If you hold a degree in equine, animal or veterinary science and wish to add professional animal massage to your skillset as a route to becoming qualified in animal chiropractic techniques, our Graduate Certificate in Animal Therapy could provide you with the right career path to do so. Gain a mix of academic knowledge and practical hands-on skills in equine and canine massage.

The Graduate Certificate in Animal Therapy, awarded by Ulster University, is delivered by the McTimoney College of Chiropractic, which is part of the College of Health.

Why choose the Graduate Certificate in Animal Therapy?

  • By the end of this programme, you will be able to demonstrate competency in relevant palpation, psychomotor and communication skills
  • You will have an understanding of the history and philosophy of the profession together with the business and professional skills necessary to start your career in animal therapy
  • Successful completion of the programme is a route to entry on to the MSc Animal Manipulation (Chiropractic) programme

Full programme details

The Graduate Certificate in Animal Therapy programme offers you a mix of academic knowledge and practical hands-on skills in equine and canine massage – to complement existing skills or from which you can build an animal therapy business. It is also an entry route on to the MSc Animal Manipulation (Chiropractic) programme that will train you in animal manipulation using chiropractic techniques.

The overall aim of this programme is to provide those with a non-manipulative background with the requisite skills to enter the MSc in Animal Manipulation (Chiropractic). Specifically, it aims to introduce:

  • Animal sciences, including anatomy, physiology and biomechanics
  • An understanding of the philosophy and history of the profession
  • A range of training exercises relevant to future adjusting skills
  • Palpation skills
  • Massage, fascial release and stretching skills
  • Animal handling skills
  • Professional skills
  • Business skills

Learning Platforms

  • Practical and classroom
  • Online

How the programme is taught

This programme provides a career path for those with a degree in equine science to become a professional practitioner qualified in animal chiropractic techniques. It offers a mix of academic knowledge and practical hands-on skills in equine and canine massage - from which you can start to build an animal therapy business. It is also an entry route onto the MSc Animal Manipulation (Chiropractic) programme that will train you in animal manipulation using chiropractic techniques.

By the end of this programme, students will be able to demonstrate competency in relevant palpation, psychomotor and communication skills, as well as an understanding of the history and philosophy of the profession, and the business and professional skills necessary to start their career in animal therapy.

Assessment

  • Examination
  • Oral presentation
  • Assignments
  • Practical assessment

Academic Modules

The overall aim of this programme is to provide those with a non-manipulative background the requisite skills to enter the MSc in Animal Manipulation (Chiropractic).

Employability and Progression

By the end of this programme, learners will be able to demonstrate competency in relevant palpation, psychomotor and communication skills, as well as an understanding of the history and philosophy of the profession, and the business and professional skills necessary to start their career in animal therapy.

On satisfactory completion of this programme, learners will have the skills to start their own animal therapy business and be eligible to enrol on the MSc Animal Manipulation (Chiropractic) programme.

Entry Requirements

Applicants wishing to study the Graduate Certificate in Animal Therapy must:

  • Be a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons; or
  • Hold an honours degree in Animal Health or Equine Science or other university-level degrees where the Programme Leader is satisfied that the animal experience of the applicant is sufficient to successfully complete the programme

Students who do not hold an animal science degree but have degree-level qualifications and significant animal experience may apply for this programme under the Assessment of Prior Experiential Learning (APEL) procedure.

All applicants must:

  • Satisfy the interviewers of their aptitude for animal work
  • Provide evidence of an up-to-date tetanus vaccination and provide adequate personal liability insurance
  • Complete an examination on safe handling of animals

English Language requirements

  • IELTS 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each element)

Financial Information

Programme Fees

The fee for the Graduate Certificate in Animal Therapy is £2,500

Additional Fees

Registration fee to the MAA (McTimoney Animal Association) £75

  • Registration fee to the McTimoney College (once only, then not paid on commencement of MSc programme) £150
  • The entire year’s fees, plus registration fees are due on commencement
  • A deposit of £250 will need to be paid within 48 hours of accepting your offer, in order to secure your place

In addition to your programme fees, there may be additional charges associated with your studies, which include:

  • The purchase of textbooks, materials and travel to external venues
  • Resit fees for assessments £75
  • Resit fees to repeat a 15-credit module £400
  • Resit fees to repeat a 20-credit module £530
  • Resit fees to repeat a 30-credit module £800
  • Resit practical assessment fee £100
  • Resit clinical assessment fee £250

Contact us

For more information about the programme please call 01235 468575 or email admissions@mctimoney-college.org.uk.

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Graduate Certificate in Animal Therapy