About the course
The Level 3 Veterinary Nursing course is designed to equip students with the essential skills and knowledge required to enter onto the register of qualified small animal veterinary nurses. This comprehensive program covers a wide range of topics, including animal anatomy and physiology, diagnostic techniques, surgical nursing, anaesthesia, and patient care covering the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) day one skills, competencies and professional behaviours for veterinary nurses. Students will gain hands-on experience through clinical placements, working alongside qualified veterinary professionals in real-world settings. The veterinary nursing centre on campus offers a fully equipped clinical skills suite which includes consultation rooms, operating theatre, imaging suite, inpatient wards and laboratory. Students will also have use of the animal academy with a variety of species to enhance their practical training. The course is delivered through innovative teaching and learning strategies from a skilled team of experienced veterinary nurses using Vet Skill as the awarding body. There is a total of 6 MCQ examinations, 3 assignments, 1 formative practical skills assessment and an online portfolio to complete before moving towards the final end point and licence to practice assessments. Further assessment information can be found within this page. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to sit the RCVS licence to practice practical examination to allow entry onto the register. Veterinary Nurses are registered professionals and work within the standards and scope of practice defined by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). This course is ideal for those passionate about animal care and looking to pursue a rewarding career in veterinary nursing to provide high-quality care to a variety of animals, ensuring their health and well-being in adherence with clinical and professional standards. Please double check the entry criteria and additional requirements before applying Block Release: Year 1 - 4 x 2 week blocks and 4 day week at the end of the course (43 days total) Year 2 - 4 x 2 week blocks and 4 day week at the end of the course (43 days total) - Note this may change as year 2 has not yet run Day Release: Year 1 - 1 day per week for 38 weeks, 1 week block (43 days) Year 2 - 1 day per week for 38 weeks, 1 week block (43 days)
Key Information
Location: Preston Campus or Preston Campus or Preston Campus or Preston Campus
Course length: Two Years
Available course dates: Please select the appropriate campus and start date to apply online.
Preston Campus
September 2025
Preston Campus
January 2026
Preston Campus
September 2025
Preston Campus
October 2025
Course Modules
Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in small animal practice.
Diagnostic imaging in small animal practice.
Infection control in small animal practice.
Laboratory diagnostics in small animal practice.
Operating theatre practice for small animal veterinary nurses.
Operational requirements in small animal practice.
Practical monitoring of anaesthesia for small animal veterinary nurses.
Practical small animal peri-operative veterinary nursing support.
Practical small animal veterinary nursing support.
Principles of small animal peri-operative veterinary nursing support.
Principles of small animal veterinary nursing support.
Principles of supporting anaesthesia for small animal veterinary nurses.
Professional relationships and communication in small animal practice.
Professionalism and ethics for small animal veterinary nurses.
Small animal functional anatomy and physiology for veterinary nurses.
Veterinary medicine supply in small animal practice.
Veterinary nursing care for hospitalised small animals.
Veterinary nursing support for emergency and critical care of small animal patients.
Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in small animal practice.
Diagnostic imaging in small animal practice.
Infection control in small animal practice.
Laboratory diagnostics in small animal practice.
Operating theatre practice for small animal veterinary nurses.
Operational requirements in small animal practice.
Practical monitoring of anaesthesia for small animal veterinary nurses.
Practical small animal peri-operative veterinary nursing support.
Practical small animal veterinary nursing support.
Principles of small animal peri-operative veterinary nursing support.
Principles of small animal veterinary nursing support.
Principles of supporting anaesthesia for small animal veterinary nurses.
Professional relationships and communication in small animal practice.
Professionalism and ethics for small animal veterinary nurses.
Small animal functional anatomy and physiology for veterinary nurses.
Veterinary medicine supply in small animal practice.
Veterinary nursing care for hospitalised small animals.
Veterinary nursing support for emergency and critical care of small animal patients.
Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in small animal practice.
Diagnostic imaging in small animal practice.
Infection control in small animal practice.
Laboratory diagnostics in small animal practice.
Operating theatre practice for small animal veterinary nurses.
Operational requirements in small animal practice.
Practical monitoring of anaesthesia for small animal veterinary nurses.
Practical small animal peri-operative veterinary nursing support.
Practical small animal veterinary nursing support.
Principles of small animal peri-operative veterinary nursing support.
Principles of small animal veterinary nursing support.
Principles of supporting anaesthesia for small animal veterinary nurses.
Professional relationships and communication in small animal practice.
Professionalism and ethics for small animal veterinary nurses.
Small animal functional anatomy and physiology for veterinary nurses.
Veterinary medicine supply in small animal practice.
Veterinary nursing care for hospitalised small animals.
Veterinary nursing support for emergency and critical care of small animal patients.
Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in small animal practice.
Diagnostic imaging in small animal practice.
Infection control in small animal practice.
Laboratory diagnostics in small animal practice.
Operating theatre practice for small animal veterinary nurses.
Operational requirements in small animal practice.
Practical monitoring of anaesthesia for small animal veterinary nurses.
Practical small animal peri-operative veterinary nursing support.
Practical small animal veterinary nursing support.
Principles of small animal peri-operative veterinary nursing support.
Principles of small animal veterinary nursing support.
Principles of supporting anaesthesia for small animal veterinary nurses.
Professional relationships and communication in small animal practice.
Professionalism and ethics for small animal veterinary nurses.
Small animal functional anatomy and physiology for veterinary nurses.
Veterinary medicine supply in small animal practice.
Veterinary nursing care for hospitalised small animals.
Veterinary nursing support for emergency and critical care of small animal patients.
Entry requirements & additional information
Must be aged 16 or over & have officially left school. Must be employed (NOT self-employed) in a small animal veterinary practice, working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Minimum of 5 GCSEs at grades A-C/4-9 including maths, English Language & science. NB: English Language & Maths Functional Skills Level 2 will be accepted as an alternative to GCSEs however Adult Numeracy and Literacy qualifications, will not be accepted. Must be a citizen of a country with in the European Economic Area (EEA) or have the right of abode in the UK. You should also complete and send the Practice Information Form back to us as soon as possible.
This qualification leads to professional registration and licence to practice veterinary nursing on the register of veterinary nurses held by the RCVS. It is a requirement of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Byelaws that such qualifications be subject to independent assessment and examination. The qualification will accordingly be assessed using a variety of methods. Knowledge and understanding will be assessed by: Assignments set by Vet Skill and administered by the College. Multiple choice examinations set and administered by Vet Skill. Practical skills will be assessed by: VNO5 Formative practical skills assessments administered by the college. An electronic work-based progress log (Nursing Progress Log - NPL). Practical skills are recorded by students, their Clinical supervisors confirm their competency, and College internally verifies student progress. Practical examination of essential clinical skills (Objective Structured Clinical Examination – OSCE) set and administered by Vet Skill. NB: Apprentices must also complete a Professional Discussion assessment prior to being able to undertake their OSCE. Course Tutors The veterinary nursing course team consists of 21 experienced RVNs, 2 MRCVS and a Veterinary Nursing Technician.
Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (subject to approval by the University of Central Lancashire and RCVS) and subsequent potential progression opportunities to BSc (Hons) Veterinary Nursing.
Fees - Dependent on age, route chosen (i.e. Apprenticeship / self or loan-funded), and previous qualifications. Costs that are mandatory for the course: RCVS enrolments fees, Vet Skill enrolment and examination fees. Textbooks as required. Travelling to College for tuition and assessments. Travelling to external examinations as required.
Veterinary Nursing
Myerscough School of Veterinary Nursing has been an established provider of education and training for veterinary nurses for more than 35 years, with approval from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons granted in 1975. In this time the College has successfully taught many small animal and equine student nurses from all parts of Britain and Europe.
Veterinary Nurses (VNs) work alongside veterinary surgeons and provide a high standard of care and treatment for animals. This includes skilled supportive care for ill animals as well as undertaking minor surgery, monitoring animals during anaesthesia, providing medical treatments and carrying out diagnostic tests
A Proud History
Myerscough College has been providing excellent veterinary nursing training for more than 35 years, meaning thousands of qualified vet nurses have left us to join the industry since we began.