Dog Trainer or Handler – ANZSCO 361111

Description: Teaches dogs to obey commands and undertake specific tasks.
Skill Level: 3

Skills Assessment Requirement

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Dog Handler or Trainer is Vocational Education and Training Assess (VETASSESS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

AQF Certificate IV Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or

AQF Certificate IV Qualification that is not a highly relevant field of study AND at least two years post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or

AQF Certificate III Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years.

To achieve a positive skills assessment, the applicant must meet the qualification and employment experience requirements.

Potential Visa Pathways for Dog Handler or Trainer

ANZSCO	Occupation	Skills Assessment	189	190	485	491 (State)	491 (Family)	186 (Direct)	407 (Training)	494 (regional Sponsored)	482 (TSS Short Term)
361111	Dog Handler or Trainer	VETASSESS	x	√	x	√	x	x	√	√	√

Group: 3611 Animal Attendants and Trainers

Description

train, feed, groom and care for animals.

Tasks

teaching animals to obey verbal and non-verbal commands and addressing behavioural problems
training animals to accept riders and pull vehicles
training animals to perform in competitions
bathing, cutting, combing, blow-drying and styling pets’ coats, clipping their nails and cleaning their ears
inspecting, preparing, cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining comfortable animal cages and enclosures
transporting food, filling water troughs and feeding animals according to their individual needs
maintaining animal health records, treating minor injuries and reporting serious conditions to Veterinarians
exercising and playing with animals, answering visitor questions, and transferring animals between enclosures by leading or carrying them
dusting and spraying insecticides on animals and immersing them in insecticide baths, to control insect pests

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.
In Australia:
AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

In New Zealand:
NZ Register Level 4 qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.
Registration or licensing may be required.

Occupations in this Group

361111 Dog Trainer or Handler
361112 Horse Trainer
361113 Pet Groomer
361114 Zookeeper
361115 Kennel Hand
361199 Animal Attendants and Trainers nec

Subclass 190 visa– Skilled Nominated Visa & Subclass 491 visa – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) Visa

To apply for visa subclass 190 and visa subclass 491, you need to have a nomination from the state/territory government where you want to live and work. Each State and Territory have individual requirements that must be met in order to receive nomination. (See below)

While the 190 visa is a permanent visa, subclass 491 visa gives you right to live and work in regional Australia for 5 years with a pathway to permanent residency through the subclass 191 visa.

Another difference between the 190 and 491 visa is that you can only apply for visa subclass 491 if you are living and working in regional areas in Australia, while it is not a requirement if you are applying for the 190 visa.

In summary, to be eligible for 190 visa, you need to meet the following criteria:

Immigration Points

Must score at least 65 points, or higher points if the state or territory requires.

English

Must have at least Competent English, i.e., IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, or higher if the state or territory requires.

Age

Must be under 45 years of age.

be invited

Must lodge an EOI and be invited by the state or territory and then apply for the visa.

Skills assessment

Must have positive skills assessment. Each occupation has a specific assessing authority.

HEALTH AND CHARACTER

Must meet health and character requirements.

To check if the state/ territory government requirements for your occupation, refer to the following links

State/ Territory	Links to requirements
New South Wales	NSW Skilled Migration Nomination Requirement 2021-2022 (190 Visa) NSW Subclass 190 Skilled Occupation list Skilled occupation list for NSW 491 visa NSW Skilled Work Regional visa (subclass 491) requirements NSW 491 Regional Skilled Occupation list (Stream 1) NSW 491 Regional Skilled Occupation list (Stream 2 and 3)
Victoria	Victoria Skilled visa nomination program (190 and 491 visa)
South Australia	South Australia Skilled Migration Program (190 and 491 visa) South Australia’s Skilled occupation list
Western Australia	Western Australia 190 and 491 nomination requirements. Western Australian skilled migration occupation list (WASMOL)
Northern Territory	Northern Territory 190 Visa requirements NT Migration Occupation List
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)	ACT Canberra Small Business Owner Pathway ACT Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements (190 and 491 visa) Canberra Matrix Points Calculator
Tasmania	Tasmania 491 Visa Requirements Tasmanian Skilled Occupations List (TSOL) Tasmania Small Business Owner Stream – 491 visa Tasmania Skilled Migration Nomination Requirements Tasmania 190 Visa Requirements
Queensland	491 visa criteria for Queensland Queensland Skilled Occupation Lists Far North Queensland DAMA 491 Visa – Queensland Small Business Owners Pathway

407 Training Visa

The 407 visa a short stay visa for individuals to participate in occupational training or professional development in Australia. This visa is generally valid to stay in Australia for 2 years. Please note this visa is subject to condition 8102 which forbids work apart from the training that is specified in the visa application. You are also required to maintain health insurance whilst in Australia.

To be eligible for visa 407, you need to meet the following criteria:

GTE

You must prove that you genuinely stay in Australia for training and will depart when you complete the training.

English Level

Must have Functional English, i.e. IELTS overall 4.5 with no band less than 4, or equivalent.

Age

Must be over 18 years old.

Be Sponsored

You must be sponsored by an approved temporary activities sponsor – Can be an employer or a commonwealth agency

HEALTH INSURANCE

Must hold valid private health insurance.

Health and Character

Must meet health and character requirements.

Subclass 494 visa – Skilled Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa

You can apply for subclass 494 if you have a regional employer who is willing to sponsor you. To be eligible for this visa, you must have at least 3 years of working experience in your nominated occupation and have a relevant skills assessment. With this visa, there is a requirement that you must work for the employer who is sponsoring you.

This visa provides pathway to permanent residency through the 191 visa.

Experience

At least 3 years full-time work experience in the nominated occupation.

English

Must have at least Competent English, i.e., IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.

Age

Must be under 45 years of age, unless exempt.

Be Sponsored

Must be sponsored by an Australian regional employer.

Skills assessment

Must have a positive skills assessment.

Location

Must live and work in regional areas in Australia.

Subclass 482 visa – Temporary Skill Shortage (Short Term)

The Subclass 482 visa is a Temporary Skill Shortage visa that requires a sponsorship from an Australian employer. The TSS short term stream visa allows to your live and work in Australia for up to 2 years each time you are granted this visa. You may apply for two 482 visas in the short stream onshore and subsequent ones offshore, as long as the employer is willing to sponsor you. The TSS 482 short term stream does not have a path to permanent residency throught the 186 visa.