Veterinary Nursing Apprenticeships

What does a veterinary nurse do?

It’s super hands-on. As a veterinary nurse, you'll work alongside vets to give animals the medical care they need. Think blood tests, X-rays, getting animals ready for surgery, giving them their medications and showing owners how to care for their pets at home. Your day-to-day will include:

• Monitoring animals staying in the hospital and tracking their recovery

• Assisting with scans, ultrasounds and other diagnostic procedures

• Preparing surgical equipment and helping during operations

• Giving medications and injections

• Taking blood samples and running lab tests

• Dressing wounds and changing bandages

• Keeping records of treatments and patient progress

• Cleaning and sterilising equipment and treatment areas.

With enough training, experience and supervision, you could even perform some minor surgeries.

Can you do an apprenticeship to become a veterinary nurse?

Yes! Veterinary nursing apprenticeships are available at Level 3, for those aged 16+. You'll work at a veterinary practice four days a week and study toward your qualifications one day a week.

You'll earn a wage while training and gain a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, the qualification you need to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) as a licensed veterinary nurse.

If you want to become a vet, you’ll need to complete a university degree.

How long does it take?

A veterinary nurse apprenticeship takes two to three years to complete. During this time, you'll:

• Work for a minimum of 30 hours per week at an RCVS-approved Veterinary Training Practice

• Attend college one day a week (which also counts as part of your working hours).

Once you've finished your training, you'll sit your End Point Assessment. After passing, you can register professionally with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and practice as a qualified veterinary nurse.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for veterinary nursing depend on your course, but you’ll usually need:

• Five GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) or equivalent, including english, maths and science.

If you’re not quite ready for a Level 3 apprenticeship or didn’t get the grades, you could start off as a Level 2 veterinary care assistant, where you’ll help out veterinary surgeons and nurses with handling animals, health checks and first aid.

What skills do you need?

To become a veterinary nurse, you’ll need a wide range of skills, including:

• Genuine care for animal welfare

• Emotional resiliance. You’ll support animals and owners through difficult situations, including end-of-life care

• Excellent communication. You’ll need to reassure anxious pet owners and communicate effectively with your team

• Attention to detail. You’ll spend a lot of time administering medication and monitoring animals

• Physical strength. You’ll spend long periods of time standing up, lifting animals and cleaning heavy equipment

• Working independently and using your own initiative, especially if you’re the only person responsible for the animal’s welfare, for instance, during out-of-work hours

• Comfort with medical procedures. This will include blood, other bodily fluids and sometimes distressing situations.

Where can you do a veterinary nursing apprenticeship?

You can find veterinary nursing apprenticeships at vet practices, animal hospitals and vet chains all over the UK, from big national names to smaller local practices.

The most important bit is that you find an RCVS-approved veterinary training practice. Only practices with this approval can offer apprenticeships that count towards becoming a qualified vet nurse. Some employers where you can find veterinary nurse or care apprenticeships include:

Ever wanted to know what it’s like to work for the RSPCA? Here’s what one apprentice said:

I love the work, agree with the morals and see the good that comes from the work we do. It's stressful, but fulfilling. It has increased my knowledge and allowed me to take better care of my patients. Student Veterinary Nurse, RSPCA

How much do you get paid?

How much you make depends on the employer and where you’re based (apprentices in London earn more than those outside the capital). On average, Level 3 apprentices earn around £20,800 per year.

As an apprentice, you’ll get paid for:

• Your usual working hours

• Any training that’s part of your programme

• Extra courses you’ll need to take.

On top of that, you’ll also get holiday pay and other perks like gym memberships, health or life insurance and more. Employers will usually tell you about these in the job description or in your interview.

Once you’re fully qualified, you could earn between £23,000 and £27,000 per year. The more experience you gain, the more you’ll earn too, with senior roles coming in at around £32,000+ per year. Head veterinary nurses and specialist roles could get you £40,000+ per year.

How to apply

Veterinary apprenticeships are competitive, but don’t let that put you off. There are some simple ways to set yourself apart when applying. Work experience shows employers you're serious and that you understand what the role actually involves. Even a few hours a week over a few months makes a difference. These can include:

• Your local kennels or cattery

• A pet shop or grooming centre

• A rehoming centre

• Your local farm

• Veterinary practices (ask about work shadowing or volunteering).

Apprenticeships are all about learning on the job, so don't worry if you haven't got tons of experience yet. What matters is showing you've taken the time to see what veterinary work is really like.

Most apprenticeships start in September, with employers opening applications around January to March, so it’s worth starting your job hunt early.

If you’ve found an apprenticeship you like, you can get on with applying. You’ll need to fill in an online application, including your CV and cover letter.

Most veterinary practices don’t have an assessment centre, instead you could be invited to a working trial day where they’ll assess how you get on with animals and the team. Tasks might include cleaning kennels or watching procedures. 

Other employers will ask you to complete a skills assessment, which might include identifying equipment or testing your Maths and English skills. Employers will always let you know their process when you apply.

Need help with your applications? We’ve got you covered. 

Download our free application toolkit. It’s got everything you need, including CV and cover letter tips and loads more.