The Pet Industry Federation has developed specialisms in the City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate of Technical Competence in Health and Husbandry qualification for reptiles and small mammals, as part of its package of benefits to help businesses comply with the new Animal Activities Licensing regulations.

The first learners of the reptile and small mammal units within the qualification were rangers from Zoolab, a nationwide provider of live animal handling workshops and animal encounters, after a PIF assessor trained two Zoolab employees to deliver and assess the qualification.

The qualification covers basic animal husbandry including; handling, health checking, accommodation set up and maintenance and feeding requirements. 

As a PIF school for this qualification, Zoolab are now able to train and assess all new rangers to ensure animal welfare is maintained within the company. 

Vicky Skinner, PIF’s Education Manager said: "This qualification provides a great comprehensive grounding in the husbandry requirements of reptiles and small mammals.

"Our exciting work with Zoolab has enabled a large organisation to manage the training of its staff and comply with legislation in a more straightforward and cost-effective way.

"The fact that the qualification is Ofqual regulated provides the reassurance to local authority inspectors that is meets rigorous standards of external verification and assessment to ensure that learners have obtained the requisite knowledge required to achieve it."

The Certificate of Technical Competence in Health and Husbandry for reptiles and small mammals is available as a bespoke qualification and further information can be obtained by contacting the Pet Industry Federation on 01234 273933 or emailing education@petfederation.co.uk

Details of all PIF’s courses and qualifications, both online and face to face, are available at www.petfederation.co.uk