Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Turn your love for animals into a rewarding career this industry-standard qualification for veterinary nurses in Australia.
The Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing requires access to patients (animals), clients, medical and surgical cases, veterinary staff and practice policies and procedures. To achieve this qualification, you must have completed a minimum of 240 hours of work experience within a veterinary clinic. Access may be through either paid employment or substantial periods of work placement or work experience blocks.

Veterinary nurses are the backbone of every veterinary clinic. It’s a job that requires skill, dedication and a love for animals.
This qualification reflects the role of a veterinary nurse who works under the supervision of a registered veterinarian to provide nursing care to animals, to support veterinarians to carry out medical and surgical procedures and to support clients to maintain health of animals.

Face to face practical skills workshops are scheduled during the year (6 in total for the whole qualification).

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

Upon successful completion of ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, students will have gained skills and knowledge to seek employment as a veterinary nurse in the animal care industry.
The ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is the industry-standard qualification for veterinary nurses in Australia and enables successful candidates to register as a veterinary nursing in those states requiring registration.

ACM50117 Diploma of Animal Technology*
ACM50219 Diploma of Veterinary Nursing*
*These qulaifications are not currently offered at TAFE Gippsland

During our veterinary nursing course students will gain the skills and knowledge to assist in the veterinary animal care industry. This includes animal handling and providing nursing care, assisting veterinarians to carry out medical and surgical procedures, veterinary reception and office duties, clinical pathology procedures and imaging routines, providing advice to clients on the care, health and well-being of their animals, work health and safety, workplace communication and participating in work placement. Your duties as a vet nurse may include:
• Administering drugs, anaesthetics, and injections to animals
• Preparing animals for surgery
• Maintaining, sterilising, and laying out surgical equipment
• Providing advice to animal owners on caring for their pet.
• Record keeping
• Caring for, grooming, and exercising animal 'in-patients'.
The role of vet nurse may involve weekend, on-call and after hours work. This role also requires stamina and physical fitness to allow you to safely handle animals in the workplace.

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

Mandatory entry requirements:

Entry into this qualification is open to individuals who:
hold a Certificate II in Animal Studies (ACM20110 , ACM20117 OR ACM20121)
OR
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.

Recommended entry Requirements:

It is recommended that the student owns or has access to a minimum of two (2) different species of animals throughout the duration of this course, in order to meet their learning needs and support the achievement of assessment outcomes.

Limitations to course Entry:

Students are required to complete a minimum of 240 hours of work placement.
Students must have access to a reliable internet connection that will support video conferencing (e.g. Zoom, Collaborate etc.)
Students must have access to a computer or tablet that will support course work to be completed in our Learning Management System Moodle. This also needs to include a headset (integrated microphone and earphones).

Not applicable.

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: No

Turn your love for animals into a rewarding career with this industry-standard qualification for veterinary nurses in Australia.
The Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing requires access to patients (animals), clients, medical and surgical cases, veterinary staff and practice policies and procedures. To achieve this qualification, you must have completed a minimum of 240 hours of work experience within a veterinary clinic.
Access may be through either paid employment, substantial periods of work placement or work experience blocks.

Veterinary nurses are the backbone of every veterinary clinic. It’s a job that requires skill, dedication and a love for animals.
This qualification reflects the role of a veterinary nurse who works under the supervision of a registered veterinarian to provide nursing care to animals, to support veterinarians to carry out medical and surgical procedures and to support clients to maintain health of animals.

Face to face practical skills workshops are scheduled during the year (6 in total for the whole qualification).

Did you know: The Victorian Government has now made Free TAFE courses even more accessible for new students enrolling for study in 2024. All Free TAFE courses at TAFE Gippsland are now available to people with higher-level qualifications and those who have completed a previous Free TAFE course and are looking to continue in their selected training pathway. Conditions and eligibility rules apply. Check out our Free TAFE information page for further details.

Upon successful completion of ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, students will have gained skills and knowledge to seek employment as a veterinary nurse in the animal care industry.
The ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is the industry-standard qualification for veterinary nurses in Australia and enables successful candidates to register as a veterinary nursing in those states requiring registration.

ACM50117 Diploma of Animal Technology*
ACM50219 Diploma of Veterinary Nursing*
*These qulaifications are not currently offered at TAFE Gippsland

During our veterinary nursing course students will gain the skills and knowledge to assist in the veterinary animal care industry. This includes animal handling and providing nursing care, assisting veterinarians to carry out medical and surgical procedures, veterinary reception and office duties, clinical pathology procedures and imaging routines, providing advice to clients on the care, health and well-being of their animals, work health and safety, workplace communication and participating in work placement. Your duties as a vet nurse may include:
• Administering drugs, anaesthetics, and injections to animals
• Preparing animals for surgery
• Maintaining, sterilising, and laying out surgical equipment
• Providing advice to animal owners on caring for their pet.
• Record keeping
• Caring for, grooming, and exercising animal 'in-patients'.
The role of vet nurse may involve weekend, on-call and after hours work. This role also requires stamina and physical fitness to allow you to safely handle animals in the workplace.

Are there specified requirements for entry into the course/qualification?: Yes

Mandatory entry requirements:

Entry into this qualification is open to individuals who:
hold a Certificate II in Animal Studies (ACM20110 , ACM20117 OR ACM20121)
OR
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.

Recommended entry Requirements:

It is recommended that the student owns or has access to a minimum of two (2) different species of animals throughout the duration of this course, in order to meet their learning needs and support the achievement of assessment outcomes.

Limitations to course Entry:

Students are required to complete a minimum of 240 hours of work placement.
Students must have access to a reliable internet connection that will support video conferencing (e.g. Zoom, Collaborate etc.)
Students must have access to a computer or tablet that will support course work to be completed in our Learning Management System Moodle. This also needs to include a headset (integrated microphone and earphones).

Not applicable.

Will this course/qualification or a constituent unit provide a pathway to an industry licence or regulated outcome: No