Veterinary Nurse Training

Veterinary nursing provides a rewarding  career with animals.  You will work with a variety of animals both large and small, assist clients on the telephone and in the surgery and work closely with the veterinary surgeon and other veterinary nurses.

Qualified veterinary nurses are registered on the list of Veterinary Nurses held by the Royal College of  Veterinary Surgeons and are allowed to put VN after their name.

 In order to qualify you must have completed the following:

· Level 2 NVQ portfolio and RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Nursing  Theory at Level 2.

· Level 3 NVQ portfolio and RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Nursing  Theory at Level 3

· A minimum of 94 weeks employed within a training practice  (TP)
As a qualified nurse you may then progress within veterinary practice or move into one of the many related professions such as   animal welfare, pharmaceuticals, animal nutrition or teaching

Entrance requirements

Applicants must be:

· At least 17 years old
· Enrolled as a student veterinary nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons through your practice's Veterinary Nursing Approved Centre (VNAC)
· Have 5 GCSE's at C grade or above which must include English, Maths, a biological or  physical science or an equivalent
         qualification for example a BTEC National Diploma in Animal Care with Merit or Distinction.                           
· In paid full-time employment 
 
The Veterinary Nursing courses offered by Abbeydale - Vetlink Veterinary Training are intended for student nurses who wish to study on a day release programme, whilst continuing to work in a veterinary practice.
 
The complete training programme takes two years and consists of two courses each of which starts in September.
 
The courses run for approximately 36 weeks and prepare students for the RCVS Summer exams.
 
Tuition for each course is based on the RCVS
veterinary nursing syllabus and covers the       
following modules.
 
 

Our associate company Abbeydale-Vetlink Veterinary Training Ltd.(AVVT Ltd.), at Gloucester under the directorship of  Victoria Aspinall BVSc MRCVS provides high quality Veterinary Nurse training NVQ provision and provides the knowledge that underpins all aspects of their work in veterinary practice.

Student Nurses study in groups of no more than 15 and are taught by experienced staff with either veterinary or veterinary nursing qualifications.
The facilities provided are based over a veterinary training practice and is able to use all facilities provided by the surgery.

Further Information

Courses are run on Wednesday for Level 2 and Thursday for Level 3. Each course is a separate day release course running until June 2009 in preparation for the RCVS exams in July 2009.

The cost of VN training is as follows:

Enrolment as a VN trainee with the RCVS (paid to RCVS)         184.00
Tuition fees (paid to AVVT Ltd)                600.00+VAT
Exam fees
- vary slightly every year – (paid to RCVS on entry to the exam)
                                       
Level 2 -        165.00
Level 3 -          85.00
Practicals -    185.00

If you are a student veterinary nurse who is between 16 and 24 you may be eligible for funding from the Learning and Skills Council. This will cover some of the above costs .You will be enrolled on the Apprenticeship (MA) scheme and as part of this will be expected to complete Key Skills at Level 2 in Application of Number and Communication. If you currently holds a Key Skills certificate to cover these or have achieved GSCE English and Maths at C grade or above within the last five years you may be exempt from the Key Skills element of the MA.

Please contact us for further information concerning eligibility. 

Mrs Victoria Aspinall BVSc MRCVS  tel: 01452 812379 or email info@abbeydale-vetlink.org.uk  or victoria.aspinall@abbeydale-vetlink.org

If you wish to start your college training with Abbeydale Vetlink Veterinary Training Ltd, please apply for an application form.