Veterinary nurse
Veterinary nurses support vets in the treatment and care of sick and injured animals.
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£32,000 a year
- Typical hours35 to 40 a week
What you'll do
As a veterinary nurse, you could:
- prepare animals for treatment and assist vets during procedures
- take X-rays, give injections and medication, and remove stitches
- care for in-patient animals
- keep the practice and equipment clean and hygienic
- talk to pet owners about treatment and care of their animals
- do reception and administrative duties
Working environment
You could work at a veterinary practice or at an animal welfare centre.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.
You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- customer service skills
- knowledge of animal health
- the ability to work well with others
- knowledge of biology
- the ability to work well with your hands
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a veterinary nurse
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
University
You can do a foundation degree or degree in veterinary nursing. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has a list of accredited courses .
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- at least 1 A level, or equivalent, for a foundation degree
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology for a degree
College
You can study for a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing at college.
You'll spend some time in the classroom and periods of training on placement in a veterinary practice.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has a list of approved training organisations offering the course.
Entry requirements
You'll need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
Apprenticeship
You can begin your career by doing a Veterinary Nurse Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship.
The training takes up to 3 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
Volunteering
You could get some work experience with a vet, local kennels or animal welfare centre before you start training. You could also try animal charities like the PDSA or RSPCA .
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass enhanced background checks
Career path and progression
With experience, you could:
- work as a supervisor or mentor new staff
- manage a practice
- move to a larger veterinary hospital
- lecture in veterinary nursing science
You might also move into zoo or wildlife park work or sales of veterinary supplies.
Professional and industry bodies
You can join the British Veterinary Nursing Association for training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
Registration
- you'll need to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Guides for this industry
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