Askham Bryan College is a VetSkill accredited centre, approved to deliver vocational training in veterinary nursing, providing a pathway to join the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ (RCVS) Register of Veterinary Nurses. In addition to our VetSkill qualifications, we proudly offer our own Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Veterinary Nursing. Both programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge and practical skills needed for a successful career in the veterinary nursing profession, giving you the flexibility to choose the route that best suits your goals.
Department Overview
Askham Bryan College is a VetSkill accredited centre approved to deliver vocational training in veterinary nursing, which could entitle you to join the Register of Veterinary Nurses which is held by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
With high-quality teaching and learning facilities, our centres provide students with the essential theoretical expertise and an appreciation of the practical skills necessary to undertake the role within the profession. All key members of the delivery team are Registered Veterinary Nurses or Veterinary Surgeons, with experience of the industry. The College runs veterinary nursing and animal nursing assistant courses at our York and Gateshead locations.
Employer Information
Working closely with over 100 veterinary practices across the North of England, we offer routes to support both full-time students that require placements as well as those already employed in a veterinary practice. This enables the team to source and place our students within practices to complete the mandatory hours required in an industrial placement. The department boasts strong and expansive links with veterinary practices and other related industrial representative groups.
Partnerships
Students can choose to study from a broad range of practices, including working with domestic and companion animals through to zoological species and birds. Please use our course search tool to find out which centres run our wide range of Animal and Veterinary Nursing courses.
With a diverse offering of courses at all levels students will apply their knowledge to real life situations, as well as benefiting from detailed study of animals in captive and natural environments. The College benefits from partnerships with Band of Rescuers Charity, Flamingo Land and the Askham Bryan College Wildlife and Conservation Park which serve to broaden the range and scope of species which are encountered on college courses.
Preparing For Your Course
All applicants to the Level 3 Diploma Veterinary Nursing and Foundation Degree Veterinary Nursing will require relevant industrial experience of working in a veterinary practice prior to the start of their studies to ensure an appreciation of this varied and rewarding career. Applicants for the ‘Introduction to Nursing’ courses should ideally have relevant experience of a wider industry setting or a reasonable level of experience of working with or keeping animals.
Work Placements
Askham Bryan College offers veterinary nursing courses that meet the assessment outcomes which on successful completion students are eligible to enter the professional register.
Students that enrol on these courses are required to undertake extensive work-based placement learning as part of their studies.
Essential skills around employability are required at the onset of study to ensure candidates are able to demonstrate the skills required to successfully maintain a placement secured through an interview process.
Staff at the College will support students in accessing interview opportunities as necessary.
*STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE ALL COMPLUSORY COMPONENTS OF STUDY TO BE ENTITLED TO APPLY TO JOIN THE REGISTER*
Courses
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Course Type
Undergraduate, Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
Online/Distance Learning,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
3 Years, -
Location
Gateshead, York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York, Gateshead,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
Online/Distance Learning,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
3 Years, -
Location
Gateshead, York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
Online/Distance Learning,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York, Gateshead,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York,
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Course Type
Apprenticeship, -
Length
30-36 months, -
Location
York, Gateshead,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York, Gateshead,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York,
-
Course Type
Undergraduate, Further Education, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
Online/Distance Learning,
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Course Type
Apprenticeship, -
Length
30-36 months, -
Location
York, Gateshead,
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Course Type
Further Education, -
Length
30-36 months, -
Location
York, Gateshead,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
3 Years, -
Location
Gateshead, York,
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Course Type
Undergraduate, -
Length
1 Year, -
Location
York,
Oustanding student experience
We are a specialist land-based provider developing talent for both college and university students
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Our facilities are better than ever
- Mock veterinary facilities
- Digital radiography equipment
- Dedicated animal science facilities
- Access to the animal management facility
- Wildlife and conservation park at York
- Computer suite and lecture rooms
- Access to equine facilities as necessary
- Opportunities to explore farmed livestock
FAQs
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What is a typical week like? How much time is practical? How much is theory?
Introduction to Animal Nursing and Welfare: Students have lessons 3 days per week, two hours of this time is practical lessons spent on the animal unit, the rest is theory and completing assessments.Â
Level 3 Vet Nursing:Â Students come to college 2 days per week and spend 3 days per week as an apprentice at their veterinary practice place of work.Â
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Where have past students ended up? What jobs could I do?
Level 3 Vet Nursing: Most students continue working at their veterinary practice once they have become fully qualified and progress through work to e.g. head nurse position.Â
Introduction to Animal Nursing and Welfare: many students progress onto other courses either the Level 3 Diploma Veterinary Nursing or complete their diploma in Animal Management. Students who want to go into work often find work in a kennels, cattery etc. Or as auxiliary nursing support within veterinary practices.Â
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How many hours work experience do I need to do? How do I find a work placement? Do you find it for me?
We recommend wo to four weeks week experience prior to starting a Vet Nursing course.
Introduction to Animal Nursing and Welfare: Once you have started college we will help you find a suitable work experience place. You are required to complete 150-315 hours work experience throughout the length of the course.Â
Level 3 Vet Nursing: You will need to complete 1800 hours over 2 years, either by securing an apprenticeship or being employed. If you are only able to secure a voluntary placement you will need to choose one of our other courses. You must have this secured before you can enrol on the course.Â
You can find details of approved Training Practices on the RCVS website. Details for the link are below:Â Â
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/education/i-want-to-be-a-veterinary-nurse/approved-training-practices/Â
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What grades do I need?
Level 2 Certificate of Vet Nursing (distance learning): Applicants should be aged 19 or over, and ideally have a placement in a Vet Practice in a nursing role, or in an animal related placement.  Applicants are normally expected to have a level 2 in English and MathsÂ
Introduction to Animal Nursing and Welfare:Â 4 GCSEs at grade 4 or above (old GCSE grading C or above) to include English Language, Maths or Science, plus two weeks of work experience with suitable references in any animal related placement. Where a student has completed a previous Level 2 qualification e.g. Animal Management, they must have achieved a Merit grade.Â
Level 3 Vet Nursing: 5 GCSEs for Level 3 Diploma (English Language, Maths and Science) grade 4 or above ( old GCSE graded C or above), equivalences will be considered.  Students must have secured employment or an apprenticeship position within a training practice in order to be eligible to enrol on this course.Â
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Are there any exams?
Introduction to Animal Nursing and Welfare:Â Yes there will be a one multiple-choice question exam at the end of the course related top physiology and anatomy.Â
Level 3 Vet Nursing:Â Externally set multi-choice examinations are completed throughout the course, including a a final practical assessment at the end of the course.Â
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What size are the classes?
Introduction to Animal Nursing and Welfare: These can vary from 20 up to 45Â
Level 3 Vet Nursing: Usually around 12 to 20Â
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What previous experience do I need?
For the Introduction to Nursing course you need to complete work experience in any animal related setting prior to the start of the course. For the Level 3 diploma you require employment or an apprenticeship not a work placement.  You need to approach approved Vet practices for either of these and have this in place prior to the start of the course.Â
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I want to be a vet. Is this the right course for me?
No, Veterinary Surgery is a different profession and would require you to take a different university course that is not provided at Askham Bryan.
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Is there a uniform? Is Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) provided?
Students are required to wear suitable clothing. PPE may differ dependent on the specific enrolled course, however all veterinary nursing students are offered the opportunity to purchase a bespoke departmental branded scrub top.