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Pet care associate education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a pet care associate. Pet care associates usually study biology, business, or psychology. 38% of pet care associates hold a bachelor's degree, and 34% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 3,746 real pet care associate resumes to see exactly what pet care associate education sections show.
The most common colleges for pet care associates are the Michigan State University and the Michigan State University.
There are also many online pet care associate courses to help get the education required to be a pet care associate.
There are certain pet care associate certifications that you should consider. These pet care associate certifications include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Dental Assistant (RDA).
What education do you need to become a pet care associate?
What degree do you need to be a pet care associate?
- Bachelor's, 38%
- High School Diploma, 34%
- Associate, 19%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 5%
What should I major in to become a pet care associate?
- Biology, 15%
- Business, 10%
- Psychology, 10%
- Other Majors, 57%
Most common colleges for pet care associates
| Pet care associate common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Michigan State University | 6.77% |
| University of Pennsylvania | 6.77% |
| George Mason University | 6.02% |
| University of Phoenix | 6.02% |
| University of Iowa | 6.02% |
Best majors for pet care associates
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 15.2% |
| 2 | Business | 10.0% |
| 3 | Psychology | 9.6% |
| 4 | Medical Assisting Services | 8.2% |
| 5 | General Studies | 7.7% |
Best colleges for pet care associates
The best colleges for pet care associates are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University.
A pet care associate with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for pet care associates. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become pet care associates.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
In-state tuition
$54,568
Enrollment
8,451
2. New York University
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$51,828
Enrollment
26,339
3. Ohio State University
Columbus, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$10,726
Enrollment
45,769
4. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
5. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,354
Enrollment
7,083
6. University of Colorado Denver
Denver, CO • Private
In-state tuition
$9,283
Enrollment
11,892
7. University of Vermont
Burlington, VT • Private
In-state tuition
$18,276
Enrollment
10,612
8. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$50,420
Enrollment
7,582
9. University of New Hampshire
Durham, NH • Private
In-state tuition
$18,499
Enrollment
12,668
10. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
20 best online courses for pet care associates
Advertising disclosure
1. Palliative Care Always Capstone Course
The Palliative Care Always Capstone course is designed to let you test your knowledge about palliative and help others understand the value of palliative care, while showing your creative side. In this course, you will impact community awareness about palliative care, promote self-care and wellness, show-off your communication skills in a virtual environment, and finish the course off by proving your thoughts on ways to offer psychosocial support to a patient and family...
2. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care
This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...
3. Animal & Pet Reiki Energy Healing Certification Course
Animal & Pet Reiki using energy healing is both easy to do and rewarding for all! Obtain certification upon completion!...
4. Pet First Aid (Advanced)
Learn essential knowledge and skills to be able to confidently carry out emergency first aid on a pet animal...
5. Health for All Through Primary Health Care
This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...
6. Thinking About Care
Although all humans require care to develop and thrive, it is rarely the focus of academic studies. This course enriches learner’s understanding of this critical yet underappreciated facet of their lives by addressing such questions as: What is care? Who has traditionally provided it? How valued is care work? Does money take the care out of care work? In addition to advancing learner’s knowledge of the place of care in modern society and controversies surrounding it, Thinking About Care will...
7. Animal Psychology/ Pets Behaviour - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Learn about behaviour in dogs, dealing with cats, rabbit behaviour, cats and dogs psychology, aggression in dogs, pet...
8. Dog CPR, First Aid + Safety for pet pros + dedicated owners
Essential training to keep your dogs safe, attract clients & gain skills & confidence to take action in an emergency...
9. Palliative Care Always
Palliative Care Always is a specialization for health care practitioners, patients and caregivers. We’ve designed this specialization to demonstrate how palliative medicine integrates with patient care, and to help you develop primary palliative care skills. Over the next five courses, you will develop skills in symptom management, goals of care and effective communication to improve the quality of life for patients and families suffering with serious illness. Our hope is that you feel...
10. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative
Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...
11. Digital Pet Paintings Using Photoshop
Learn how to turn ordinary photographs of pets and animals into beautiful painted art pieces...
12. Animal Communication - Intermediate
Intermediate level telepathic animal communication made easy...
13. Pain Management: Easing Pain in Palliative Care
In this course, you will be able to develop a systems view for assessing and managing pain in the palliative care setting. By the end of the course, you will be able to: 1) Describe the pain problem in the palliative care setting; 2) Assess a person’s pain, 3) Explain the benefits of integrative therapies and pharmacologic strategies to manage pain...
14. Animal Reiki Practitioner Certification
Learn how to use Reiki energy to help animals...
15. Animal Communication For beginners
Learn an easy process for communicating with animals telepathically...
16. Dog & Cat Behavior Problems
Learn the essential training techniques you'll need to raise a pet dog or cat and fix common behavior problems...
17. Animal Communication - Animals and the Afterlife
Exploring death and the afterlife from the animal's point of view using telepathic animal communication...
18. Providing Trauma-Informed Care
Exploring psychological trauma and how to provide care and compassion to trauma survivors...
19. DOG BEHAVIOR & DOG TRAINING: Fix Problems & Animal Behavior
BAD DOG BEHAVIOR? ENROLL NOW! Dog Training, Animal Behavior, Puppy Training, Canine Behavior, Dogs, Puppies/Animals/Pets...
20. Learn To Communicate With Animals & Nature
Tap into the wisdom of nature and animals. Learn an easy process to assist you to communicate with animals and nature...
Top 10 most affordable universities for pet care associates
The most affordable schools for pet care associates are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for pet care associates are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for pet care associates.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
5. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
6. University of South Florida
Tampa, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,410
Cost of attendance
20,456
7. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
Brooklyn, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,240
Cost of attendance
13,991
8. Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN • Private
In-state tuition
$9,992
Cost of attendance
22,430
9. California State University - Fresno
Fresno, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,587
Cost of attendance
16,915
10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,353
Cost of attendance
21,302
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for pet care associates
The hardest universities for pet care associates to get into are Northwestern University, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University.
Some great schools for pet care associates are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for pet care associates based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
2. Stanford University
Stanford, CA • Private
Admissions rate
4%
SAT average
1,497
3. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN • Private
Admissions rate
10%
SAT average
1,514
4. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
5. Harvard University
Cambridge, MA • Private
Admissions rate
5%
SAT average
1,520
6. Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA • Private
Admissions rate
17%
SAT average
1,507
7. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
8. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
9. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
10. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for pet care associates
The easiest schools for pet care associates to get into are AdventHealth University, barry university, and notre dame de namur university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a pet care associate without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for pet care associates.
1. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
2. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
3. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
4. Notre Dame College
Cleveland, OH • Private
Admissions rate
90%
SAT average
994
5. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
6. Cardinal Stritch University
Milwaukee, WI • Private
Admissions rate
71%
SAT average
1,035
7. Our Lady of the Lake University
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
93%
SAT average
1,002
8. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
9. Presentation College
Aberdeen, SD • Private
Admissions rate
97%
SAT average
1,050
10. Centenary University
Hackettstown, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
67%
SAT average
987
Average pet care associate salary by education level
| Pet care associate education level | Pet care associate salary |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or Less | $34,715 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $37,720 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $36,266 |
Pet care associate education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common personal care and attendants questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025