Bye-Law 5 of the Veterinary Nursing Bye-Laws 2011 states that student veterinary nurses must undertake an approved programme of veterinary nurse education that is a minimum of 94 weeks (equivalent to 3,290 hours) excluding annual leave and absence. These weeks are broken down into college time and practical training time as follows:
Theoretical programme (college time) must not be less than 700 guided learning hours.
Practical training must be carried out in an approved Training Practice for no less than 15 hours a week and must not be less than 60 weeks (equivalent to 2,100 hours) in duration.
Below is a general guide on how to record your training time depending on which type of programme you are on. If you feel you do not fit into one of these scenarios please contact the Veterinary Nursing Department at the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
| Type of programme | Hours required and how to calculate |
| Part-time employed (day release) | You must show a minimum of 94 weeks (3,290 hours) in your approved Training Practice(s). As your working week includes your college day, the time declared will incorporate both practical training and college time.You must declare the dates separately on which you attended college and it must equate to a minimum of 700 hours. |
| Full-time (block release placement) | Your weeks in college need to be declared separately to the time in practice. Your college time must equate to a minimum of 700 hours.Your practical training time on placement must then be added to the number of weeks spent in college (a minimum of 60 weeks/2,100 hours).However, when your college time and training time are added together, you must still have completed a minimum of 94 weeks in training (3,290 hours). You may find that in order to meet this requirement, your practical training time in practice may be more than 60 weeks (2,100 hours). |
| Full-time (day release placement) | You must show a minimum of 94 weeks (3,290 hours) in your approved Training Practice(s).As your working week includes your college day, the time declared will incorporate both practical training and college time.You must declare the dates separately on which you attended college and it must equate to a minimum of 700 hours. |
Handy Hints and Tips!
- Start completing your Record of Veterinary Nurse Training from the date of enrolment with the RCVS.
- Keep a record of any absences as you go along e.g. annual leave, sickness etc. that means you have been unable to do be in your practice. This makes it a lot easier at registration and minimises the risk of inaccuracies and documentation being sent back for amendment.
- Do not use correction fluid! If you make a mistake, put a line through the error and ask the Training Practice Principal to countersign and date against any amendments.
- Ensure the correct number of weeks and hours in training have been declared according to the Veterinary Nursing Bye-laws.
- Practice rotas are not acceptable in place of a completed Record of Veterinary Nurse Training.
- Ensure your Record of Veterinary Nurse Training is signed by the Training Practice Principal. If the Principal has changed, the documentation should be signed by the new Training Practice Principal and a letter on practice headed paper should accompany the application, stating who the new Training Practice Principal is and when they took over, including a sample of their signature.
- Convert the number of absences into weeks before subtracting them from the total number of weeks.
- If you leave an employment ensure that your record is signed and dated before you leave.
- If any of your forms are lost or you need a new set please contact the RCVS Veterinary Nursing Department.
- Do not refer to yourself as a ‘Registered Veterinary Nurse’ or use the post-nominal letters RVN until your name has been entered onto the Register of Veterinary Nurses.
Start with a Clean Record
It is essential that registration documentation is completed accurately and with integrity. The submission of a falsified document in support of an application to join a professional register is a serious matter, and one that could potentially bar registration. All documentation that is submitted is thoroughly checked and all signatures verified.