Haere mai! Welcome to the information page for the
New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4) - Rural
The NZ Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Rural Animals) is only available as a highly blended delivery. We do not run on-campus classes for this programme.
You will complete your study from wherever you are based in New Zealand, in conjunction with farm and clinic placements.
What does highly blended mean? Highly blended means that, although the programme is "online", you are expected to engage and interact with your lecturers and peer group on Microsoft Teams. We provide you with direction on what you should be studying week-by-week. You will have online lectures via Teams as well, generally in the evenings and are expected to attend as part of the programme's learning resources. As well as this, there are also two compulsory block courses that you must attend, regardless of whether you are enrolled full-time or part-time.
Check List
Click on this link and print this document so you can tick off and keep a track of each step so you do not miss anything.
Block Courses
You are required to attend two compulsory block courses during the programme. Click here for upcoming block course dates.
For first-year students, the second block course will take place in Term 1 of the following year. Dates will be confirmed and sent out closer to the time.
Uniforms and Equipment
Students enrolled in the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Rural strand) must wear Otago Polytechnic branded uniform during placements and block courses. This helps clinics and clients identify you as a student rather than a staff member.
Required items:
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Otago Polytechnic branded polo shirt
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Otago Polytechnic branded overalls
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Otago Polytechnic branded name badge
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Plain waterproof dairy bib overalls (clean)
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Waterproof gumboots with good tread
You will also need suitable clothing for outdoor work in varying weather conditions. Clothing should be tidy, practical, and professional. Jeans in good condition are acceptable. Jewellery should be kept minimal.
Uniforms can be purchased through Arrow Uniforms.
Uniform items can be reordered throughout the programme, and flexible payment options such as Zip are available.
Please click the link below for further information, including ordering deadlines, the programme password, and step-by-step ordering instructions. When placing your order, please ensure you select the correct programme: Rural Animal Healthcare Assisting.
Uniform ordering instructions CLICK HERE
If you already work in a veterinary clinic or on a dairy farm and have suitable overalls, you may purchase a branded sew-on badge instead of new overalls. The badge must be stitched onto the top pocket of your overalls. All other compulsory uniform items are still required.
A student buy/sell/swap Facebook page is available for second-hand uniforms, textbooks, and equipment. Click HERE
Connecting with your Lecturers
Click here to learn about your lecturers
Before the programme starts, we would like you to start using Microsoft Teams. Shortly we will email you the link to your space on Teams where we can connect with you during study. Teams works best if you can download the app but you can also use the web-version if you would prefer.
At the beginning of the programme, we will send you an email that explains what next.
You can always email our school admin team at animalhealth@op.ac.nz if you need help.
Work Placement
During the programme you are required to complete a minimum of 240 hours of work placement, including:
• At least 160 hours on farm placements
• At least 80 hours in a rural animal veterinary clinic
Placement begins after your first block course.
During placement, you will work with your supervisor to collect assessment evidence for the practical skills expected of a Rural Animal Healthcare Assistant graduate. In most cases, the required hours are completed naturally while working towards these practical assessments.
Please do not feel pressured to have your work placement organised before the programme begins. We will discuss placement requirements, expectations, and strategies for finding placement opportunities in much more detail at the start of the programme and again during your first block course.
To help you prepare for placement and approach prospective farms or veterinary clinics professionally, please review the following documents:
• Click here for the Tripartite Workplace Learning Agreement
• Click here for Information for Supervisors
• Click here for Placement Starter Guide
You are more likely to receive a positive response by contacting the farm or veterinary clinic to arrange an appointment, rather than simply dropping in. This demonstrates professionalism and respect for how busy workplaces can be.
Professionalism During Placement
Always remember that you are a guest in the veterinary clinic or on farm placement, and placement is a privilege, not a right. Placement providers may end their agreement to support a student if the arrangement is no longer working well for them.
Once your placement days and hours have been arranged, it is important to remain flexible and willing to help where needed, particularly during busy periods or emergencies. Even small tasks such as cleaning, washing, or general tidying are appreciated and show professionalism, initiative, and teamwork. These are all qualities future employers value highly.
Showing a willingness to contribute also demonstrates respect for the time and support your placement provider is giving you. Work placement is a partnership, and a positive attitude goes a long way.
Most importantly, enjoy your placement 😊
If you need support finding a suitable placement, please contact the School of Animal Health by emailing Katie.Prasad@op.ac.nz - Katie is our work placement co-ordinator.
Student Declaration Forms
These must be completed on a computer as the format is not compatible with your cell phone:
Click here to access and fill in the Student Privacy Declaration form.
Click here to access and fill in the Student Code of Conduct form
Textbooks
There are no compulsory textbooks for this programme. We have a number of textbooks that are recommended reading (and we’re always willing to share our favourites if you have a topic you’re interested in!) but you can borrow these from The Robertson Library as an enrolled student, for free. The library will even courier hard copies to you. Many textbooks are available as e-books too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click here to read through some FAQs