New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing

Te Pukenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology

Subject area

Veterinary Assisting

Qualification

Check out Fees Free to see whether you are eligible for a year of fees-free study or two years industry training. Contact your provider to confirm your study options meet the criteria.

Entry requirements

TEOs offering programmes leading to this qualification must:

Ensure currency with amendments to, and replacements of, relevant legislation, regulations, and codes of practice which may include some or all of the following: Veterinarian's Act 2005; Animal Welfare Act 1999; Biosecurity Act 1993, Health and Safety at Work Act 2015; Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996; Resource Management Act 1991; Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997, Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, Privacy Act 2020.

Abide by Animal Welfare Act 1999 Part 6 legislating ethics surrounding use of animals in learning and teaching, including seeking Animal Ethics Committee Approval where applicable.

Providers must ensure learners complete health declaration and declaration of any criminal convictions to ensure fitness to practice.

A Programme Guidance document is available on request from Muka Tangata Workforce Development Council - qualifications@mukatangata.nz.

The Graduate Outcomes of this qualification align with the Allied Veterinary Professional Regulatory Council (AVPRC) Graduate Competencies available from: www.avprc.org.nz.

About the course

What can I expect out of this qualification?

This qualification is intended for people who are aware of the importance of animals in society, and who intend to work as a veterinary nurse in clinical veterinary/animal healthcare settings such as companion animal veterinary clinics, equine veterinary clinics, or alongside veterinarians providing companion animal or equine healthcare services in a variety of settings.

Graduates will have technical knowledge and skills to work as a veterinary nurse in a clinical veterinary setting. They will have a high level of responsibility and discretion within their scope of practice, in a wide range of dynamic and often unpredictable situations and following protocols in all aspects of clinical veterinary practice or animal healthcare settings.

The qualification is stranded to recognise the specialist skills required for providing veterinary nursing care to either companion animal or equine veterinary practices.

Graduates may be eligible to apply for registration with the Allied Veterinary Professional Regulatory Council of New Zealand.