Equine Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) are a vital part of the veterinary team. They work alongside veterinary surgeons to provide expert nursing care and support to equine (horse) patients. As a veterinary nurse you should be hardworking, pragmatic and dedicated. The work can involve long and unsociable hours, but the rewards from making a difference to the lives of animals and owners every day make the job worthwhile.
Completion of the level 3 equine veterinary nursing apprenticeship will allow you to apply for professional registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
As the largest provider of veterinary nurse training in the UK, you will join a community of like-minded students that are passionate about improving the welfare of animals, learning under the guidance of our enthusiastic and experienced lecturers.
The programme combines academic theory and practical training, alongside employment in an RCVS approved equine veterinary training practice, giving you the knowledge and hands-on skills to work confidently as a Registered Veterinary Nurse. You will also be loaned a free virtual reality headset for the duration of your programmeto help you develop your clinical skills and prepare for your practical examination.
Duration: 30-36 months.
Study Format – Day Release (one day per week) via our Live Online classroom from your home or place of work. Plus 10 practical skills training days at our Huntingdon centre throughout the programme.
Start dates – January 2027 (Mondays)
Off-The-Job Training – All apprentices must spend a minimum of six hours per week undertaking off-the-job (OTJ) training – time spent at college counts towards this.
Course Content
During this apprenticeship you will gain the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed of a professionally registered veterinary nurse to work within the standards and scope of practice defined by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
The qualification consists of a number of core units which cover the following subjects:
Professional Equine Veterinary Nursing Responsibilities – Professional responsibilities of the student and registered veterinary nurse, including the RCVS Code of Conduct, health and safety in the veterinary practice and legal/ethical duties
Diagnostic Principles – Key principles of imaging and laboratory techniques to support the veterinary surgeon in diagnosis; including microscopy, endoscopy, ultrasound and radiography
Equine Veterinary Nursing Care Principles – Underpinning knowledge relating to the care of equine patients in a veterinary environment including anatomy, physiology, fluid therapy, pain assessment and preventative care
Supply of Veterinary Medicines – Basic veterinary pharmacology and its application, including the prescription, storage and supply of medicines
Practical Equine Veterinary Nursing Skills – Developing practical skills in RCVS approved Training Practices through the compilation of a portfolio of evidence
Equine Anaesthesia – The principles of anaesthesia including the preparation for, and monitoring of, equine patients during anaesthesia and sedation
Equine Theatre Nursing Skills – The principles of theatre practice including surgical instruments, assisting in theatre
Life Stage and Medical Nursing Care and Support – How the patient’s life stage influences their individual needs. The patient’s response to disease and trauma, reproduction, nursing care of medical conditions, palliative care and euthanasia
Surgical Nursing and Patient Care – Specialised knowledge in surgical nursing, including pre, peri and post-operative nursing from admission to discharge
Functional Skills If you are an apprentice under 19 years of age you will be required to undertake Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths unless exempt.
How you study
Theory lessons – you will undertake you theory lessons for one day a week via our Live Online classroom. Our Live Online classroom offers real-time interactive lessons that allow you to engage with your tutors and peers. During online lectures you will take part in a diverse range of learning and assessment activities including live chat, group chat, breakout room activities, independent activities e.g. research, polls and Q&A sessions.
Online course materials – our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) provides a wide range of learning resources including interactive online lessons, revision and study support materials, recordings of classroom lessons for you to rewatch, an extensive eLibrary, access to journal articles and career resources.
Virtual reality (VR) – You will be loaned a free virtual reality headset for the duration of your programme that will allow you to use our two exclusive software programmes. The OSCE preparation software will help you to prepare for your OSCEs (practical exams) by creating muscle memory and alleviating exam anxiety. You can practise the OSCE tasks that you may come across in your real exam, such as taking x rays, packaging samples and identifying parasites. Our anatomy software allows you to explore and learn body systems in details. We are the first veterinary nurse college to use virtual reality and we are very excited about the potential application of it.
Practical skills training – you will attend our Huntingdon centre for practical skills training days, there are approximately 10 of these across the programme.
Tutor support – you will be allocated a personal tutor to provide 1:1 support and guidance and be a point of contact throughout your programme.
Virtual Reality Learning at CAW
We are the first veterinary nurse college to use virtual reality and we are very excited about the potential application of it.
Assessments
Assessments will include examinations, assignments/case studies, completion of a Nursing Progress Log (NPL), and formative practical assessments.
Once you have completed these, and undertaken the required amount of training, you will be able to undertake the End Point Assessment (EPA). This consists of:
A Professional Discussion
The Professional discussion is a structured 45 minute interview between the apprentice and an independent assessor covering a range of knowledge, skills and behaviours through scenario competence-based questions.
A Practical Assessment
Once all other assessments have been passed, you will complete a final practical exam – an equine specific Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).
Entry Requirements
Learners wishing to undertake this programme must be able to evidence capability in numeracy, literacy, science, and written English and mathematics; this typically includes GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (or A* to C) including English, mathematics and a science subject, or equivalent qualifications. Examples of equivalent qualifications that may be acceptable are:
You must be employed in an equine or mixed (equine and small animal) veterinary training practice in England, be at least 16 years of age and have the full support of your employer.
To complete this apprenticeship within the 30-36 month time frame you will need to be working for a minimum of 30 hours per week, if you are working less than 30 hours a week the length of your apprenticeship will be extended depending on your working hours.
International qualifications
You should have proof of competence in the English Language by holding either the ESOL qualification at levels C1 or C2 or IELTS at a minimum score of 6.0 (with a minimum of 5.5 in each element) where your international qualifications were not taught and assessed in English. You will also be required to have your foreign qualifications officially translated into English with a notarised stamp.
Course Fees
Apprenticeship fees are payable by the employer. Prior to starting the course an invoice will be issued for the total course fee.
If you have not achieved your qualification by the planned end date detailed in your individual learning plan, your employer will be able to pay monthly direct debit payments to allow you to continue to receive support and access to your course until certification of your award.
Small employers/Non-levy payers (with an annual payroll bill of less than £3 million)
Non-levy paying employers in England are required to contribute 5% (£850 in one payment) towards the cost of the apprenticeship provided they use their digital account to process the claim for 95% funding available.
Apprenticeship fees may be free for those aged 16-21 years of age, working in a non-levy paying organisation with less than 50 employees.
Large employers/Levy payers (with an annual payroll bill of more than £3 million)
Levy payers in England will pay the full apprenticeship amount of £17,000 using their digital account.
Professional/Awarding body fees*
RCVS Registration: £228
Exam fees will be payable where a resit is required.
* RCVS registration and any exam resit fees are payable by employers and will be invoiced at cost.
Remote examination invigilation If a student chooses to undertake a remotely invigilated resit exam, there will be an additional fee on top of the normal exam fee which is payable by phone in advance of any booking being processed.
These are current figures and may be subject to change. The differences in course fees reflect the level of funding that is available as a result of government policies and priorities. These may be as a result of age, employment status, previous education achievements, or location for example, and are outside the control of The College of Animal Welfare.
What Next?
On completion of your apprenticeship you will be eligible to apply to join the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (RCVS) Register of Veterinary Nurses and use the post nominal term, RVN. Entry on the register allows you to legally practise as a veterinary nurse under the direction of a veterinary surgeon.
