Traineeships in Veterinary Nursing

A traineeship is the ideal blend of formal education and practical experience, where a student (trainee) is employed at a veterinary practice during their studies. AVT is approved to offer funded traineeships for the ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing under a contract with the Department of Training and Workforce Development (DTWD)→

Generous employer incentives may be available for eligible new entrant trainees

Starting Out

Traineeship & Course Delivery

Employer Incentives

Frequently Asked Questions

Why choose a Traineeship for Veterinary Nursing?

For Employers:

  • Grow Your Team – Train staff to meet your clinic’s specific needs.

  • Government Incentives – Access generous wage subsidies and funding support.

  • Hands-On Learning – Trainees gain skills while contributing to daily operations.

  • Flexible Delivery – Online study, live virtual training, and workplace-based training reduce time away from the job

For Trainees:

  • Earn While You Learn– Get paid as you work toward a nationally recognised qualification.

  • Real-World Experience– Build practical skills in a professional veterinary setting.

  • Government Support – Receive up to $5,000 in direct payments to support your training.

  • Career Progression – Start your path to becoming a fully qualified veterinary nurse.

For Employers: Steps to Engage a Veterinary Nurse Trainee

Identify a Suitable Trainee

  • Hire a new employee or identify an existing full-time, part-time or casual employee who meets eligibility.
  • Ensure the individual meets the entry requirements, including completion of a Certificate II in Animal Care or equivalent knowledge and experience (AVT can assist in assessing this).

Contact an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider (ACAP)

  • ACAP providers include MEGT, Apprenticeship Support Australia, and Apprenticeship Community.
  • Nominate your and your employee’s preferred training provider.

Training Contract Setup

  • The ACAP provider will help create a Training Contract between the employer, trainee, and AVT.
  • Once the contract is signed and registered with Jobs & Skills WA, the training provider will be notified and onboarding is underway.

AVT Application and Enrolment

  • The trainee submits an application to AVT to be accepted into the course.
  • AVT assesses eligibility, capacity to study at the required level and completes enrolment steps.
  • Upon meeting all criteria, the trainee is formally accepted.

For Future Trainees: Steps to Get Started

Check Your Eligibility

Find an Employer

If you do not already have an employment offer from a current or prospective veterinary clinic your next step is to:

  • Look for employment in a veterinary clinic that is willing to support your training and sign a traineeship contract.

Setup a Training Contract

Together with your employer you will:

  •  Contact an ACAP provider to start the training contract process.
  • Nominate AVT as your chosen Registered Training Organisation (RTO).

Submit your Application to AVT

  • Submit an online application to AVT
  • Once confirmed, and the contract is in place, your traineeship can begin with access to online learning, live virtual classes and on the job training.

Traineeship delivery

The ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is completed through a traineeship model, combining workplace-based learning with formal, structured training delivered by AVT. Once AVT has accepted the nomination and the Training Contract is signed and registered with Jobs and Skills WA, the trainee’s formal training will begin with the next available intake. This may occur immediately or within a few months, depending on the time of year.

Traineeship Duration

3 years
Formal AVT Training: 18 months
Completion: Trainees are not required to take 3 years. Early completion is an option if AVT and employer agree all competencies are met.

Formal Training

Online coursework
Live virtual classroom sessions: 3 hours per week during term.
Workplace visits: Qualified AVT trainers will visit to observe skills, provide feedback, and support training and assessment.

AVT provides ongoing individualised support until the trainee meets all competency requirements.

Important: Attending scheduled live virtual classroom sessions is compulsory under Jobs and Skills WA funding conditions. A trainee’s attendance is also essential for successful progression through the course.

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Traineeship Commitments

For a traineeship to be successful, both the employer and the trainee have key responsibilities. By working together and meeting these commitments, they help create a supportive, hands-on learning environment that enables the trainee to build real-world skills and knowledge.

Employer Commitments

  • Nominate a qualified workplace supervisor to guide the trainee.
  • Provide on-the-job training aligned with the course requirements.
  • Provide access to suitable veterinary procedures and environments for assessment.
  • Allow the trainee time during work hours for course work and approx. 3 hrs/week for live online classes.

Trainee Commitments

  • Attend and participate in all required live virtual classes.
  • Complete online coursework and assessments on time.
  • Apply practical skills in the workplace under supervision.
  • Communicate regularly with AVT and participate in scheduled workplace assessments.

Employer incentives

Employers who sign up a new entrant trainee may be eligible for:

  • Commonwealth Priority Hiring Incentive: ranging from $3,000 to $5,000*
  • Jobs and Skills WA Employer Incentive: maximum of $6,375*
  • WA State Priority Occupation List (SPOL) loading: 10% loading*
  • Additional loadings for regional employers: ranging from 10% to 20% loading*
  • Exemption of payroll tax on trainee wages where applicable including top-up incentive payments if the payroll tax exemption saving is less than the incentive payment. 
Employer Incentive Fact Sheet

What is a new entrant trainee?

  • A new employee, or

  • An existing employee who has been employed:

    Less than 3 months full-time, or
    Less than 12 months part-time or casual

*Eligibility criteria apply and we cannot guarantee your business will qualify for government benefits, including incentive payments and / or payroll tax exemptions or rebates.

Frequently asked questions

Employers who sign up a new entrant trainee may be eligible for:

  • Commonwealth Priority Hiring Incentive (ranging from $3,000 to $5,000*)
  • Jobs and Skills WA Employer Incentive (maximum of $6,375*)
  • WA State Priority Occupation List (SPOL) loading (10% loading*)
  • Additional loadings for regional employers (10%-20%)
  • Exemption of payroll tax on trainee wages where applicable including top-up incentive payments if the payroll tax exemption saving is less than the incentive payment

*Eligibility criteria apply and we cannot guarantee your business will qualify for government benefits, including incentive payments and/or payroll tax exemptions or rebates.

Commonwealth Government Support Eligible trainees enrolled in a priority occupation (such as Veterinary Nursing) may access the Australian Apprentice Training Support Payment:

  • Up to $5,000 for full-time trainees
  • Up to $2,500 for part-time trainees

These payments are made directly to the trainee to help cover training-related costs.

  • New entrant traineeship: The trainee has been employed by the business for 3 months or less (full-time) or 12 months or less (part-time/casual) before starting the traineeship.
  • Existing worker traineeship: The trainee has been employed longer than the above timeframes before commencing the traineeship.

🟢 Only new entrant traineeships are eligible for government funding.

AVT holds a Jobs and Skills WA contract to deliver this qualification with significant government subsidies. Indicative student fees range from $800 to $1,900, depending on the trainee’s age and enrolment date.

That is entirely up to the employer and the trainee. Either party may choose to cover the full or partial cost.

For an overview and more detailed information about the course see our Qualifications Page→

To be eligible to apply for the ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, the trainee must:

  • Have completed the ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care, or
  • Hold an equivalent qualification (AVT can assist with this assessment), or
  • Have sufficient skills and knowledge equivalent to a Certificate II level, gained through experience in a relevant animal care facility
  • Meet AVT selection criteria

Note: AVT may assess a prospective trainee’s eligibility even if they do not hold a formal qualification, provided we can determine they have adequate experience and knowledge in the animal care industry.

Apprentice Connect Australia Providers are contracted by the Australian Government to support employers, undertake the Training Contract signup and registration and administer any Australian Government Employer Incentive payments. See our resources section below for links. 

At the completion of an apprenticeship, a top-up payment may be claimed by an employer of a trainee whose payroll tax exemption is less than the incentive payment. Employers can apply for a top-up payment at the end of the term of the apprenticeship and will be required to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate the amount claimed for payroll tax exemption.

Traineeships are generally shorter in length and focused on broad range of vocational training across various industries (like animal care), while apprenticeships are typically for traditional trades and often take longer to complete (e.g. plumbing, electrical).

Resources

For further information on how to apply for Commonwealth government incentives and subsidies, including eligibility, contact one of the following Apprentice Connect Australia Providers (ACAP):

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The leader in delivery of Australian Nationally Recognised Qualifications including ACM20121 Certificate II in Animal Care (formerly Animal Studies), ACM30122 Certificate III in Animal Care Services, ACM40818 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing and ACM40322 Certificate IV in Animal Behaviour and Training.
Applied Vocational Training (AVT) delivers a range of qualifications and short courses for students wishing to pursue a career working with animals. 

AVT is a Registered Training Organisation based in Perth, Western Australia, providing on-campus and online courses to students studying throughout Australia. More about us →

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