not sure i will ever be qualified

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

Katie Mansfield — Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:09:37 GMT

Anything is possible if you want it badly enough and are prepared to work your butt off. I just qualified in July after 23 years (ok, so I took 14 yrs maternity!). I'm still amazed and often look at my badge in disbelief!

I also struggled with maths and didn't get the O level and to make matters worse my Dad was the maths teacher!!! My mum hired me a tutor and I just sat the exam every time I could until I got that C - 6 attempts in all. My maths is still shocking and I've always got a calculator in my pocket at work.

You CAN do it, you WILL do it, just believe it,

K x

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

Olivia Shelley — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 19:36:42 GMT

Yes! I have been working in practice since 2003 and gradually worked up from part time receptionist to ANA, SVN and as of about 3 weeks ago...RVN!

Never ever give up! I had crappy GCSEs and honestly... failed my OSCEs 3 times. Have been at the point of quitting and looking for a new career (even applied a few times) countless times. Look at me now!

Even though it's really disheartening and hard... you can and WILL do it eventually. Keep fighting! :-) xx

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

Nicola Russell — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 15:59:01 GMT

I feel exactly the same. I have the GCSEs I need, a BTEC National Diploma in Animal Care and a BSc in Animal Science and been working as an ACA for 3 years and still can't get into a training practice.

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 15:08:19 GMT

Maths are simple - http://www.caw.ac.uk/courses/maths-english-school/ is an online functional skills course that will serve in place of your maths GCSE. (Other providers are of course available.)

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

Lesley Perschky — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 09:30:07 GMT

You could always look into doing the function skills level 2 maths instead which is eequivalent to the Gcse maths. Thats what I did and I passed it first time. Its easier than Gcse maths as well.

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

nursenat — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 22:06:03 GMT

I was in the same boat! Science & maths grade D, so I enrolled onto the VCA course and qualified which covered my science, then recently completed a maths skills level 2 course which gives me an equivalent of an A-C GCSE grade. I am now enrolled onto the VN course to start September! Being 32 , doing the extra courses and taking me over a year to find a TP which had an available vacancy was no easy ride...and at times you wanted to give up...but I desperately wanted to achieve my goal of being a VN so I needed to do something about it! Get that maths qualification & keep going! You will get there :-)

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

jc91 — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 19:52:25 GMT

its my maths GCSE. I have a D at the moment.

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

Sal the 1st — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 19:43:24 GMT

keep at it you will get there - I started in practice in 1984 and didnt qualify until 1996! (wasnt always working in training practices). All those years of experience will help you no end when it comes to studying for the diploma

Which GCSE is it that you are after?

Re: not sure i will ever be qualified

lorena hall — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 19:14:33 GMT

Don't give up. Ever! I thought this (there's a post on here somewhere called despondent) and I now start in September. I had less experience than you direct in a vets though lots of veterinary related work (teaching and CPD) and thought that at 36 I was never going to find a placement as a SVN... then wham bam.. on CAW's diploma course and starting in September. Your ANA should be enough to do the diploma? but check and by all means do the GCSE retakes... but dont give up... send CVs everywhere and keep networking. Are you in a TP now?