Our mission is to improve the welfare of raptors and owls in the care or control of people. We achieve this through education and training, and issue formal certificates of competence to successful candidates. Our courses are the only courses based directly on the ‘National standards for bird of prey welfare.
You may study this course just for fun, working through each module at your own pace and studying as much or as little as you need. However, you can also work towards formal recognition through our certification process.
Competent candidates interested in obtaining a certificate for this course must complete both the theory and practical at one of our approved centres. Completion of the theory alone will not fully certify you.
Full Award
- For the full award, candidates must demonstrate competence in both the theoretical and practical components of the course. This is usually achieved by attending a formal course of instruction with an approved Raptor Awards Instructor. This includes face to face assessment of skills such as handling, flying, food preparation and otherwise caring for birds of prey. The instructor will also observe and question candidates to establish knowledge and understanding.
- After successfully demonstrating their skills in practical assessments, along with successfully demonstrating competence in Knowledge and Understanding, candidates receive a full award certificate, indicating comprehensive competence. Raptor Awards have approved assessors in various parts of the UK and in some overseas territories.
- Remote assessment: Raptor Awards can also offer remote assessment of practical skills for candidates with existing experience that are not able to attend one of our approved centres. Contact admin@raptorawards.co.uk if you are interested in remote assessment of your skills.
- Reasonable adjustments can be made for candidates with recognised needs – contact Raptor Awards if this applies to you.
Theory Only
- Candidates can complete the theoretical components of the course by remote, online self-study using the materials in the course and additional external sources through personal research. To demonstrate competence, you must complete all the online quizzes for assessment, C1-9. Alternatively, you may complete worksheets and submit them to an assessor. You will be assessed on a) your Knowledge of each module, and b) your Understanding of the application of that knowledge. Assessments are usually conducted remotely, and may require you to submit further work, or in some cases speak to an assessor directly. Theory certificates will only be issued once worksheets or quizzes C1-9 have been completed to the pass mark or above.
- Theory only certificates can be issued for those that wish to solely complete the theory assessments.
- Please note that this does not certify you alone, in order for the Raptor Award certification to be obtained, the full award must be completed.
