The course is delivered entirely by distance education using our online ‘Learning Centre’ with printed learner’s guides.

This allows you the flexibility to study when it suits your schedule. You won’t need to attend any on-campus classes. We’ve designed the course to fit around your work and lifestyle.

Once the course starts, you’ll receive printed learner’s guides, which will guide you through your studies and prepare you for assessments. You will also need to purchase a veterinary nursing textbook (allow around $130). You’ll also have access to the extra study resources available via our ‘Learning Centre’ online.

Each subject contains various assessment tasks:

• Expect to complete written assessments like assignments, case studies, and reports.
• We include multiple choice learning activities so you can check your own learning throughout the course.
• Workplace-based assessments for practical skills will be completed during your Work Placements and involve some video assessments and a logbook. We provide comprehensive instructions on what to include, so don’t feel stressed about having to video yourself performing tasks.
• On average, expect to submit one short assessment or learning activity task each week to stay on track. Larger assessment tasks are required towards the end of the course.

We’ve designed this course to be completed in 12 months. You’ll have suggested due dates for each subject to help keep you on track. We find most students need to dedicate at least 5 hours per week to study, undertaking the required reading and completing the assessment tasks.

Of course, you can complete the course more quickly if you wish. Additional fees apply if you want to extend your study time past 12 months.

You will be given 12 months to complete your course, and you’ll have suggested due dates for each subject to help keep you on track. If you need more time, that’s ok! Arranging an enrolment extension is easy, however be aware that it attracts a fee.

Two work placements are an integral feature of this course. They build up your practical skills and are an essential part of your learning.

You’ll usually do these placements in two-week blocks at an animal care facility and veterinary clinic near you.

Some students may require additional days of work experience to complete the skills component of the course. We can arrange for this at no extra charge.

For those who need more flexibility, placements can be broken up into smaller, regular chunks as long as you complete a minimum of 15-20 full time days over the duration of the course (e.g. 1 day per week or 4 x 1 week blocks). During your placement, you are fully covered by The University of Queensland (Gatton Campus) insurance.

You are required to find your own placements, however we’ll assist where we can. We provide you with all the tools you need to help find a suitable clinic, as well as assistance with writing cover letters and resumes. Finding placement is much like finding a job, you need to present yourself well!

Yes! We welcome offshore international students. That is, those who do not reside in Australia or are not planning on studying from within Australia.

As an international offshore student, payment plans are not available. You will be required to pay the full course fee prior to starting. We also do not offer the pay in full discount to international offshore students however we do not charge you extra for resources to be sent to you, or for bank fees.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you can legally perform the practical tasks required in your country. In some countries, like the UK, it is illegal for a non-qualified person to perform some of the practical skills necessary to complete the course. Check with your local veterinary surgeons’ board.

If you are completing placement, you will also need to arrange your own insurance and provide evidence of this to us.

Ready to learn more? After you’ve completed this course you can move on to:

• ACM30117 Certificate III in Animal Studies
• ACM30217 Certificate III in Animal Technology
• ACM30317 Certificate III in Captive Animals
• ACM30417 Certificate III in Companion Animal Services
• ACM30612 Certificate III in Pet Grooming
• ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Unfortunately, government funding is not currently available for this course. If this changes, we will advertise it on our site.

You can, however, enrol with one of our instalment plans.

We do encourage you to contact your local job seeker service or apprenticeship centre for further suggestions.

Veterinary Nurse Solutions, trading as the Australian College of Veterinary Nursing (‘ACVN’), has a third party arrangement with UQ Skills which is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). UQ Skills is a business within the University of Queensland under the Faculty Science. In this arrangement, UQ Skills is the ‘Principal RTO’.

For more information about our third party partner UQ Skills, go to:
https://skills-training.uq.edu.au/about-uq-skills or
https://training.gov.au/Organisation/Details/1511

At all times, the Principal RTO is responsible for the quality of the training and assessment you will receive in compliance with Standards for RTOs 2015, and for the issuance of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) certification documentation. These Standards set out the requirements that an organisation must meet in order to be an RTO and ensure the integrity and quality of nationally recognised training provided by registered training organisations.

What does this mean for students?

Who are students enrolled with?

Students are enrolled with UQ Skills as the principal RTO.

Who do students do training and assessment with?

All training is conducted by ACVN on behalf of UQ Skills, the principal RTO. All learning and assessment materials are developed by ACVN and approved by UQ Skills.

Who do the trainers and assessors work for?

All trainers and assessors are employed by ACVN, but are approved by UQ Skills.

What if a student needs to make a complaint?

In the first instance you can provide feedback and make a complaint directly to us, ACVN at [email protected]. You are also able to make a complaint or provide feedback directly to the Principal RTO, UQ Skills directly, at: [email protected].

Who issues qualifications and statements of attainment?

On successful completion of all course requirements students are provided with the appropriate qualifications and statements of attainment issued by the Principal RTO, The University of Queensland, trading as UQ Skills, RTO ID: 1511.

What if a student needs to have a qualifications or statement of attainment reissued?

Students can contact either ACVN and we can assist you to organise this. You are also able to directly contact UQ Skills to obtain a new copy of a certificate.