The animal care training lasts up to 4½ years .

You can take the basic course at Techcollege .
After the basic course, you can continue your education at, for example, Hansenberg in Kolding.

In the zookeeper program, you must specialize in one of the following four areas. Your choice will affect the types of animals you work with and where you typically receive an apprenticeship.

Zoological facilities
Here you work with animals in zoos and animal parks.

You will learn to:

• Care for and feed many different animal species

• Maintain and set up facilities

• Observe the animals' well-being and behavior

• Provide knowledge about the animals to guests

There is a focus on animal welfare, safety and communication.

Experimental animals
Here you work with animals that are part of research.

You will learn to:

• Care for and handle laboratory animals correctly

• Comply with hygiene and infection protection rules

• Work accurately and responsibly

• Follow applicable legislation and documentation requirements

There is a focus on animal welfare, safety and proper handling.

Horse manager
Here you work with horses.

You will learn to:

• Care, feed and train horses

• Maintain stables and facilities

• Observe the horse's well-being and health

• Working safely around large animals

There is a focus on daily operations, responsibility and safety.

Pet trade
Here you work in pet stores or similar stores.

You will learn to:

• Care for and feed smaller animal species

• Advise clients on animal husbandry

• Maintaining cages and aquariums

• Work with sales and service

Here, animal care is combined with customer contact and advice.

As a zookeeper, you work with the care and maintenance of animals and ensuring their well-being.

You will learn, among other things, how to:

• Feed and activate animals

• Clean and maintain cages and facilities

• Adapting the animals' environments

• Disseminate knowledge about animals to others

You will receive theoretical training in, for example:

• Animal husbandry and animal welfare

• Biology and science

• Anatomy and physiology of animals

• Infection protection

• Health and illness

• Reproduction and breeding

• Behavioral biology

• Working environment

• Technique

• Tractor driving license

• First aid and fire

You participate in the daily care of both larger and smaller animal species - e.g. cows, goats and rabbits as well as small animals such as lizards, snakes, amphibians, mice and fish.

Once you have completed the training, you can work as a zookeeper .

For example, you can work in:

• Zoos

• Zoos

• Pet shop

• Other animal husbandry businesses

You can also further your education, for example in:

• Agricultural Technologist

You can see more options on the access card.

To start the main course, you must have an apprenticeship - also called a training agreement.

An apprenticeship means that you are employed as a student in a company and enter into an agreement about your education. This is where you learn the subject in practice and become part of a workplace.

You can apply for an apprenticeship with companies yourself, and the school will guide and support you in the process of applying and contacting companies.

If you do not find an apprenticeship immediately, you have the opportunity to receive school training if the education is offered with school training.

School-based training means that you complete the practical part of the education at school instead of in a company. Here you work with the same professional goals and competencies that you would otherwise learn in an apprenticeship.

This means that you can continue your education even if you do not have an apprenticeship from the start.

A vocational education is divided into two parts: basic course and main course .

The basic course
The basic course is the first part of the education and takes place at school.

If you come directly from 9th or 10th grade, you start with Basic Course 1. Here you spend the first half of the year being introduced to the educational field and learning the basic subjects and working methods.

If you do not come directly from primary school – or if you already have an apprenticeship – you start with Basic Course 2. Here you work purposefully with the education you have chosen and get ready for the internship and main course.

The main course
The main course is the part of the education where you alternate between school and internship in a company.

This means that you both receive instruction at school and learn the subject in practice at a workplace.

To start the main course, you must have an apprenticeship (a training agreement) with a company.

There are three ways to meet the entry requirements:

1) You have an apprenticeship
If you have a training agreement with a company, you automatically meet the admission requirements.

2) You meet the grade requirements

You must have:

• Passed 9th or 10th grade

• At least 02 on average in both Danish and mathematics

• Passed the primary school leaving exam

If it has been less than a year since you finished primary school, you must be assessed as ready for education and submit your study choice portfolio.

You must send your diploma with your application.

3) Entrance exam
If you do not meet the requirements, you can take an entrance exam.

If you apply for Basic Course 2, you will need to attend an interview before you can be admitted.