This complete, self-contained course is designed for everyone who is interested in tortoises or turtles, whether you have animals already, come into contact with tortoises and turtles in your work, or are just thinking about it. If you are a new to this subject you will learn how to avoid the problems that many new keepers encounter, and you will guarantee your tortoise or turtle the very best start in its new life with you. If you are a more experienced keeper, or encounter tortoises and turtles in a professional context, you will find the content that deals with lifestyle, ecology and biology of special interest. The course is especially suitable for training pet store staff, for veterinary nurses, and for wildlife rehabilitators.  This fascinating and informative course will also equip you with improved handling and observational skills - all of which will transform the quality of care you are able to provide to the animals you maintain.

There are many books on keeping tortoises and turtles, but many – if not most – contain outdated, incorrect and misleading information. With this course, which is fully endorsed by the world-famous Tortoise Trust, you can be assured that everything is fully up to date, is completely accurate, and is based upon many years of working with these animals both in the wild and in captivity. Content is delivered in a highly structured manner, to ensure that your knowledge is soundly based and that you know exactly how to apply it in practice.  Recognizing the difficulty of studying by yourself at home, this carefully designed interactive program brings you the benefits of classroom training without any of the inconveniences.

The Tortoise Trust has more than 25 years experience of educating people about the proper needs of tortoises and turtles, and as one of the largest Chelonian organizations in the world, their experience in this field is second to none.

Whatever species you keep, or are considering keeping, this course will provide you with a sound base of knowledge and will guide you through the process with a step-by-step logical approach. You’ll learn dozens of unique hints and practical tips to improve your animal’s quality of life, and prevent problems arising. You will learn how to design suitable terraria and vivaria, how to construct indoor and outdoor habitats for both aquatic and terrestrial species, how to manage diets, and how to recognize and prevent common veterinary problems.

Other benefits:

• If you are a breeder, by encouraging purchasers of your animals to take this course you can be assured that they are fully qualified to provide adequate care to the animals you sell
• If you are a veterinary surgeon, this is the best possible way to educate your clients or staff on tortoise and turtle husbandry
• If you are a pet store, this course offers an effective and low cost way to teach staff and customers alike about all aspects of chelonian maintenance

Course contents include:

• Basic physiology and anatomy of tortoises and turtles
• Thermoregulation and environmental factors
• Behavioral factors in captive husbandry
• Keeping tortoises and turtles as pets; health and hygiene
• Tropical tortoise maintenance
• Temperate tortoise maintenance
• Freshwater turtle maintenance
• Hibernation of temperate species
• Practical nutrition
• Artificial lighting and heating systems
• Practical design of tortoise accommodation
• Practical design of turtle accommodation
• Disease prevention in captive collections
• Disease recognition and treatment protocols

Everyone who completes this course with a satisfactory pass-rate is awarded a diploma by the Tortoise Trust, suitable for framing. As part of the course you will have contact with other students, will be given access to a restricted Student Resource Area where additional texts and background materials are available, and will be able to submit your coursework for expert evaluation and assessment.

The course comprises 8 separate modules, and takes a minimum of 8 weeks to complete on-line at the rate of one lesson per week, however, you can take as long as you like. There is no pressure.  

The total course fee is 35.00 GBP

(approximately $60.00 in USA)

TORTOISE TRUST FOUNDATION COURSE ONLINE