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Veterinary nurse
Veterinary nurses support vets in the treatment and care of sick and injured animals.
Average salary (a year)
£20000
Starter
£31000
Experienced
Typical hours (a week)
35.0 to 40.0 hours
a week
Work Hours
evenings / weekends
on a rota
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You can get into this job through:a university course; a college course; an apprenticeship
University
You can do a foundation degree or degree in veterinary nursing. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has a list of accredited courses.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/
College
You can study for a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at college.
You'll spend some time in the classroom and periods of training on placement in a veterinary practice.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has a list of approved training organisations offering the course.
Entry requirements
You'll need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
funding advice|https://www.gov.uk/further-education-courses/financial-help
search for courses|/find-a-course
Apprenticeship
You can begin your career by doing a Veterinary Nurse Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
The training takes up to 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
More Information
equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
Volunteering
You could get some work experience with a vet, local kennels or animal welfare centre before you start training. You could also try animal charities like the PDSA or RSPCA.
More Information
Registrations
you'll need to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Professional And Industry Bodies
You can join the British Veterinary Nursing Association for training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Further Information
You can learn more about how to become a veterinary nurse from the British Veterinary Nursing Association.
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
Customer service skills
Knowledge of medicine and dentistry
The ability to work well with others
Knowledge of biology
The ability to work well with your hands
Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
Excellent verbal communication skills
To be thorough and pay attention to detail
Digital Skills Level
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Related Restrictions
Day to day tasks
As a veterinary nurse, you could
prepare animals for treatment and assist vets during procedures, take X-rays, give injections and medication, and remove stitches, care for in-patient animals, keep the practice and equipment clean and hygienic, talk to pet owners about treatment and care of their animals, do reception and administrative duties
prepare animals for treatment and assist vets during procedures, take X-rays, give injections and medication, and remove stitches, care for in-patient animals, keep the practice and equipment clean and hygienic, talk to pet owners about treatment and care of their animals, do reception and administrative duties
Working environment
You could work at a veterinary practice or at an animal welfare centre.
You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
With experience, you could
work as a supervisor or mentor new staff, manage a practice, move to a larger veterinary hospital, lecture in veterinary nursing science
work as a supervisor or mentor new staff, manage a practice, move to a larger veterinary hospital, lecture in veterinary nursing science
You might also move into zoo or wildlife park work or sales of veterinary supplies.
Job profile data provided by The National Careers Service.
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