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Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

  • Certificate

Are you passionate about the care of pets and want to build a career working day to day with a range of animals and creatures great and small? This course will give you the job ready skills to become a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse or Animal Welfare Worker..

Key details

Degree Type
Certificate
Duration
2 semesters full-time
Course Code
ACM40418
Study Mode
Online, In person
Intake Months
Feb, Jul

About this course

Are you passionate about the care of pets and want to build a career working day to day with a range of animals and creatures great and small? This course will give you the job ready skills to become a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse or Animal Welfare Worker.

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Playing an essential role in animal health care, a Veterinary Nurse dedicates their daily work to maintaining and monitoring the welfare and wellbeing of sick animals. Be guided by from our expert team of lecturers who are professionals in the field as you learn how to assist Veterinarians with surgery procedures on animals both pre and post-operation.

Develop clinical skills in administering anaesthesia and medication, radiology (x-ray), dental procedures, nutrition and applying bandages to wounds. Build knowledge of how to nurse animals back to health and providing advice and support to animal caregivers, as well as daily tasks such as keeping equipment clean and sterilised.

Vet nurses are in high demand and you can work in a range of diverse settings such as at a veterinary clinic, animal hospital, specialist clinic, in wildlife rescue or at a zoo.

This course is popular and highly competitive to get into. Please ensure you enter all your work and work experience, both related to the field and unrelated, in your application.

Study in specialist facilities

SM TAFE is the only TAFE to offer a live veterinary clinic open to the general public, staff and students to make bookings for consults and surgeries. The clinic is based at our Bentley campus and allows our training Vet Nurses real-world experience while being supervised by qualified Veterinarians and Vet Nurses.

Students can gain on-the-job skills in animal care with a range of species including dogs, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, along with an aviary housing various birdlife. The clinic allows development of skills in a safe and supported environment, in preparation for industry work placement.

You can visit the Student Vet Clinic at South Metropolitan TAFE

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on Facebook.

Entry requirements

Entry into this qualification is open to students who:

  • hold a Certificate II in Animal Care or Certificate III in Animal Care Services
  • hold a relevant Certificate III or higher level qualification in an animal science discipline OR
  • can demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge in a relevant animal science discipline to any of the above qualifications.
  • have (or can obtain) a national Police Clearance within the last 12 months (certain offences on your police clearance may affect your registration with the Veterinary Surgeons Board)

Study locations

Bentley

Online

What you will learn

  • work effectively in a veterinary practice
  • provide care to a wide variety of animals
  • assist with surgery preparation and procedures
  • perform pathology and imaging procedures
  • provide post-surgery care and advice
  • workplace safety and health

Career pathways

  • Veterinary Nurse
  • Animal attendant

Please note this list should be used as a guide only as job titles and qualification requirements may vary between organisations.

Work placement is mandatory for completion of this course. SM TAFE will arrange a suitable work placement within industry for you which will involve your attendance at a workplace.

To access free career planning and job search assistance, visit the Jobs and Skills Centres page.