This is a 5-day, 4-night residential programme inclusive of all animal training, accommodation, food, transport & evening team building activities. The animal training focuses on 25+ species of snake, lizard, monitor, chelonian and amphibian drawn across over 65 individual animal ambassadors/residents at The Reptile Academy.

The programme is designed for veterinary students in years 1-2 of study who require placement credits (AHEMS/Pre-Clinical EMS) as well as Gold Duke of Edinbugh (DofE) Award participants who must undertake a 5-day, 4-night residential programme. The programme is already approved by 8 veterinary colleges and the DofE.

This course also welcomes any student or graduate in relevant fields such as zoology, animal management, veterinary nursing, conservation, etc, from the UK and abroad. It also welcomes those with an interest in exotic species animal welfare, so long as they are in further/higher education and/or are employed in a compatible institution/organisation (such as a teacher, lawyer, animal welfare officer, pet shop owner, etc).

Participants will be fully trained with the husbandry and care requirements of 25+ species of reptile and amphibian, understanding the high animal welfare ecpectations at The Reptile Academy and how these pertain to the 5 freedoms of animal welfare, and finally obtaining the key practical-based skills to succeed in allowing exotic animals under your to thrive and not just survive.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

This event has been approved by the Royal Society of Biology for purposes of CPD and can be counted as 150 CPD points.