Study the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at The College of Animal Welfare
If you’re looking for a rewarding job and have a passion for animal welfare, start studying the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and make a difference to the lives of animals every single day.
Completion of the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing qualification will allow you to apply for professional registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
College sessions offer diverse teaching, learning and assessment approaches, enabling you to develop the required knowledge and skills needed to work as a qualified, Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN). In addition to the academic theory you will learn from college, you will gain significant industry experience in an RCVS approved veterinary training practice. This practical experience can either be gained through employment or through an unpaid work placement.
Key Facts
Students who ARE NOT employed in an RCVS approved veterinary practice
We’ve recently introduced a new, three-year training option for those who wish to study the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal), but who are not employed in a veterinary practice. Find out how it works here…
Course length and attendance
This programme is studied over three years.
In years 1 and 3, you will undertake lessons on a day release basis either by coming into college for classroom tuition, or by studying remotely via online lessons in our virtual classroom (depending on which centre you choose to study from). In addition, you will be required to spend one additional day per week working through online course materials with up to a further six hours per week developing your practical skills using a virtual reality headset. When you are not undertaking college lessons, online learning or practical skills training in years 1 and 3, you are able to undertake casual work (working in any type of employment) to financially support yourself during the programme.
During year 2 of the programme, you will undertake a full-time unpaid work placement in an RCVS approved veterinary practice. You will undertake 40 hours per week for 45 weeks of placement across the 52 weeks.
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. We deliver this programme from centres located throughout the UK, including: Bodmin, County Durham, Derby, Chorleywood, Edinburgh, Guernsey, Horsham, Huntingdon, Leeds, North London, Solihull, Wigan and Stoke-on-Trent. Find your nearest centre
If you are undertaking the non-employed programme, you can start in January, April, July or October.
What are the entry requirements?
Non-employed students must be a minimum of 18 years of age on the 1st of the month in which the course starts.
You must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*-C), including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. Students with Scottish qualifications are required to have 5 subjects at a National 5 or Higher/Advance Higher at level A, B or C; to include Maths, English and a Science. If you do not meet these requirements, there are alternative qualifications that may be acceptable such as the Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants, the VetSkill Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support, or the Veterinary Care Support (Level 2 Apprenticeship), along with GCSEs grade C or above (or Level 2 Functional Skills) in English Language and Maths.
Please note non-employed students who hold the Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants, the VetSkill Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support or the Veterinary Care Support (Level 2 Apprenticeship) qualification are welcome to apply from 16 years of age.
Why study this programme?
Studying our new three-year programme can be an excellent alternative to university or an apprenticeship, and comes with lots of unique benefits.
No employment required to apply
You do not need to be employed in a veterinary practice in order to apply for this programme. However, work experience undertaken in a veterinary practice alongside a reference from a veterinary surgeon or registered veterinary nurse supporting your suitability for veterinary nurse training will be a distinct advantage.
If you have not undertaken any work experience, we will 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 this is the career for you. Assistance is available from the College to support applicants seeking work experience.
Study around your existing commitments
When you are not undertaking college lessons, online learning or practical skills training in years 1 and 3, you are able to undertake casual work (working in any type of employment) to financially support yourself during the programme.
Support in finding a placement for year 2 of training
Our placement team will use connections with over 700 veterinary practices to source an unpaid placement for your second year of training.
Four intakes per year
Diploma students can qualify as a veterinary nurse in just 3 years, meaning the programme could be the perfect route if you are perhaps not in the position where you can take the four to five years of study necessary to gain a degree. More than this, if you find paid employment as a student veterinary nurse within your first year of training, you may be able to transfer to our programme for employed students in year two.
Whilst traditionally many training programmes begin in the autumn, you don’t need to wait until September to start your course. Non-employed students studying the diploma can begin their programme throughout the year, with intakes starting in January, April, July and October.
Students who ARE employed in an RCVS approved veterinary practice
If you are employed in an RCVS approved training practice, you can start the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at any time…
Course length and attendance
Duration: 30 months (2 1/2 years)
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.
We deliver this programme from centres located throughout the UK, including: Bodmin, County Durham, Derby, Chorleywood, Edinburgh, Guernsey, Horsham, Huntingdon, Leeds, North London, Solihull, Wigan and Stoke-on-Trent.
What are the entry requirements?
Students who are already employed in a veterinary practice looking to undertake this qualification must be at least 16 years of age, be working in an RCVS approved TP or aTP and have the full support of the practice to support you through your qualification; a list of TPs/aTPs can be found on the RCVS website.
You must have a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*-C), including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. Students with Scottish qualifications are required to have 5 subjects at a National 5 or Higher/Advance Higher at level A, B or C; to include Maths, English and a Science. If you do not meet these requirements, there are alternative qualifications that may be acceptable such as the Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants, the VetSkill Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support, or the Veterinary Care Support (Level 2 Apprenticeship), along with GCSEs grade C or above (or Level 2 Functional Skills) in English Language and Maths.