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Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeship – Level 3

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Courses Code

PW3APSVET

Study method

Part Time

Location(s)

Work based

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Is this course for you?

Kick-start your career in animal care with our veterinary nursing apprenticeship and gain hands-on experience while studying towards a nationally recognised qualification. Learn, earn, and make a real difference in the lives of animals every day.

There are two intakes for this apprenticeship each year which tend to start in April and November. The apprenticeship lasts for 31 months and will see you attend Rodbaston College one day a week. The rest of the practical training will be done on the job alongside experienced staff in a veterinary practice where one of the college’s workplace assessors will visit periodically to check on your progress.

Upon successful completion of this qualification and end-point assessment (EPA), you will achieve the VetSkill VTEC Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal).

Please note that you will need to find a placement to be able to start the apprenticeship. Unfortunately, we are unable to help in securing placements, but here are some helpful tips:
- Use the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to identify all local training practices.
- Visit practices and ask to speak with the Head Nurse or person responsible for apprenticeships.
- Make work experience count; be proactive, ask questions, offer help, and show enthusiasm.
- Keep your CV up to date. Ask what makes you unique and why should a practice invest in you?
If you have any questions, you can contact the Head of Centre directly below:

Email Victoria Dallaway

If you have successfully secured a paid placement, please complete the form below:

Register your interest
Required qualifications

You should be aged 17 or above at the time you start the apprenticeship due to radiography legislation, but there is no upper age limit.

To be accepted onto the apprenticeship, you must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above, including English Language, maths, and science, or equivalent level qualifications. Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths are sufficient as an equivalent to GSCEs.

In addition, you need to have completed either at least 600 hours or 6 months of practical work experience working as a Veterinary Care Assistant (VCA), Patient Care Assistant (PCA), or Animal Nursing Assistant (ANA) in a veterinary practice.

The Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support qualification is not essential but advantageous.
What skills will I develop?

Veterinary nursing is the supportive care of animals receiving treatment within a veterinary practice. A veterinary nurse works as a veterinary team member, providing expert nursing care for sick animals whilst playing a significant role in educating owners on maintaining the health of their pets. They carry out technical work and are skilled in undertaking a range of diagnostic tests, medical treatments, and minor surgical procedures under veterinary direction.

On this course, you will study the core knowledge, skills, and behaviours as laid out in the apprenticeship plan. This has been designed to develop veterinary nurses with a holistic approach to their work, a passion for making a difference to the lives of animals, and a robust understanding of their professional responsibilities. It will cover the following units for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, in which you will also be assessed:
- Professional Veterinary Nursing Responsibilities
- Diagnostic Principles
- Principles of Veterinary Nursing Care
- Pharmacology and Dispensary Management
- Practical Veterinary Nursing Skills and Professional Behaviours
- Anaesthesia and Theatre Nursing Skills
- Life Stage and Medical Nursing Care and Support
- Surgical Nursing and Patient Care
Careers

After successfully completing the qualification, you will also be approved for Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) registration if both SQP examinations have been achieved, allowing for registration with the RCVS as a titled Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN).

After you are qualified, you could pursue a wide range of careers in the industry including:
- RVN in small animal or mixed practices
- Referral work and progression into specialist pathways
- Emergency and out of hours nursing
- Head nurses
- Clinical supervisors
- Practice management
- Laboratory specialist work
- Lecturing and teaching
- And many, many more….
Work experience

To complete the apprenticeship in veterinary nursing and register with the RCVS, you will need to complete a total of 2990 training hours with a minimum of 1800 of these taking place within the work placement.

Both in practice working hours and college attendance are included as training hours.
English and maths

It is expected that you will have already achieved both GCSE English Language and GCSE maths at Level 4 / Grade C or above (or equivalent), however English and maths will be embedded into your course as they both play an important role in the veterinary sector.

A decent level of English will be required when using terminology and writing assignments, whilst maths will be important when performing drug and fluid calculations.
Other important information

The facilities at Rodbaston College for veterinary courses include its own dedicated veterinary science block which houses:
- A large laboratory style classroom with microscopes for microscopy lessons.
- An X-ray room with X-ray machine for practical radiography lessons.
- An operating theatre to practice surgical nursing skills and anaesthesia skills.
- A medical nursing room to work on bandaging, physiotherapy, and administration of medication.
- A smaller laboratory for lab tasks.
There is also an on-site zoo, the Rodbaston Animal Zone, for practical handling days working with animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, and rodents.

Is this course for you?
Kick-start your career in animal care with our veterinary nursing apprenticeship and gain hands-on experience while studying towards a nationally recognised qualification. Learn, earn, and make a real difference in the lives of animals every day.

There are two intakes for this apprenticeship each year which tend to start in April and November. The apprenticeship lasts for 31 months and will see you attend Rodbaston College one day a week. The rest of the practical training will be done on the job alongside experienced staff in a veterinary practice where one of the college’s workplace assessors will visit periodically to check on your progress.

Upon successful completion of this qualification and end-point assessment (EPA), you will achieve the VetSkill VTEC Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal).

Please note that you will need to find a placement to be able to start the apprenticeship. Unfortunately, we are unable to help in securing placements, but here are some helpful tips:
- Use the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to identify all local training practices.
- Visit practices and ask to speak with the Head Nurse or person responsible for apprenticeships.
- Make work experience count; be proactive, ask questions, offer help, and show enthusiasm.
- Keep your CV up to date. Ask what makes you unique and why should a practice invest in you?
If you have any questions, you can contact the Head of Centre directly below:

Email Victoria Dallaway

If you have successfully secured a paid placement, please complete the form below:

Register your interest
Required qualifications

You should be aged 17 or above at the time you start the apprenticeship due to radiography legislation, but there is no upper age limit.

To be accepted onto the apprenticeship, you must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above, including English Language, maths, and science, or equivalent level qualifications. Level 2 Functional Skills in English and maths are sufficient as an equivalent to GSCEs.

In addition, you need to have completed either at least 600 hours or 6 months of practical work experience working as a Veterinary Care Assistant (VCA), Patient Care Assistant (PCA), or Animal Nursing Assistant (ANA) in a veterinary practice.

The Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support qualification is not essential but advantageous.
What skills will I develop?
Veterinary nursing is the supportive care of animals receiving treatment within a veterinary practice. A veterinary nurse works as a veterinary team member, providing expert nursing care for sick animals whilst playing a significant role in educating owners on maintaining the health of their pets. They carry out technical work and are skilled in undertaking a range of diagnostic tests, medical treatments, and minor surgical procedures under veterinary direction.

On this course, you will study the core knowledge, skills, and behaviours as laid out in the apprenticeship plan. This has been designed to develop veterinary nurses with a holistic approach to their work, a passion for making a difference to the lives of animals, and a robust understanding of their professional responsibilities. It will cover the following units for dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, in which you will also be assessed:
- Professional Veterinary Nursing Responsibilities
- Diagnostic Principles
- Principles of Veterinary Nursing Care
- Pharmacology and Dispensary Management
- Practical Veterinary Nursing Skills and Professional Behaviours
- Anaesthesia and Theatre Nursing Skills
- Life Stage and Medical Nursing Care and Support
- Surgical Nursing and Patient Care
Careers
After successfully completing the qualification, you will also be approved for Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) registration if both SQP examinations have been achieved, allowing for registration with the RCVS as a titled Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN).

After you are qualified, you could pursue a wide range of careers in the industry including:
- RVN in small animal or mixed practices
- Referral work and progression into specialist pathways
- Emergency and out of hours nursing
- Head nurses
- Clinical supervisors
- Practice management
- Laboratory specialist work
- Lecturing and teaching
- And many, many more….
Work experience

To complete the apprenticeship in veterinary nursing and register with the RCVS, you will need to complete a total of 2990 training hours with a minimum of 1800 of these taking place within the work placement.

Both in practice working hours and college attendance are included as training hours.
English and maths

It is expected that you will have already achieved both GCSE English Language and GCSE maths at Level 4 / Grade C or above (or equivalent), however English and maths will be embedded into your course as they both play an important role in the veterinary sector.

A decent level of English will be required when using terminology and writing assignments, whilst maths will be important when performing drug and fluid calculations.
Other important information
The facilities at Rodbaston College for veterinary courses include its own dedicated veterinary science block which houses:
- A large laboratory style classroom with microscopes for microscopy lessons.
- An X-ray room with X-ray machine for practical radiography lessons.
- An operating theatre to practice surgical nursing skills and anaesthesia skills.
- A medical nursing room to work on bandaging, physiotherapy, and administration of medication.
- A smaller laboratory for lab tasks.
There is also an on-site zoo, the Rodbaston Animal Zone, for practical handling days working with animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, reptiles, and rodents.

Testimonials

“I am training to become an RVN after 9 years in the animal care industry inspired me to keep progressing with my learning and becoming a vet nurse was always my biggest aspiration. I want to do this profession because we make a difference to an animal’s life, and whilst the job is an emotional rollercoaster, it’s rewarding. Do a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Alice Evans

Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Apprentice

“I love being a Student Veterinary Nurse at South Staffordshire College. Each day brings new challenges and rewards, and each victory reminds me of what a privilege it is to be a source of comfort and care for animals. It is incredibly fulfilling to know that I'm making a difference in the lives of animals. I am so proud to be an SVN, and I am excited for my future within the profession.”

Chloe-Jade Money

Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Apprentice

“I began my nursing career as a mature student after having my family and deciding that now was the time to finally follow my dream of wearing the iconic green scrubs! I love my job as every day is different, I am constantly learning and working with animals is literally living the dream for me, I genuinely couldn't imagine doing anything else now! You won't find a more rewarding career.”

Kirsty Hadley

Former Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Apprentice

Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeship – Level 3

Is this course for you?

Required qualifications

What skills will I develop?

Careers

Work experience

English and maths

Other important information

Become a Veterinary Nursing apprentice at Rodbaston College:

Testimonials