To become a qualified Veterinary Nurse in Australia you need to complete  the national  Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing.

 There are three ways that you can achieve this qualification with Applied Vocational Training.

For more details of each program please read below

Full Time Program

Our full time program is recommended for all students who are able to spend a year attend class and practical training. It is our premium program and starts in February each year, students graduate in December the same year, ready for employment. Classes run for four terms, very similar to school terms.

Students attend college on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and attend practical training at a Veterinary Practice (that we arrange) on either Monday, Tuesday or Friday. The other weekday is free.

In this program students receive quality instruction and all students are studying the same units at the same time. We have a very high success rate with this program and most students will finish by December. Three vets and two nurses are involved as teachers. We normally take 2 classes of 20 students into this program each year. Most years over 80% of students have been offered employment or further studies by the end of the year. We have had students in this course ranging from turning 18 years of age to over 50 years old.
 

Part Time Program

Our part time Veterinary Nursing program runs with students attending classes at our College near Murdoch University. Students can attend any time from 5pm - 8.00 p.m. on a Wednesday evening or on a Tuesday afternoon from 1 - 4 pm. You do not have to attend every week or for the total time (some students will come in after finishing work). We find the more often students attend, the better they do. You may come on both days or just one.

This is a self-paced study program which is conducted through the use of study guides; enrolling one subject at a time. You work on these study guides using your textbooks whilst in class and during your own study time. There are no formal lectures and when you attend class your progress is reviewed and practical sessions can be organised. You are expected to finish your studies within three years, however students with sufficient time could finish in a one year period. Most students take around 2 years to complete the program. 

In addition to completing your theory modules, you are required to spend a total of 6 weeks gaining practical training and assessment in a Veterinary Hospital. Usually we ask you to attend for 3 sessions of a two week full time work practice throughout your training. This arrangement can be changed if needed to accommodate for your commitments. All practical work is organised by Applied Vocational Training through consultation with you. We try to use practices that are close to where you live. If you already have employment in a practice, then your practical training and assessment will occur in this practice. You are also required to attend several one day workshops held by us at Applied Vocational Training. These include practical sessions in areas such as Anatomy, Surgical Nursing and Radiography.
The workshops are held in the July and December holiday periods each year. You will need to attend on 9 days total during your course. You do not need to attend each July and December.

Correspondence Program

This program is designed for students not living in Perth or who have difficulty attending part time classes. Mostly are students in this program live outside of the city. Some of our students live interstate and we have several students overseas. The correspondence program operates the same way as the part time program, except that you do not attend classes and all of your study guides are sent to you by mail. (or can be downloaded off the internet) You work on these study guides using your textbooks and send your work in for assessment. Support is offered to you via the telephone or by email. You can start at any time of the year, our office is open during both the school terms and most holidays.

Correspondence students are welcome to attend part time classes at any time if they are in Perth and are free to join the part time program should they want more contact with a tutor. If at all possible, we like our correspondence students to attend the workshops we hold in Perth. These one day workshops (there are 8 in total) are held over a one week period twice yearly. It is possible for students to complete these workshops by coming to Perth for 2 one week periods during their course. For students who cannot attend these workshops (such as students living interstate or overseas), we will arrange equivalent practical training close to the area where you live. This will be in addition to your normal practical sessions at a veterinary hospital. As described for the part time program, you must attend a veterinary practice for at least 6 weeks during your training. This will be arranged in consultation with you, at a practice that is close to where you live (wherever possible). You need to have the assistance of a mentor if you choose to study by correspondence. This is a person that will support your studies and assist in supervising your assessments. This could be a family member or friend that is prepared to work with us in your training.