Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing - Companion Animal Pathway (VetSkill)

From assisting veterinary surgeons with the care of animals during treatment and carrying out x-rays and diagnostic tests, through to advising clients on pet care and looking after inpatients in the hospital wards, veterinary nursing involves a wide range of activities and is vital to the running of a successful veterinary practice. Over the course of the qualification you will cover 9 units.

• Professional Veterinary Nursing Responsibilities – Professional responsibilities of the student and RVN, 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
• Principles of Veterinary Nursing Care 1 – Underpinning knowledge relating to the care of patients in a veterinary environment including anatomy, physiology and emergency first aid
• Pharmacology and Dispensary Management – Basic veterinary pharmacology and its application, including the prescription, storage, supply and dispensing of medicines to standards required of an SQP
• Practical Veterinary Nursing Skills  – Developing practical skills in RCVS approved Training Practices through the compilation of a portfolio of evidence
• Anaesthesia and Theatre Nursing Skills – The principles of anaesthesia and theatre practice including surgical instruments, assisting in theatre and the preparation and monitoring of patients during anaesthesia and sedation
• 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
• Principles of Veterinary Nursing Care 2 – Nursing requirements of patients including fluid therapy, pain assessment, preventative care and physical therapy techniques
• Surgical Nursing and Patient Care – Specialised knowledge in surgical nursing, including pre, peri and post-operative nursing from admission to discharge

Embedded within this qualification is the content required for you to become an SQP for companion animals.

This qualification is also available as part of an apprenticeship.

Assessment

You will undertake a variety of assessments including online examinations, assignments and case studies. You will also complete an e-portfolio over the course of your training, as evidence of practical competence. At the end of year one there is a formative practical assessment. Final practice examinations (OSCEs) are on successful completion of all other assessments.

Blended virtual learning delivery 

For the blended virtual learning format you will receive a combination of lectures, independent online learning activities and practical skills sessions.

We use a virtual classroom platform which allows you to engage with tutors and peers in real time either from home or from work. You are expected to participate in all learning activities and it is important that you have a working mic and camera on your laptop or PC to allow this. Practical sessions are in the college environment and most exams are also completed in the college centres. All virtual classroom sessions are recorded and are available to view after the event for consolidation of learning and revision purposes.

Blended learning sessions offer diverse teaching, learning and assessment approaches catered for the individual needs of learners, enabling them to develop the required knowledge and skills needed to join a rewarding profession as qualified veterinary nurses. What’s more – the easy, remote access to learning resources provided to learners via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) means that learners get the best out of their studies with us, both in and outside of College.

Click here to take gain a greater insight into what blended virtual learning looks like

Make the most of virtual learning

Please find a copy of our guide to making the most of virtual learning here, for hints and tips on making the most of virtual learning.

Face-to-face classroom delivery

You will attend your centre on a day release (one day per week during term time) basis as per the Scheme of Work requirements. You will receive your teaching in a classroom/clinical skills setting with class sizes limited to a specified capacity and you will be studying, learning, and developing your skills directly alongside your peers.

Many theory sessions build on the independent online learning element of the programme therefore it is critical that you prepare for your lectures by having completed the necessary online activities ahead of your live session.

Industry Experience

In addition to your college studies you will gain significant industry experience in an RCVS approved veterinary practice, either a Training Practice (TP) or an auxiliary Training Practice (aTP).

The valuable clinical and employment skills you will learn whilst working in a real life setting will help you to better understand how a fast paced veterinary environment operates, and will prepare you for the responsibilities that come with qualifying as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN).

You must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (or 9-4), including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. Students with Scottish qualifications are required to have 5 subjects at a National 5 or Higher/Advance Higher at level A, B or C; to include Maths, English and a Science. If you do not meet these requirements, there are alternative qualifications that may be acceptable. One of these combinations is the Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants, along with GCSEs grade C or above (or Level 2 Functional Skills) in English Language and Maths.

Students who are already employed in a veterinary practice looking to undertake this qualification must be at least 16 years of age. Non-employed students must be a minimum of 19 years of age on the 1st of the month in which the course starts. Please note non-employed students who are 16 years of age or over and hold the Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants or the VetSkill Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support qualification are welcome to apply.

Before applying, please ensure you read the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Fitness to Practise: A Guide for UK Providers of Veterinary Nursing Education and Student Veterinary Nurses, which can be downloaded here.

This qualification is also available as part of an apprenticeship.

Block release students

The work based nature of the course means that, in addition to meeting the academic entry requirements, you must have either:

• completed a minimum of two weeks work experience in a veterinary environment within the last 12 months (preferably within a small animal first opinion veterinary practice) and be able to provide a satisfactory reference from a veterinary surgeon or registered veterinary nurse supporting your suitability for veterinary nurse training; OR,
• be employed in an RCVS approved TP or aTP that is willing to support you through your qualification; a list of these can be found on the RCVS website.

Read our advice for finding work experience in a veterinary practice

Entry onto the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing programme, due to its popularity, is extremely competitive; therefore you may wish to read more about how you can strengthen your application. For example, any additional work experience, hobbies or studies in an animal related subject will help your application to stand out. We also recommend providing evidence of equine experience, such as voluntary work at a yard or riding school.

Our placement liaison team are dedicated to sourcing block release students with a placement in a veterinary practice. Connections with over 600 Training Practices across the UK means that they are usually successful in this, however it is never guaranteed. As securing a place on the course relies on having a confirmed work placement, you can try to source your own placement in a veterinary practice. This practice must be an RCVS approved Training Practice (TP) or Auxiliary Training Practice (aTP), and the practice must be able to offer you clinical coach support.

Day release students

In addition to the academic entry requirements, you will need to be employed in an RCVS approved TP or aTP; a list of these can be found on the RCVS website. The practice must be willing to support you through your qualification and provide you with a clinical coach who will mentor you over the course of your training in practice. Read our advice for finding employment in a veterinary practice

 Our day release programme is open to employed students only. If you do not meet this requirement, your application will be rejected.

International students

If you have alternative or international qualifications, and would like to know if these will allow you to undertake the diploma, please contact our administration team for advice.

If you are coming to the UK to study 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 7.0 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.

If you are from outside the EU or European Economic Area and wish to study in the UK, you must obtain a Tier 4 Student Visa – visit our International Students page for further information.

Read more about how to become a veterinary nurse

Course fees can either be paid in full before the beginning of the course, on an annual basis, or via our ‘Pay As You Learn’ monthly payment scheme. A CAW Loans2Learn scheme is also available, details can be found below.

If you have not achieved your qualification by the planned end date detailed in your individual learning plan, you will be able to continue to receive support and access to your course by paying monthly direct debit payments until certification of your award.

Course Fees

If you are over 19 years of age you may be entitled to apply for an *Advanced Learner Loan to help fund your studies! (England only)

*Please be aware the maximum amount you can receive from the Advanced Learner Loan is £7,172. This means there will be an outstanding balance of £4,184 left to pay. The following payment options are available to assist students in paying the remaining balance:

Paying in full

You can pay for the remainder of the course fee in one single payment before the course begins.

Paying annually

You can pay for the remainder of the course fees annually at a cost of £2,092 per year, with the first payment being made before the course begins.

Pay As You Learn Scheme

The ‘Pay As You Learn’ scheme allows students the option to pay course fees on a monthly basis (£174.33 per month), however please be aware the scheme is NOT payment by instalments of the single course fee offered at the outset. Your monthly payments will continue to be paid, possibly beyond the originally planned programme end date, until the date on your qualification certificate. This means opting for this payment scheme could cost you more in total course fees than was offered to you at the start of the programme. Read more about the PAYL scheme.

The CAW Loans2Learn scheme is a personal loan that can help you to spread the cost of your course into manageable payments. The loan can be used to fully or partially cover your course fees (but does not cover any awarding body fees, such as enrolment and examination fees). More information can be found here.

Awarding Body Fees*

RCVS Registration: £202
Awarding Body Registration: £225
Practical Examination Fee: £385
Online Examination Fee: £33
Remote Invigilation Fee: £27.50

Please note first attempts for the six online exams within the course are invoiced at enrolment. Examinations fees are payable per exam attempt, meaning fees are payable for each exam resit if required. All practical examination fees must be settled in advance of any entry to the examination being processed.

Please note awarding body fees are payable separately and are not included in the annual payment, PAYL or CAW Loan2Learn scheme.

* Awarding Body Fees are payable by all students or employers and recharged at cost and may be subject to change.

This qualification is also available as part of an apprenticeship – view fees

Other sources of financial help can be found on our student finance page. Before making any financial decision it is recommended that you seek advice from an independent source, for example the Money Advice Service.

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.

On completion of the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and the required number of hours of veterinary nursing training, 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.

For newly graduated nurses – good news! A national shortage of veterinary nurses in the UK means that your job prospects once qualified are excellent. Salary expectations have also improved in recent years, meaning that you can now expect a veterinary nurse salary to be in excess of £20,000 per year on average. Registered and trainee veterinary nurse jobs advertised on our job board can be found here.

Many veterinary nurses choose to remain in first opinion veterinary practice, however there are also opportunities to pursue more specialist roles in referral practices, emergency ‘out of hours’ practices or large veterinary hospitals, perhaps specialising in a particular area such as surgical nursing. You could also find work in teaching, management, research, sales or rehabilitation.

You may also be looking to pursue further training with us. ‘Topping up’ your qualification to a full degree by undertaking the BSc Honours Veterinary Nursing Degree Top Up Programme, available at Edinburgh, means that more opportunities in teaching or post graduate training become available to you. This top up programme is now available by distance learning making it more accessible than ever.

Remember that once you are qualified, it is your professional responsibility to continue your veterinary nurse training by ensuring that your professional knowledge and skills remain up-to-date. You can do this by undertaking short courses or further veterinary nursing qualifications. Our CPD and short courses are designed for registered and student veterinary nurses a-like, and can be undertaken to refresh veterinary knowledge and keep up to date with the latest developments in the profession.

Find out more about veterinary nursing on our career profiles.

CAW Connect

After you complete your studies with The College of Animal Welfare, you will be invited to join our alumni association, CAW Connect. CAW Connect is a social networking website and education hub which gives you the opportunity to connect with other alumni, enjoy industry discounts, make use of exclusive careers advice and resources, find new job opportunities and keep up-to-date with the latest industry news. Find out more about CAW Connect