Veterinary nurse
Veterinary nurses support vets in the treatment and care of sick and injured animals.
What you'll do
Day-to-day tasks
As a veterinary nurse, you could:
- prepare animals for treatment and assist vets during procedures
- take X-rays, give injections and medication, and remove stitches
- care for in-patient animals
- keep the practice and equipment clean and hygienic
- talk to pet owners about treatment and care of their animals
- do reception and administrative duties
Working environment
You could work at a veterinary practice or at an animal welfare centre.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- work as a supervisor or mentor new staff
- manage a practice
- move to a larger veterinary hospital
- lecture in veterinary nursing science
You might also move into zoo or wildlife park work or sales of veterinary supplies.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- knowledge of animal health
- the ability to work well with others
- knowledge of biology
- the ability to work well with your hands
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Restrictions and Requirements
You'll need to:
How to become
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
You can do a foundation degree or degree in veterinary nursing. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has a list of accredited courses.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
More Information
You can study for a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at college.
You'll spend some time in the classroom and periods of training on placement in a veterinary practice.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has a list of approved training organisations offering the course.
Entry requirements
You'll need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
More Information
You can begin your career by doing a Veterinary Nurse Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
The training takes up to 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
More Information
You could get some work experience with a vet, local kennels or animal welfare centre before you start training. You could also try animal charities like the PDSA or RSPCA.
Registration
- you'll need to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the British Veterinary Nursing Association for training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Further information
You can learn more about how to become a veterinary nurse from the British Veterinary Nursing Association.
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External links
This page contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.