Animal Activity License: 9751
Telephone: 02380 394174
Placements & Residentials
At The Reptile Academy, we offer a range of immersive placements and residential programmes designed to provide meaningful training, practical experience, and professional development within the field of herpetology and animal care.
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Our programmes are tailored to support students, aspiring professionals, and enthusiasts at different stages of their learning journey, from gaining their first hands-on experience with reptiles and amphibians to developing advanced husbandry, welfare, and research skills.
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Each programme has been carefully developed to combine high-quality educational content with real-world practical experience, delivered within a centre that places animal welfare, ethical practice, and scientific understanding at its core.
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Our work is supported through accreditations, partnerships, and approvals with recognised organisations and universities, reflecting the high standards of both our training programmes and animal welfare practices.
Veterinary
AHEMS / Pre-Clinical EMS
(also VNs, VCAs and others welcome)
An Animal Husbandry Extra-mural Studies (AHEMS) placement with The Reptile Academy Ltd shall deliver expert training and experience at our dedicated and licensed animal management facility in Dorset.
The most popular placement duration is 1 or 2 weeks.
Placements include elements of the accredited course Introduction to Herpetology, Reptile & Amphibian Husbandry & Animal Welfare course and involve advanced training in all aspects of reptile and amphibian management.
We currently hold 15+ student placement agreements with top UK veterinary colleges.
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Students from wider zoology, animal management and life science subjects are welcome to apply as this is a professional and interdisciplinary programme.
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There is a fee for the placement which covers the running costs of the programme, including student accommodation (forest lodge), all meals, local daily transport, training resources and a contribution to animal upkeep. We are a non-profit run by unpaid volunteers - there is no fee for tuition.
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All AHEMS/Pre-clinical EMS enquiries should be sent by email to education@reptileacademy.co.uk.
Please use your institution email.
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DofE Residentials
We deliver a Reptile Ranger Residential Programme with activities designed to meet the requirements for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Residential section as well as other initiatives like University AHEMS. This is a 5-day, 4-night residential running Monday - Friday in the heart of the New Forest, between our Education Centre in Dorset and New Forest Lodge. This programme also facilitates non-DofE participants such as veterinary, biology and animal management students. All participants must be 16-24. For Safeguarding and Animal Welfare Law reasons, we do not accept Gold DofE participants who are 15 years old and in the school year that they would turn 16.
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The Reptile Academy and our Reptile Ranger Residential Programme was approved by the DofE in 2022 covering delivery up until Easter 2025. We have made the decision to operate independently from May 2025 and not renew our Approved Activity Provider (AAP) status. The current programme however remains largely unchanged to the programme that was approved (only additions and improvements, such as having more amazing animals to work with and new engagement activities!).
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We remain very passionate about the DofE and continue to support all young people embarking on this great journey.
Benefits of this now include some updates to our 2026 programme that can be more inclusive as an interdisciplinary opportunity for a wide variety of young people joining us from different backgrounds, as well as maintaining lower operating costs and therefore fees we pass on as we are a not-for-profit organisation run by unpaid volunteers.
This has also allowed our programme to be more relevant to our other key partners including the Royal Society of Biology, ASDAN, AQA and our Alternative Provision Framework and Networks across Hampshire Council, Dorset Council and BCP Council with respect to the highest standards of education, professional integrity and commitment to safeguarding of young people in our care.
So, out of attending one residential with a shared goal of furthering exotic species animal care knowledge and skills, participants can achieve:
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> Completion of the Residential Section of the DofE;
> AND/OR Completion of Veterinary AHEMS or other university or college placement requirements
> AND A written reference to support university, work and UCAS applications
> AND An RSB-accredited Certification to show CPD
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PLUS NEW FOR 2026
> A choice from the ASDAN Activities & Residential Short Course Certification and AQA Unit Awards up to Level 3 (Advanced Level Standards)
​This activity may count towards the completion of the Residential section of the DofE. Please check with your DofE Leader before booking.
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The Reptile Academy Volunteer Team will verify this approval with young people or their parents before payment/securing the place, and provide information so that the DofE Leader can evaluate how our Reptile Ranger Residential Programme does meet the requirements for this Section of the Award. ​​​​​​
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We currently have limited availability for 2026 dates. Please contact us on education@reptileacademy.co.uk or call 02380 394174 to enquire or book.
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School & College Visits
(The Reptile Academy visits you!)
Suitable for students from KS1 primary school through to KS5 further education , our educational visits are designed to support learning across a range of subjects including Science, Biology, Animal Management, and Environmental Studies.
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For primary schools, sessions focus on topics such as Living Things and Their Habitats, introducing pupils to reptiles and amphibians while exploring how animals adapt to their environments and why caring for wildlife and biodiversity is important.
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For secondary schools and colleges, visits provide a deeper insight into animal husbandry, behaviour, welfare, and ethical animal management, making them particularly valuable for students studying Animal Care, Animal Management, Zoology, Biology or related courses up to GCSE and College level.
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All visits are delivered by experienced educators and are designed to complement classroom learning through hands-on experiences, practical demonstrations, and engaging discussions. Students gain a greater understanding of reptiles and amphibians while learning about the responsibilities involved in working with animals and the importance of maintaining high standards of animal welfare.
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Why Visit
The Reptile Academy?
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A visit to The Reptile Academy’s Centre for Herpetofauna Education (REACH) provides students with an opportunity to experience a specialist reptile and amphibian education centre, where learning takes place alongside real-world husbandry, welfare, and conservation work.
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Unlike a traditional zoo visit, students gain insight into the practical management and welfare of reptiles and amphibians, delivered by educators working directly within the field.
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Students visiting the centre may explore topics such as:
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Reptile and amphibian biology and adaptations
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Animal husbandry and enclosure design
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Animal welfare and ethical care
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Behaviour and environmental enrichment
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Careers and pathways in animal care, veterinary science, and conservation
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Visits provide an engaging way to bring classroom science to life, while helping students develop a greater appreciation for reptiles, amphibians, and the importance of responsible animal management and conservation.
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Government Kickstart & Traineeships
The Reptile Academy has previously participated in government employability initiatives designed to support workplace training and career development for young people aged 16–24.
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Through the Kickstart Scheme, we welcomed five young people into the organisation, providing them with valuable hands-on experience, mentorship, and the opportunity to develop practical skills within a professional animal care and education environment.
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Although the Kickstart scheme has now concluded, we remain committed to supporting young people in developing skills, confidence, and pathways into careers in animal care, education, and conservation through our wider training programmes, placements, and educational opportunities.
