VetSkill Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing - Companion Animal Pathway

Day-release Level 3 diploma (30 months if employed in a practice, 36 months if not) taught in classroom or Live Online with about ten practical skills days at a college centre and practice-based training; completion allows application to the RCVS register.

Subject

Veterinary nursing

Department

Veterinary nursing courses, The College of Animal Welfare

Awarding body

VetSkill

Degree level

DiplomaA non-degree award, or a qualification at a level the national framework defines. It is not counted as an academic degree.

Pathway

Veterinary nursingPrograms preparing veterinary nurses. The role, title and regulation differ by country and are not interchangeable with veterinarians or technicians.

Why we classify it this way

The page states that completion allows students to apply for registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS.“Completion of the VetSkill Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing qualification will allow you to apply for professional registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).”Source

Prior degree required

Not published

• Not verifiedRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)Professional-body recognitionUK

  Scope: RCVS register lists the awarding organisation VetSkill (2025, full accreditation); the CAW page describes the course as RCVS approved but the register does not itemise qualifications or centres

  Dates: 1 January 2025 to not stated

Delivery

HybridPart online and part in person (campus attendance, laboratory work, attendance-based exams or clinical placements). A hybrid program is never described as fully online.

Online instruction

Blended with required campus elements

Mandatory campus attendance

Yes

In-person assessment

Final practical examinations (OSCEs) are undertaken on successful completion of all other assessments at the end of your programme.

Mandatory clinical or workplace placement

Time in an RCVS approved veterinary training practice, via employment or an unpaid work placement; non-employed students do six-month placement blocks in years 2 and 3

Placement arrangement

Student or institution arranges the placement

Must already work in a veterinary setting

No

Placement site approval

Yes

Live attendance

Live sessions required

International enrolment

Not published

Study mode

Part-time

Duration

30 months (students employed in a veterinary practice) 36 months (non-employed students)

Campus attendance

you will attend one of our college centres for practical skills training days, there are approximately 10 of these across the programme.

Clinical placement

Your time spent in veterinary practice can either be gained via employment or through an unpaid work placement.

Intakes

January 2027, May 2027, September 2027

Taught in

Not stated on the pages we checked

English

English teaching not verifiedAn English-language website does not mean a program is taught in English.

Animal or veterinary experience

No experience requirement publishedIf not employed in a veterinary practice, work experience is strongly encouraged; the college's placement team helps source an unpaid work placement

Interview

Not published

Previous qualification

Typically GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (or A* to C) including English, mathematics and a science subject, or equivalent

Official instructions

Application instructions

The institution does not publish tuition for this program on the pages we checked. Ask for current fees, what they include and whether clinical or laboratory charges, equipment and protective clothing, travel, placement expenses and insurance are extra.

Not published on the program’s source pages: tuition, whether a prior degree is required.