Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Entry requirements

Entry into this qualification is open to individuals who:

• hold a Certificate II in Animal Studies

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.

Selection criteria

Evidence must be provided to confirm completion of a Certificate II in Animal Studies, a Certificate III in Animal Studies, or other equivalent study/experience prior to determining eligibility into Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. Some additional training may be required if the recommended pathway from Certificate III in Animal Studies to Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is not followed.

Gold Coast
Gap training may be required to complete the Certificate IV Veterinary nursing qualification, which can take up to 21 months, and may require the faculty to be contacted to provide an individualised plan. You must have sufficient language, literacy, numeracy, computing and technical skills to achieve success in this course. Students will be required to complete the bksb English and Maths test prior to course commencement to identify any areas where they may require additional support to help them achieve their goals.

Resources required

You will be required to wear:

• long, hard wearing pants (no leggings)
• closed in, comfortable shoes as you will be on your feet for most of the day; and
• minimal jewellery (stud earrings, no necklaces, no acrylic or false nails, facial jewellery must be removed or taped over).

You must have a reliable internet connection to access TAFE Queensland's online learning system Connect, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Reader. Equipment and software is available for use at all TAFE Queensland locations, but it is strongly recommended that students have a personal computing device to enable them to participate in online activities and complete assessment tasks in their personal study time.

You will be provided with a recommended reading list and/or required textbooks at time of enrolment or during orientation. The purchase of these resources will incur additional costs. You may also be required to purchase uniform items including appropriate enclosed footwear and TAFE Queensland branded items. Details will be provided after enrolment or during orientation. The purchase of TAFE Queensland branded uniform items may incur additional costs.

You must have the required Animal Studies shirt prior to attending Vocational Placement or you will be unable to participate.

Placement

If you are not currently employed or volunteering in industry, during your course you will be required to complete vocational placement so you can start practising your new skills in a real-world environment. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays. TAFE Queensland may be able to assist in arranging suitable placements.

Completing placement is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You may be expected to travel up to one hour to attend your vocational placement facility and will be responsible for all costs associated with attending that facility. Due to limitations on placement availability, TAFE Queensland cannot guarantee proximity to your location.

You are required to complete 240 hours of placement to satisfy this component of your qualification.

Please note: prior to placement you may need to complete a Criminal History Check (yellow card); this will be confirmed by your course educator.

If your police check identifies that you have a criminal history, you may be disqualified from being eligible to undertake placement and assessment, which would affect your course outcomes. If you think this might impact you, please speak to the relevant Vocational Placement Coordinator for further information.

You will be responsible for any costs associated with meeting these placement requirements.

Working in certain jobs increases your exposure to some vaccine-preventable diseases. The National Health and Medical Research Council recommends the following vaccinations in line with the Queensland Government’s occupational immunisations for veterinary students;

• Rabies
• Q-fever
• Influenza
• Tetanus vaccine

Please note: Vaccination and serology evidence requirements may alter during your studies in accordance with changes to industry requirements and/or Australian Immunisation Guidelines. 

Need to know

Those students who have a medical contraindication may be unable to complete the vocational placement component of their course. This means you may not be able to meet all of the requirements of your course and may not be able to graduate or receive your qualification.

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Greater Brisbane Region - Bridging Program / Gap units for Cert IV Upgrade
The Bridging Program is available for applicants who have not completed all the required units in previous study. The units below are required to enter the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing Upgrade Program and may not have been included in other qualifications and/or streams of the Certificate III in Animal Studies, such as the Behaviour, Grooming and Wildlife streams at TAFE Queensland or qualifications undertaken through other registered training providers.

To commence the Cert IV Upgrade program, students will need to have successfully completed the following units:

• ACMVET202 Carry out daily practice routines
• ACMGAS307 Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work
• ACMGAS308 Communicate effectively with clients and team members
• ACMWHS301 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
• ACMGAS301 Maintain and monitor animal health and wellbeing
• ACMGAS303 Plan for and provide nutritional requirements for animals

In addition to the units listed above, students must also have successfully completed any two (2) of the following:

• ACMSPE304 Provide basic care of domestic dogs
• ACMSPE305 Provide basic care of domestic cats
• ACMSPE310 Provide basic care of mammals
• ACMSPE301 Provide basic care of amphibians
• ACMSPE302 Provide basic care of birds
• ACMSPE303 Provide basic care of common native mammals
• ACMSPE316 Provide general care of domestic dogs
• ACMSPE314 Provide general care of birds
• ACMSPE315 Provide general care of common native mammals
• ACMSPE316 Provide general care of domestic dogs
• ACMSPE317 Provide general care of domestic cats 
• ACMSPE320 Provide general care of mammals

Depending on your circumstances, we’ll help you develop a customised study plan to bridge the gap between your current qualifications and entry into the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing Upgrade Program.

These units will be delivered over a 10 week duration - classroom delivery studying between 2-6 units. Total fee will depend on how many units are required - cost per unit:

• Full fee - $954
• Subsidised fee - $575
• Concession fee - $575

Upgrade to Certificate IV Program
This option is available to students who have successfully completed the Certificate III in Animal Studies and Bridging Program units (if required) and wish to upgrade to the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

This Upgrade Program is delivered over a 12 month duration – classroom delivery for up to three days per week.

To achieve this qualification, the following core units will need to be successfully completed:

• ACMVET401 Coordinate veterinary reception duties​
• ACMVET403 Perform clinical pathology procedures​
• ACMVET405 Coordinate and perform surgical nursing routines​
• ACMVET408 Provide nutritional advice and support for animals​
• ACMVET409 Provide specific animal care advice​
• ACMVET416 Assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons
• ACMVET402​ Apply imaging routines​
• ACMVET404 Perform practice office procedures​
• ACMVET406 Nurse animals​
• ACMVET407 Carry out medical nursing routines​
• ACMVET410 Carry out veterinary dental nursing procedures​
• ACMVET413 Prepare for anaesthesia and monitor animal anaesthesia and analgesia

Completion of 240 hours of Vocational Placement is required as part of this qualification.

Fees for this Upgrade Program are as follows:

• Full fee from $11,450
• Subsidised fee $6,900
• Concession fee $6,900

South West Region - Bridging Program
Students who completed the Certificate II in Animal Care with TAFE Queensland or with another Registered Training Organisation, and wish to continue their studies in Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing will be required to complete additional units not listed in the ‘What you will study’ section . The additional units are required to cover essential learning not previously covered in the Certificate II in Animal Care.

• ACMWHS301 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes
• ACMINF301 Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work
• ACMGEN312 Provide nutritional requirements for animals
• ACMSPE304 Provide basic care of domestic dogs
• ACMGAS307 Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work
• ACMGAS308 Communicate effectively with clients and team members
• ACMSPE302 Provide basic care of birds
• HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid

There is an additional charge for these units that is not included in the overall course fee listed. Cost per unit is:

• Full fee - $954
• Subsidised fee - $575
• Concession fee - $575

Students may also choose to complete the Certificate III in Animal Care Services prior to commencing the Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing. This pathway option will see students completing the above listed units under the Certificate III program before they commence studies in the Certificate IV program.

Partnership with Greencross Vets
TAFE Queensland Gold Coast has partnered with Greencross Vets to give you the opportunity to experience hands on training at various veterinary clinics across the Gold Coast.

Students will be provided with a fully interactive learning experience, with a mix of face to face classes, online learning and clinical practice experience to be completed at the various allocated Greencross Vet clinics.

This is a 12 month course delivered 4 days per week as follows:

• 2 days per week at TAFE Queenland's Ashmore campus
• 2 days per week in an allocated Greencross Vet clinic

For further information please contact TAFE Queensland Gold Coast.