Course Overview

The Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants (VCA) is an online course that can be undertaken alongside employment, or voluntary work, in a veterinary practice. The course is ideal for those looking to gain a formal qualification in veterinary care, whilst training with qualified professionals in a veterinary practice.

All materials related to the course are delivered via distance learning on our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), therefore you will not need to attend College in order to complete your studies. As such this course can be taken anywhere in the UK or overseas, subject to local veterinary laws.

By choosing to study with The College of Animal Welfare – one of the largest providers of veterinary care training in the UK – you are joining a community of like-minded students and staff, who all share a passion for animal welfare.

In addition to the academic theory you will gain from online study, an emphasis on practical experience (a minimum of 600 hours) in a veterinary practice means that you will gain the skills and knowledge needed to prepare you for a career in the veterinary care profession.

Please note: The veterinary practice you are working or volunteering in does not need to be an RCVS training practice.

Key Facts

  • Attendance: Course materials will be supplied via our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and you will be allocated a distance learning tutor who will support you throughout the course; therefore you will not be required to attend college.
  • Duration: 12-18 months.
  • Start Date: This programme can be started at any time.
  • Location: This online distance learning programme can be studied anywhere in the UK or overseas, subject to local veterinary legislation. In the past we have had students studying from as far away as Bermuda, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Dubai!

This qualification, in combination with a full level 2 qualification in Maths and English (e.g. GCSE Grade A*-C or Level 2 Functional Skills), will allow you to apply for the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or the Veterinary Nurse Level 3 Apprenticeship programme.

Course Content

Over the course of the qualification, you will undertake the following three units, which will cover the underlying knowledge needed to thrive as a VCA in a fast-paced veterinary care environment.

Unit 201 – Principles and Practices of Animal Handling and Care in the Veterinary Environment
This unit covers the general care and nursing of animals within a veterinary practice environment; including the signs of normal and abnormal health, accommodation and feeding requirements, safe handling, identification, first aid for animals and the legal limitations of treatment.

Unit 202 – Principles and Practices of Assisting with Veterinary Care in the Veterinary Environment
In this unit you will look at common veterinary terminology, basic anatomy and assisting with the nursing care of animals in the practice environment including: medical and surgical conditions; anaesthesia procedures; radiography; drug calculations and fluid therapy.

Unit 203 – Principles and Practices of Administrative Duties in the Veterinary Care Environment
Upon completion of this unit you will have developed the skills needed to ensure the smooth running of a veterinary practice; such as communication, team work, administration, advising clients on aspects of veterinary care, pet bereavement, reception skills, telephone techniques and record keeping.

Online Learning

This course incorporates online learning materials as part of your studies. Some examples of our interactive course material can be found below:

Functional Skills

We offer online Functional Skills in Maths and English. If you wish to undertake these as part of your programme of study, perhaps to give you the entry requirements to progress onto veterinary nursing, you may be more cost effective for you to undertake this qualification as part of the Veterinary Care Support: Animal Care and Welfare Assistant Apprenticeship. If you are not eligible to undertake an apprenticeship, but still wish to undertake Functional Skills you will be required to pay additional fees for these qualifications.

Assessment

There are no external examinations; you will be assessed via written and practical unit assignments, together with online short answer question and multi choice question tests.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal academic entry requirements, however you must fulfil the following criteria:

  • Be volunteering or employed within a clinical role in a veterinary practice for a minimum of 10 hours per week for the full duration of your course
  • You may be asked to provide a reference from a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse supporting your application and confirming you have completed a minimum of three months* of regular employed or voluntary work (for a minimum of 10 hours per week) prior to starting the programme, ideally in the practice you will be undertaking the qualification
  • Have a dedicated mentor agreed within your practice
  • Be competent in reading, writing and speaking the English language as all course materials and assessments are delivered in English
  • Complete a pre-course interview

You can undertake this course by either volunteering or by being employed within a veterinary practice on a part-time or full time basis as follows:

  • Part time – you will need to be working, or volunteering, in a veterinary practice, for a minimum of 10-15 hours a week and the course should take a maximum of 18 months to complete
  • Full time – you will need to be working, or volunteering, in a veterinary practice, for a minimum of 30 hours a week and the course should take a maximum of 12 months to complete

*we are looking to ensure you are committed to attending practice and are fully aware of what a veterinary care role entails

Course Fees

Course fees can either be paid in full before the beginning of the course, 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

Country Full Fee Pay As You Learn
UK £1,750 £145 per month
Overseas £2,375 £175 per month

Awarding Body Fees*: £226.10

CAW Loans2Learn 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 are payable by all students or employers and recharged at cost and may be subject to change.

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.

What Next?

After you have achieved this qualification you could look for employment as a veterinary care assistant in a veterinary practice if you are not already in such a position. Gaining more experience is a great way to expand on existing skills and gain more confidence in a veterinary care environment.

Take a look at the veterinary care assistant jobs advertised on our job board here.

You could also consider perhaps going on to train as a veterinary nurse by completing the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing or Advanced Apprenticeship in Veterinary Nursing. You would need to have achieved a full Level 2 qualification in Maths and English Language (e.g. GCSE Grade C or above or Level 2 Functional Skills) in order to be able to do this.

If you do not wish to go on to train as a veterinary nurse, but are involved in helping veterinary surgeons with the assisting of monitoring of animals under anaesthesia or sedation in your current role as a veterinary care assistant you may wish to look at undertaking the City & Guilds Level 2 Certificate in Assisting Veterinary Surgeons in the Monitoring of Animal Patients Under Anaesthesia and Sedation.