IMPORTANT INFORMATION re CHANGES TO APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please note that the current APEL process is changing. From Monday 21 October 2024 all applicants will apply directly to the ABTC rather than via a Practitioner Organisation.
Moving forward the APEL assessment will also include up to three oral interviews in addition to a review of the written evidence. This process allows applicants the best possible opportunity to demonstrate their Knowledge and Understanding. Due to these changes, the cost to applicants will be increasing to £325 to cover both assessors time and administration costs carried out by the ABTC.
Anyone who has applied for APEL before 31st August 2024 will continue in the current process.
However, we kindly ask that if you want to apply on or after 1 September 2024 that you email Helen – the ABTC assessment administrator – on assessments@abtc.org.uk to register your interest in applying under the new system when it comes into effect at the end of October 2024.
This page will be updated with further details over the next couple of months, so please watch this space.
We look forward to welcoming your APEL application very soon.
APEL - Assessment of Prior Experience and/or Learning
An individual may have completed a course recognised by the ABTC as meeting the Knowledge & Understanding requirements for the Animal Behaviour Technician (ABT) or Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB), in which case they should apply to their chosen Practitioner Organisation for details of ‘provisional/similar’ membership. However, not everyone will have had the opportunity to undertake formal study in a college/university or may have studied subjects different to those areas covered by the Standards or completed a course that is not yet recognised by the ABTC as meeting the requirements. This is where Assessment of Prior Experience and/or Learning (APEL) comes into the equation.
APEL is learning gained outside of a formal course: through work roles, or other activities such as volunteer work, unassessed CPD eg webinars, reading, conference attendance etc.
For Animal Trainer (AT) and Animal Training Instructor (ATI) roles the Practitioner Organisations carry out assessments of both Performance Criteria and Knowledge & Understanding – which means that the APEL process is not required.
For Animal Behaviour Technician (ABT) and Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CAB) roles the Practitioner Organisations carry out assessments of Performance Criteria; for assessment of Knowledge and Understanding, the ABTC provides a pool of Assessors to carry out the APEL process.
For details of all the ABTC role standards, please look here.
As above, the process for applying via APEL is changing. Full details of how to apply will be posted on here soon, but in the meantime please register your interest with Helen on assessments@abtc.org.uk
Thank you
