Online assessment and Covid-19Online vivas A series of trials of online vivas have successfully taken place. These are now fully available to all, being undertaken via Zoom, and can be booked now. There is no need to wait until the written exams – you can take the viva before the written exams and get it out of the way (or do it afterwards if you wish). Subject to certain conditions, the viva exam can be taken from home or work or any suitable location of your choosing. To book your viva, please return the individual modules booking form.
Further dates will follow. Written assessments AMTRA and Harper Adams have returned to holding a number of face-to-face exams twice since Covid impacted our lives in March, but each time with significant challenges with ever-changing government rules and guidance, difficulties with venues being unwilling to host us or only in much reduced numbers, and with a very cautious approach by the senior team at Harper Adams preventing their staff from being allowed to travel to invigilate exams and while banning visitors to their campus. With almost all university and school exams suspended across the country, we have been ploughing something of a lone furrow. We have meanwhile been investigating online written examinations: these will be available to sit in January. More information coming soon. Offering online exams for Higher Education level 5 (which is what the AMTRA Farm and Equine modules are) is a particular challenge, a step up from those offering level 4 or lower qualifications, and we’ll be in touch shortly with more details on how that challenge has been overcome. It is still AMTRA’s intention to return to offering traditional paper-and-pen exams for those that want them when Covid restrictions allow, but the online option will give you more flexibility about where and when you sit your exams, and we’re very excited about the opportunities. |
Current AMTRA Examination centres also offering training courses are listed below, with the timetable of courses and examinations currently on offer. Further exam dates and optional training courses will be added to this list as they become available. Check the AMTRA website for the most up to date information.
If you’re looking for information about the “CPD exam” for those without enough CPD points, please see the CPD exam page.
Note that AMTRA cannot offer any assurances as to the quality or appropriateness of the training offered by any of the providers listed on this page: candidates should make their own checks. AMTRA welcomes feedback on the training providers, and reserves the right to remove a training provider from this page. Organisations wishing to be listed here should contact the AMTRA Secretary General.
Please also read our guidance on the qualification process for more information on exams.
Exam bookings must be received by AMTRA an absolute minimum of 3 weeks prior to the exam date. Some exams fill up well in advance. We will finalise the timetable 6 weeks in advance of an exam, and available options at your chosen venue may be reduced at that time – please book more than 6 weeks in advance if you can.
Candidates with additional support needs who are seeking adjustments must notify Harper Adams at least 6 weeks in advance of the exam date.
Please note that all exams are subject to minimum numbers: we regret that very occasionally it may be necessary to cancel an exam if insufficient people book for a particular date.
The exam booking form can be found inside the front cover of your training manual, or on the forms page.
Please note: exam centres are suitable for access by wheelchair or by others with mobility difficulties, but if this is likely to be relevant to you, please contact Harper Adams University before your exam.
Exam timetables and available modules at each centreThe exams at each of the exam centres are timetabled in two ways, which may influence which modules you can sit: Exam timetable 1 Exam timetable 2 Because the written exams all take place in the morning, there is a practical time limit which restricts the possible modules that can be sat on the single-day timetable 2 – those wanting to qualify in the “R” or “EA” categories cannot sit all of their modules at such venues. Re-sits and other mixtures of modules (including the farm animal module) are generally available but subject to a time restriction: please contact AMTRA to discuss if in any doubt. We will finalise the timetable 6 weeks in advance of an exam, and available options at your chosen venue may be reduced at that time – please book more than 6 weeks in advance if you can. PLEASE NOTE that if no training course and/or exam is currently scheduled at a centre, then we hope to be able to announce a date at some point, but cannot guarantee that there will be a future date at that location. Training courses are organised by the colleges and partly driven by demand, so if you want to do a training course at a particular place, please contact them and let them know. Individuals or businesses interested in training at other locations may also wish to contact Sally Harmer or Gill Williams – details at the bottom of this page. |
Bicton College in Devon used to host AMTRA-associated training courses and AMTRA exams. Despite AMTRA’s best efforts, Bicton College have failed to respond to AMTRA communications on countless occasions, therefore no exams will be held there for the foreseeable future. Any training/revision courses conducted by Bicton College are without the cooperation of AMTRA, and will need to be followed with examinations elsewhere. We regret this reduction in choice for those in SW England looking to become AMTRA qualified: we may develop other options in future but for now we suggest that candidates look to the options currently listed on this page.
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| No courses available | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| Course dates in 2021 to be added soon. | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
For details of training course costs for Askham Bryan College and Newton Rigg College
Contact: Katharine Jane, Newton Rigg College, Penrith, CA11 0AH
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01768 893400
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| Online teaching available – contact BETA for more details | (exam timetable 2): 8 December 2020 | n/a |
Please read the note above on the limits of which modules can be sat in exam timetable 2.
All examinations take place at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire
Courses cost £225+VAT for BETA members, or £290+VAT for non-members.
For further details of courses
Contact: Tina Hustler, BETA, Stockeld Park, Wetherby, LS22 4AW
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01937 587062
BURNLEY COLLEGE, LANCASHIRE
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| Course dates in 2021 to be added soon | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
Please read the note above on the limits of which modules can be sat in exam timetable 2.
For further details of costs and to book training courses contact:
Lyndsey Anderson, Business Solutions Officer, Themis at Burnley College, Princes Way, Burnley, BB12 0AN
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01282 733005 or Direct Dial: 01282 733227
COLEG SIR GAR, CARMARTHENSHIRE
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| No courses provided | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
Please read the note above on the limits of which modules can be sat in exam timetable 2
Contact: Sarah Roberts, Gelli Aur Campus, Golden Grove, Carmarthenshire, SA32 8NJ
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01554 748578
GREENMOUNT CAMPUS, CO. ANTRIM
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| Course dates in 2021 to be added soon. | (exam timetable 1): 17 & 18 February 2021 | Wednesday 27 January 2021 |
| (exam timetable 1): 7 & 8 July 2021 | Wednesday 16 June 2021 |
For further details of costs and to book training courses contact Steven Wallace, Short Course Manager
Greenmount College, 45 Tirgracy Road, Muckamore, Antrim, BT41 4PS
Email: mail to: [email protected]
Telephone: 028 9442 6935 (ext 64935)
| Training course dates | Exam dates | Booking deadline dates |
| Course details in 2021 to be added soon. | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
For further details of costs and to book training courses
Contact: Jeanette Forrester, Short Course Office, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01952 815300
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| No courses provided | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
Please read the note above on the limits of which modules can be sat in exam timetable 2.
Contact: Julie Ouston, MYF Training, 78 – 82 Victoria Road, Aldershot, Hants, GU11 1SS
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.myftraining.com
Telephone: 01252 319636
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY, CIRENCESTER
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| No courses provided | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
For further details of courses and costs
Contact: Carole Rooke, Rural Innovation Centre (RAU), Manor Farm, Harnhill, Cirencester, GL7 5PU
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01285 851830
SRUC – Oatridge Campus, Ecclesmachan, West Lothian
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| No courses provided | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
For further details of courses and costs
Contact: Graeme Ligertwood, Riverside Campus, University Avenue, Ayr, KA08 0SX
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01292 886199
Mobile: 07803222274
SRUC – Aberdeen Campus, Craibstone Estate, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA
| No courses provided | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
For further details of courses and costs
Contact: Anne-Marie Duncan, Ferguson Building, Craibstone Estate, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9YA
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01224 711126
| Training course dates: | Exam dates: | Booking deadline dates: |
| No courses provided | No dates confirmed at present | n/a |
Contact: Michelle Williams, Writtle University College, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3RR
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 01245 424200 Ext 25665
Direct Dial: 01245 424287
Fax 01245 420456
Individuals or businesses interested in training courses supporting AMTRA qualification may also wish to contact Sally Harmer, who is able to provide bespoke training courses throughout the country.
Sally Harmer Animal Health Consultancy
Tel. 07850 355971 or email [email protected]
www.animal-health-excellence.co.uk
Offering individuals and businesses pre-exam training supporting the companion-animal qualification. Gill is available to provide courses throughout the UK at a location of your choice to fit in with existing AMTRA examination dates.
Also available companion-animal training via online webinars from the comfort of your own home at a time to suit you (both live and pre-recorded webinars available).
Gill Williams, Centre of Canine Excellence
Call or email for more information : 07397 899381 or [email protected]
DAWN PRIME
Dawn is offering one-to-one training or group sessions prior to the AMTRA examinations. She can provide training for all modules: Base, Farm, Equine and Companion animals.
Covers East of England and London areas.
For further details contact Dawn on 07833506639 or email: [email protected]