This is an online course that can be studied from anywhere and is fully accredited by City and Guilds. This course is designed to teach you what you need to know to be able to provide the valued assistance necessary within a veterinary environment to ensure animals and their owners receive a high standard of care.

You will need to be either working or volunteering in a veterinary practice for a minimum of 10 hours per week to gain this formal qualification. In total at least 600 hours in practice is required. This will ensure that you have both the theoretical and practical skills needed for a successful career within the veterinary industry.

Access to learning materials will be available via our Virtual Learning Environment and on-going tutor support is also provided by our experienced team for the duration of the course.

Location

As this course is studied via distance learning no college attendance is required, therefore it can be undertaken anywhere in the world!

Duration

You can undertake this course by either volunteering or by being employed within a veterinary practice on a part-time or full time basis as follows:

• Part time – you will need to be working, or volunteering, in a veterinary practice, for a minimum of 10-15 hours a week and the course should take a maximum of 18 months to complete
• Full time – you will need to be working, or volunteering, in a veterinary practice, for a minimum of 30 hours a week and the course should take a maximum of 12 months to complete

Entry Requirements

Good news! There are no formal entry requirements to be able to undertake this veterinary care qualification. However, you do need to be aware that all the course materials and assessments are delivered in English. This means that you need to be competent in reading, writing and speaking the English Language.

You must also meet the following criteria:

• Be volunteering or employed within a veterinary practice for a minimum of 10 hours per week for the full duration of your course
• You may be asked to provide a reference from a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse supporting your application and confirming you have completed a minimum of three months* of regular employed or voluntary work prior to starting the programme, ideally in the practice you will be undertaking the qualification
• Have a dedicated mentor agreed within your practice who also has a good level of speaking the English Language
• Complete a pre-course interview

* We are looking to ensure you are committed to attending practice and are fully aware of what a veterinary care role entails

Content

There are three units within the course that you will be studying to ensure you have the knowledge needed to be assisting in animal and patient care within the veterinary environment.

Unit 201 – Principles and Practices of Animal Handling and Care in the Veterinary Environment

This unit covers the general care and nursing of animals within a veterinary practice environment; including the signs of normal and abnormal health, accommodation and feeding requirements, safe handling, identification, first aid for animals and the legal limitations of treatment.

Unit 202 – Principles and Practices of Assisting with Veterinary Care in the Veterinary Environment

In this unit you will look at common veterinary terminology, basic anatomy and assisting with the nursing care of animals in the practice environment including: medical and surgical conditions; anaesthesia procedures; radiography; drug calculations and fluid therapy.

Unit 203 – Principles and Practices of Administrative Duties in the Veterinary Care Environment

Upon completion of this unit you will have developed the skills needed to ensure the smooth running of a veterinary practice; such as communication, team work, administration, advising clients on aspects of veterinary care, pet bereavement, reception skills, telephone techniques and record keeping.

As this qualification is studied via distance learning, online learning materials are available to help support you in your study. To view some examples please check out the links below:

• Methods of Euthanasia
• Confidentiality
• Data Protection

Please note that all laws and regulations related to this course above are UK based and therefore may not be reflective of local laws and regulations.

Assessment for this qualification will be by written and practical assessments combined with multiple choice and online short answer questions.

Fees

If you are based outside of the UK the course fee for this qualification is £1,549. This can be paid before beginning the course or it can be paid monthly via our ‘Pay As You Learn Scheme’. This is a fee of £129 per month until you are certificated.

In addition to the above fee you are also required to pay an Awarding Body Fee. This is £214.20* for City & Guilds registration and certification fees.

* Awarding Body Fees are payable by all students or employers and recharged at cost and may be subject to change

Apply

Having considered the information on the Level 2 Diploma for Veterinary Care Assistants have you decided you would like to apply to study online?

Alternatively if you have any questions please do get in touch.