Veterinary Nurse Level 3 Apprenticeship at The College of Animal Welfare

Expected duration: 30–36 months.

Location: Available in England. It may be possible to undertake an apprenticeship at our Edinburgh centre if the apprentice is resident in England and spends at least 50% of their employment in England.

Attendance: Day release via Live Online Delivery Classrooms or Centre Attended (available at selected centres). Details of these two options can be found below.

Live Online Delivery: The majority of the theory element of the programme is delivered in virtual lecture format using our virtual delivery platform that allows you to engage with tutors and your peers in real time either from home or from work. During virtual lectures you will be expected to participate 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. It is therefore essential that you have a working microphone and camera on your laptop or PC to allow this. All virtual classroom sessions are recorded and are available to view after the event for consolidation of learning and revision purposes. Online exams are available via a remote invigilation platform as well as by physically attending one of our main centres. Practical training sessions are held in-centre in the college environment; you will attend your chosen centre for practical training days (approximately 10) throughout your programme.

Centre Based Programmes: You will attend your chosen college centre on a day release basis (one day per week during term times) for face-to-face teaching in a classroom/clinical skills setting. Practical sessions are held in-centre in the college environment.

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.

This course is also available as a Level 3 Diploma for those not eligible for an apprenticeship.

Start dates: You may start this course at any time. Once you are enrolled with the RCVS and VetSkill as a student veterinary nurse, you will undertake pre-course activities (such as preparing to study, course induction, health and safety) and be able to log your practice hours before your classroom lessons (virtual or in centre) begin.

Throughout this apprenticeship you will gain the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to work in the veterinary industry as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). As part of this apprenticeship you will undertake the VetSkill Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and be eligible to apply for professional registration with the RCVS as an RVN.

Over the course of the qualification you will cover nine 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 also the content required to become a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) for companion animals, which will allow you to prescribe certain categories of veterinary medicines.

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. Apprentices over the age of 19 are able to undertake these as part of the apprenticeship if they wish at no additional cost, if they do not already hold the same level qualification.

Assessments: You will undertake a variety of assessments including online examinations, assignments and case studies. You will also complete an online Nursing Progress Log (NPL) over the course of your training, as evidence of practical competence. At the end of year two there is a formative practical assessment.

If you are required to undertake Functional Skills Level 2 in English and Maths, these are assessed via online examinations and practical assessments.

Once you have completed these assessments, and undertaken the required amount of training hours, you will be able to undertake the End Point Assessment (EPA). This consists of:

• A Professional Discussion – 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 in the form of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

You must have a minimum of five GCSEs at grade C or above (4–9), including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. If you do not meet the GCSE requirement, there are alternative qualifications that may be acceptable; one of these combinations is the City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants, or VetSkill Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support, along with full Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths (i.e. Level 2 Functional Skills or GCSE at grade C or above).

You will also need to be living and working in England* in a veterinary practice that is approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) as a Training Practice (TP or aTP) earning at least the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices. 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.

*Please note apprentices attending our Edinburgh centre must be resident in England and spend at least 50% of their employment in England.

In order to undertake a veterinary nursing apprenticeship, you will need to be living and working in England* in a veterinary practice that is approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) as a Training Practice (TP or aTP) earning at least the National Minimum Wage for Apprentices.

There are several ways you can find an apprenticeship vacancy:

• Search via the Find an Apprenticeship service. Most apprenticeship vacancies are displayed on the website. You can search by location or keywords to find your ideal vacancy. Once you find one that interests you, create an account to apply.
• Search for apprenticeship vacancies in your local newspapers, newsletters and online using websites such as Indeed.
• Attend free careers events run by your local school, library or job centre to discuss the apprenticeship vacancies available locally.
• Contact companies in your area directly and ask if they would consider taking on an apprentice.

*Please note apprentices attending our Edinburgh centre must be resident in England and spend at least 50% of their employment in England.

Apprenticeship fees are payable by the employer. More details can be found on our website.