Handling standards.  Version 5 of the qualification reflects the outcomes of review of the standards.

 

A review panel including representation from industry and providers met in December 2003 and in 2004 to review the qualification.  Consultation drafts were sent to:

·        ANTECH Board industry networks, including the New Zealand Veterinary Association and New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association

·        All current providers of standards-based animal care and handling qualifications

·        Anyone else who had expressed an interest when the review was initiated.

 

Feedback received was considered by the review panel and has informed the new version of the qualification, which was endorsed by the ANTECH Board in April 2005.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

Changes to structure and content

·        The purpose statement was expanded to clarify the skills and knowledge recognised by the qualification, and pathways to other qualifications.

·        In the compulsory section, standards 5193 and 7399 were replaced by standards 21380 and 21381 respectively.

·        Standards 5183 and 5222 were moved from Elective 2 to the compulsory section.

·        The elective section was restructured.  Elective 1 and Elective 2 were combined, and renamed Elective A, which was made less prescriptive by expanding the range of standards to include the Animal Care and Handling subfield including 5179, which was previously in the compulsory section.  Standard 5150 was replaced by standards 21382 and 21383, and standard 21360 was added.

·        Elective 3 was renamed Elective B and made less prescriptive by replacing some specified standards with related domains.

 

Transition

 

People currently enrolled in programmes leading to the award of earlier versions of this qualification may either complete that qualification or transfer to this version.  People who choose to transfer to version 5 may use the following exemptions.

 

Expiring Standards	Replacement Standards
5150	21382 and 21383
5193	21380
7399	21381
16649	19894

 

People choosing to complete versions 1-4 may use the following exemptions for the purposes of completing that version of the qualification.

 

Expiring Standards	Replacement Standards
59	11831
503	12349
545	12355
1300	9677
1305	3501
16649	19894

 

The last date for award of version 4 is 31 December 2009.

 

The last date for award of versions 1 to 3 is 31 December 2006.

 

Providers are encouraged to offer programmes based on the new requirements from January 2007.

 

It is not intended that anyone is disadvantaged by this review, and the above arrangements have been designed for a smooth transition.  However, anyone who feels they have been disadvantaged may appeal to:

 

New Zealand Qualifications Authority

National Qualifications Services

PO Box 160

WELLINGTON