The College of Animal Welfare (CAW) has gained approval from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to run a two and a half year long full-time veterinary nursing course from this October. 

For many years, unless students were undertaking a higher education programme, the route to qualifying has been via employment in a training practice alongside part-time study at college.  It has become increasingly difficult for prospective students to find trainee positions leaving many people unable to pursue a career in their chosen field.

Students do not need to be employed whilst on the CAW course, as blocks of work placement are incorporated into the programme alongside blocks of classroom tuition.  In addition to the small animal syllabus students will also cover equine subjects and develop more general veterinary nursing subject skills across the species.

To enrol onto the programme students will need to be a minimum of 16 years of age and have 5 GCSEs at grades C or above including English Language, Maths and a Science subject or equivalent. 

The courses will be held from the College's Leeds and Edinburgh centres.  Home based practice work placements can be requested by those students not normally resident near to Leeds or Edinburgh.  The College does not have accommodation available on site although can assist in sourcing local accommodation where necessary.

Leslie Heaton-Smith, Strategic Director at CAW, commented 'After a 10 year absence of full time NVQ level veterinary nurse training, CAW are delighted to have gained RCVS approval to offer such a programme from its Leeds and Edinburgh centres.  As a course provider and VNAC we are well aware of the difficulty many prospective students have in finding trainee positions in a TP in order to commence their training.  This programme will provide such students with the opportunity to follow their chosen career path when they would have otherwise been unable'.

For further information on the programme please call Sarah McAlister or Donna Clark on 01480 226180.

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.