Do you feel way happier chatting to your pet cat than any human? True animal lovers know that furry and ferocious friends are more fun than fellow two-legged mammals could ever be. With a zoology and zookeeping apprenticeship, you could hang around with wombats and worms all day, every day – sounds awesome, right?
Getting into zoology and zookeeping might seem a bit wild (pun intended!), but an apprenticeship could be your perfect adventure. We’ve sourced the best opportunities available in the UK right now – here’s how to get one.
The basics: What does a zoology and zookeeping apprenticeship include?
An apprenticeship in zoology or zookeeping is like getting the best of both worlds: you learn on the job, earn money and gain proper qualifications all at the same time. You’ll be an employee, not just a student. From day one, you’re working for an actual zoo or animal care organisation, so you’ll have a contract and earn a salary. Alongside working (80% of the time), you’ll attend classes (20% of the time).
Keep in mind that you won’t see many apprenticeships out there titled ‘zoology and zookeeping.’ That’s because an official ‘zoologist’ is a research-focused role that typically requires a university degree. An apprenticeship in a similar field will give you the same skills and experience you need to thrive – who wants to do all that research, anyway?
Types of zoology and zookeeping apprenticeships
Animal care and welfare apprenticeship
These programmes are a great starting point for school learners. You’ll learn the basics of animal husbandry (aka. Agriculture for animals raised for meat and dairy, etc.), welfare, cleaning enclosures, preparing food and observing animal health.
Animal management apprenticeship
Of course, animal welfare is the main focus of this role. But as well as welfare, you’ll learn about important safety factors such as risk assessments and operating procedures to keep fellow staff and animals safe.
Keeper and aquarist apprenticeship
Ready to do a bit of everything? A keeper and aquarist apprenticeship covers animal nutrition, enclosure maintenance, species-specific needs, enrichment, welfare assessments… should we go on? In addition to hands-on husbandry and welfare work, you’ll understand aspects of record keeping and report writing to ensure all the animal activity is documented. Phew!
Veterinary care apprenticeship
If you’re interested in helping sick animals, a veterinary care apprenticeship takes your knowledge one step further than general animal welfare. It’s a great option if you’re considering a long-term career in veterinary nursing and will help you learn the foundations of animal handling and health.
Entry requirements
As with most apprenticeships, employers in the zoology and zookeeping world will be looking for GCSEs at grades 9-4 in English, maths and a science subject (at least!). Biology would be a great one to focus on.
Practical experience is extremely important, so substantial volunteering or work experience with animals will really set your application apart. Think about applying for causal unpaid experience at one of the zoos we talk about in this article. Alternatively, set your sights on a wildlife park, animal rescue centre, stables or farm.
For example, the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA) has work experience placements for anyone studying A Levels or a Level 3 National Diploma. Also, take a look at Colchester Zoological Society and the Wild Planet Trust for some pre-apprenticeship experience.
Apprenticeship levels – what they mean for zoology and zookeeping apprenticeships
UK apprenticeships are categorised as levels (2-7) based on the experience and qualifications required to apply and those you will earn at the end of the programme. The levels are as follows:
- Level 2 (intermediate) – equivalent to 5 GCSEs (grades 9 to 4)
- Level 3 (advanced) – equivalent to 2 A-levels.
London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo (ZSL) have Level 3 apprenticeships available throughout the year.
- Levels 4 and 5 (higher) – equivalent to a foundation degree
Chester Zoo is also really popular for apprenticeships in three disciplines: animal/plant logistics, horticulture/botany and keepers/aquarists. These roles last 24 months under the official title of ‘Apprentice Keeper’ – sounds very cool, right?
- Levels 6 and 7 (degree)
Degree apprenticeships are equivalent to a bachelor’s or master’s degree, which is just as impressive as it sounds. You’ll blend academic study with practical work experience, meaning you’ll secure a top qualification without any student debt – it’s an ‘earn while you learn’ arrangement.
Sector spotlight
Conservation hubs are becoming more common across the UK and abroad. They are set up especially to save endangered species from extinction. The people working there study animal behaviour and how best to protect them in the wild. Then, they’ll share the knowledge with visitors and people around the world.
Technology plays a big part in improving conservation efforts, and some zoos use cool stuff like advanced monitoring systems for animal health and databases that track animals globally for breeding programmes. Keepers are always looking for ways to encourage natural animal behaviours, so pairing tech with passionate people is the way to continue making progress.
Extra tips
Let’s keep this short: volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! We’ve already talked about the importance of work experience above. Even volunteering on Saturdays at a local cat or dog rescue shelter is enough to flesh out your CV and give you additional knowledge off the starting block. Places like RSPCA, Blue Cross and Cats Protection often have unpaid roles for younger people in their charity shops. Local kennels and farms are also good places to find meaningful placements, too.
The wild is waiting – take the first step with an apprenticeship
There you have it – a guide to finding and securing a role that’ll make a real difference to the lives of animals. Check out veterinary apprenticeships for similar opportunities that might suit your interests. If you’d rather search for something totally different, browse our active apprenticeships to find a role that excites you.
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