CAFRE
 RCVS Level 3 Award in Veterinary Nursing

Course Aim

This course is designed to prepare students for careers in veterinary nursing/animal care based in veterinary practices.

Course content

The course is delivered over two years and students attend the College for a total of 22 weeks. The remainder of the time is spent employed or in a full-time placement in an approved veterinary practice.

Year 1 consists of sixteen weeks covering:

  • Anaesthesia
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Applied animal health and husbandry
  • Diagnostic imaging
  • Health and safety
  • Infection control
  • Laboratory diagnostic aids
  • Pharmacology
  • Professional relationships and communication
  • Theatre practice
  • Veterinary nursing care
  • Veterinary nursing support

Year 2 consists of six weeks covering:

  • Supporting anaesthetised patients
  • Applied peri-operative equine/small animal nursing
  • Applied nursing of sick small animals
  • Emergency and critical care of small animals
  • Developing professional veterinary nursing practice

Student View: Julie McLeister

Julie McLeister

“On leaving school I found work in a local veterinary practice in Portglenone and at the same time completed the Animal Nursing Assistant at Greenmount. It was always my ambition to become a listed veterinary nurse with RCVS. I found a placement in Firmount Veterinary Clinic in Antrim which is one of the approved training practices and I am now working towards my RCVS qualification. The course is really enjoyable, but intensive and requires a lot of work to be done at home and at the practice. The tutors are great and extremely helpful. I have made a lot of new friends.”

  

What Next?
Fact File

Course Location:

Greenmount Campus

Course Duration:

Two years

Entry Requirements:

Five GCSE passes at Grade C or above including English Language, Mathematics and a Science subject. Applicants should be at least 16 years or over and be employed in an approved veterinary practice.

Course Manager:

Kenneth Johnston

Contact Details:

kenneth.johnston@dardni.gov.uk

enquiries@cafre.ac.uk

Telephone:

028 9442 6769

Text Phone:

028 9052 4420

Progression:

On completion of the Level 3 Award, students can progress to a Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing.