Homepage

Confirm Course Entry Requirements

Return

Course: VetSkill Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing - Companion Animal Pathway

Please read and confirm the following:

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:

Students with Scottish qualifications would typically have National 5 or Higher/Advance Higher at level A, B or C in Maths, English and Science.

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.

Age requirements
If you are employed in a veterinary training practice, you must be at least 16 years of age and have the full support of your employer. A list of TPs/aTPs can be found on the RCVS website.

If you are not employed in a veterinary practice you must be at least 18 years of age on the 1st of the month in which the course starts. Please note students who hold the Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants or the VetSkill Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support qualification are welcome to apply from 16 years of age.

Work experience
If you are not employed in a veterinary practice, we strongly encourage you to undertake work experience undertaken in a veterinary practice and get a reference from a veterinary surgeon or registered veterinary nurse supporting your suitability for veterinary nurse training.

If you have not undertaken any work experience, we will still consider your application, however you will be required to undertake work experience within the first three months of being on programme in order to make sure that you understand the role of the veterinary nurse and are confident it is the career for you; help to source this is available from the College. 

Read our advice for finding work experience in a veterinary practice

Please note: As our courses include online learning components, students are required to have access to a PC or laptop with a reliable internet connection.

International students
* Please note that due to changes in student visa criteria, this qualification is currently unavailable to overseas students who wish to come to the UK to study.

All applicants with international (non UK-based) qualifications require an ENIC statement.

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 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.

If you are over 19 years of age, live outside the UK and wish to come to the UK to study you will need to obtain a student visa and will need to meet certain requirements under UK law – visit our International Students page for further information.

Continue to apply for this course   Request a call back  Back to the course

Application process

  1. Click on the course you would like to apply for, this will redirect you to the CAW Student Hub where you can create an account and start your application.
    If you wish to continue an existing application, please visit the CAW Student Hub and log back in.
  2. You can leave your application at any time and log back in to continue it at a time convenient to you.
  3. Once you have completed your application, you will take part in a pre-course discussion with a tutor so we can make sure the course you have applied for is the right one for you, and you can ask any questions you may have before starting. This is usually carried out online via Teams or phone.

Data Protection

All records at The College of Animal Welfare are maintained in compliance with the principles of the current data protection legislation. Find our more here.

The College is registered with the Information Commissioners Office as a provider of education and training.

By applying to enrol on a course of study, you consent to the College processing personal data relating to you, including sensitive personal data, in accordance with the College's registration, statutory requirements and conditions set by funding bodies.

You have a right to a copy of any data we hold about you. If you would like a copy of this data you should apply in writing to the Principal of The College of Animal Welfare.

Additional Information