Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing

Central Qualifications (CQ) has approved Bicton College’s student veterinary nursing small-animal pathway as a part-time programme. Successful completion of the framework qualification will result in students being able to work as an RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse. It aims to produce profficient nurses who are confident in their skills.

You will need to be 16 years of age or over and working within a Training Practice (TP) as an Apprentice or employed. In addition, in order to enrol, you will need to hold 5 GCSE passes at grade C or above. These must include English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject.

Alternatively, you may have achieved the ABC Animal Nursing Assistant Certificate or the National Certificate for Veterinary Care Assistants. Other qualifications, such as the Level 3 National Diploma in Animal Management can be used as equivalents alongside a Level 2 Maths and English qualification. Suitability of these alternative qualifications can be confirmed on contact with Bicton College. Entrance to the course is by interview, and will be subject to evidence of a TP placement.

Tuition will take the form of classroom lectures, demonstrations, practical classes, assignment work and module tests. Each student will be assigned a Clinical Coach in Practice; both Clinical Coach and student will be supported by the visiting Veterinary Nursing Centre Training Officer and college-based Clinical Tutor. Feedback and liaison with the employer will also be an integral part of the course (including for those Practices whose TP approval Centre is one other than Bicton College).

Functional Skills
You will also work towards nationally recognised functional qualifications in English and Maths, where relevant for the Apprenticeship Framework.

Assessment
All those commencing the course will be enrolled with the RCVS and registered with CQ on starting the course and as such will undertake unit assessments throughout the course in the form of written assignments and module tests. Students will also complete an electronic Central Skills Log which is assessed in the workplace, and will complete for CQ, externally set MCQ exams and the CQ OSCE practical exams.

How To Apply