Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Course in Wigan

Cost£13,000.00
Duration3 years
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryBlended learning
StartFlexible
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyVETSKILL

About this course

Level 3 Veterinary Nursing Course in Wigan. Classes run at The College of Animal Welfare Wigan, with a mix of in-person sessions and live online lessons you can join from home.

The course covers animal anatomy, clinical nursing skills, pharmacology, anaesthesia, and surgical support. You gain hands-on experience in an approved veterinary training practice. That practice time can come through employment or a work placement. A virtual reality headset is loaned to you to help build your clinical skills. The course typically takes 30 months if you are employed in a practice, or 36 months if you are on a placement route.

Completing the course lets you apply for registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. You'll finish with a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.

Who this course is for

As the largest provider of vet nurse training in the UK, we have a commitment to promoting animal welfare and raising the standards of veterinary nurse care. Our veterinary nursing lecturers are registered veterinary nurses or veterinary surgeons with strong industry experience, and they all share a common trait; their enthusiasm for helping the next generation of students to achieve their formal veterinary nursing qualifications and be the best vet nurses that they can be. You will join a community of like-minded students who all share a passion for animals and a desire to join an exciting and rewarding profession.

College sessions offer diverse teaching, learning and assessment approaches catered for the individual needs of learners, 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. We have our own dedicated placement liaison team who will make use of connections with over 700 practices across the UK to help you find an unpaid work placement if you are not employed in a veterinary practice.

Entry requirements

Minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades 9-4 (A*-C), including English Language, Mathematics and a Science. 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. Alternative accepted qualifications such as Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants, Level 2 Certificate in Veterinary Care Support along with GCSEs grade C or above (or Level 2 Functional Skills) in English Language and Maths.

What you will learn

  • You'll study animal anatomy and physiology.
  • You'll develop clinical nursing skills for companion animals.
  • You'll learn how to support anaesthesia and surgical procedures.
  • You'll understand pharmacology and how medicines are used in practice.
  • You'll practise diagnostic and laboratory techniques.
  • You'll develop skills in patient care, monitoring, and recovery.
  • You'll learn professional and ethical responsibilities of a veterinary nurse.

How you will learn

The course blends classroom sessions at the centre with live online lessons you can attend from home or work. You spend time in an RCVS approved veterinary training practice, either through employment or a placement. Assessment includes six theory exams and an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) to test your practical skills. A virtual reality headset supports your clinical preparation throughout the programme.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. The College of Animal Welfare Wigan will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Registered Veterinary Nurse, providing clinical care in a veterinary practice.
  • Veterinary nurse team leader, supervising nursing staff in a busy practice.
  • Veterinary practice manager, overseeing day-to-day operations at a clinic.
  • Veterinary nurse educator, training the next generation of nursing students.
  • Animal welfare officer, working with charities or local authorities on animal welfare.

What you could study next

  • A degree in Veterinary Nursing or Animal Science, for those wanting to move into research or advanced clinical roles.
  • Postgraduate certificates in areas such as emergency and critical care or anaesthesia, for nurses wanting to specialise.
  • A Veterinary Surgeon degree, for those considering the longer route into veterinary medicine.

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