Good Veterinary Surgeons are vitally important to any Veterinary Practice. In order to become a Veterinary Surgeon you need a veterinary degree from a university. At the moment there are seven universities in the UK offering veterinary degrees. Veterinary universities are located at Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and most recently, in Nottingham. The veterinary course lasts from five to six years, depending on the specific university.
Academic requirements for entry are high and are different for each university. Generally three 'A' levels are required in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Maths and the grades required are high and are generally A's and B's. A wide range of GCSE's are also required including Science, Maths and English. All the veterinary universities require applicants to have work experience before they apply either in a Veterinary Practice or else on a livestock farm.
The veterinary course covers all the domestic species including cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, cats, birds and exotics. Specialisation may be undertaken at a later stage but only after qualifying.
After obtaining a veterinary degree, a new vet must then be registered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in order to practice. This is the governing body for all vets in the UK and ensures that certain minimum standards within the profession are maintained. This regulation safeguards the health and welfare of animals and the interests of the general public. Once a vet is registered with the RCVS, they can use the letters MRCVS after their name signifying Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Veterinary Nurses are wonderfully dedicated people who provide a high standard of care for animals and work closely together with Veterinary Surgeons and the rest of the team.
In order to become a Veterinary Nurse (VN) the training takes at least two years. Most of the training takes place while working at a veterinary practice which must be an approved training centre. Two NVQ examinations must be passed (SVQ is the Scottish equivalent). The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is the awarding body and training can be on a part-time basis.
The training required for Veterinary Nurses is organised by Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' Veterinary Nursing Scheme (see link to RCVS for FAQs on Veterinary Nursing) and then Veterinary Nurses can go on to register with The British Veterinary Nursing Association BVNA who are responsible for the initial enrolment on the scheme, maintaining ongoing training standards and providing support to the veterinary nursing profession in various ways.
A career in Veterinary Nursing requires 5 GCSE's at grade C or above (Scottish standard grades 1-3 or higher A-E) Subjects must include English Language and two passes in a Physical or Biological science or Mathematics. The RCVS will also accept a range of qualifications as GCSE equivalents such as a BTEC National Diploma or Certificate in Animal Care and GNVQ in Health and Social Care.
Once qualified Nurses are required to do regular CPD but are also able to broadly advance their knowledge and skill base still further by enroling on a wide variety of courses such as: RCVS Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing, Advanced Surgical Nursing Elective, Advanced Medical Nursing Elective, Diploma in Dermatology, Certificate in Dentistry, Companion Animal Behaviour Course, Pharmacy Management course for Veterinary Nurses, City and Guilds Small Animal Nutrition, Nursing of Exotic Species, Veterinary Practice Administration, Veterinary Practice Management and Marketing. There are also many commercially organised courses such as: Walthams Pet Health Councillor, Hills Veterinary Healthcare Advisor, Hills Nutritional Advisor Program, SCAS 'Offering Support In Pet Bereavement' The Pet Bereavement Support Service (PBSS). Finally a degree course offering a BSc in Veterinary Nursing.
Go to this link from the BBC h2g2 website for more useful information on specialisation as a Veterinary Nurse.
A Veterinary Receptionist is a key person in the team of any Veterinary Practice. The Veterinary Receptionist is generally the first point of contact that a new or existing client will speak to on the telephone or meet when they visit a veterinary practice. Sometimes they need information or reassurance that their pet will receive the best care and attention. The Veterinary Receptionist creates the first impression for a client of the Veterinary Practice. In addition to dealing with clients.
Veterinary Administrators play a vitally important part of the Practice team by dealing with financial aspects such as invoices, payments, client records, HR and assist the whole practice and are valuable team members. Sometimes no training is required, and the Veterinary Practice may provide in-house training however several external training courses are available.
The BVNA Animal Nursing Assistant qualification has a unit called 'Finance, Veterinary Reception and Administration'. Candidates can enroll on this course and undertake this specific unit but do not have to achieve the entire qualification. By undertaking and passing the multiple-choice examination successful candidates will be awarded a Unit of Achievement. If in the future, they want to progress further they can then continue and undertake one or all three of the remaining units in order to gain the entire qualification. More information here on what is involved in becoming an Animal Nursing Assistant on the ABC Awards website. It is not essential for candidates to be enrolled at college in order to undertake this specific unit, however there are approximately 30 colleges in the United Kingdom who run the Animal Nursing Assistant qualification. There are other external courses for those interested in becoming a Veterinary Receptionist.
Please feel free to speak to staff at Isabelle Vets to find out more about all the different types of veterinary careers and visit us at the annual Guernsey Careers Show at Beau Sejour.
Veterinary Admissions
Clerk
University of Bristol, Senate House
Bristol BS8 1TH
Tel: 0117 928
9000
The Department Secretary
Department
of Clinical Veterinary Medicine
University of Cambridge, Madingley
Road
Cambridge CB2 0ES
Tel: 01223 337600
The Cambridge
Intercollegiate Applications Office
Kellet Lodge, Tennis Court
Road
Cambridge CB2 1QJ
Tel: 01223 333308
Admissions Officer
Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine
Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
University
of Edinburgh, Summerhall
Edinburgh, EH9 1QH
Tel: 0131 650 6130
Admissions Officer
University of
Glasgow Veterinary School
464 Bearsden Road, Bearsden Road
Glasgow, G61
1QH
Tel: 0141 330 5700
The Admissions Sub-Dean
Faculty of
Veterinary Science
University of Liverpool
Liverpool, L69 7ZJ
Tel:
0151 794 2000
The Head of Registry
The Royal
Veterinary College
Royal College Street
London, NW1 0TU
Tel: 020
7468 5000
Visit the RVC careers website
The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
The
University of Nottingham
Sutton Bonington Campus
Sutton
Bonington
Leicestershire, LE12 5RD
Tel: 0115 951 641
The British Veterinary Nursing Association
82 Greenway Business Centre
Harlow Business Park
Essex CM19 5QE
Tel: 01279 408644
Fax: 01279 408645
Email: bvna@bvna.co.uk
Robins Wood House
Robins Wood Road
Aspley
Nottingham NG8 3NH
Tel: 0115 854 1616
Fax: 0115 854 1617
e-mail:enquiries@abcawards.co.uk
Specialisation as a Veterinary Nurse
FAQs on Veterinary Nursing
Foundation courses