How to become a TP (Training Practice)

The information provided below intends to answer any questions veterinary practices might have about becoming a Training Practice (TP). You can also download a copy of the TP Leaflet. (PDF 439Kb)

Please click on the any of the following links or scroll down the page.

Why should I train a veterinary nursing student?

What different training routes are there?

How do I go about getting training practice approval?

What is a VNAC?

What resources do we need to be a training practice?

Do the practice staff require any special training or experience?

How much time will it take up?

Why is the veterinary nursing qualification linked to NVQs?

How much will it cost me to train veterinary nurses?

What does the RCVS do?

Why should I train a veterinary nursing student?

To clients, the supportive care of their sick animal is often important. Expert and sensitive support is therefore a key aspect of developing and retaining client loyalty to a practice.

Many young people are interested in pursuing a career in animal health. Veterinary nursing offers a variety of different career pathways, although most qualified veterinary nurses elect to remain in general practice. Student veterinary nurses are usually highly motivated and keen both to offer a high standard of care for patients in the practice and to progress in their careers.

By offering training you will benefit directly from the student nurse's contribution to your practice as an employee. The provision of VN training will also encourage your practice staff to keep up-to-date with relevant knowledge and skills which must be passed on to your student.

Qualified nurses are keen to gain experience in training practices and to take part in VN training. Once qualified, your trainee may remain with you to consolidate her experience and help develop veterinary nursing services within the practice.

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What different training routes are there?

Veterinary nurses train is two ways. The majority gain qualifications and experience whilst employed as student nurses by a veterinary practice. Training for this vocational route takes two years, during which time the employing practice provides clinical training and supervision enabling students to gain National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs).

Many veterinary nurses train as undergraduates. These students also gain experience, and are assessed, in clinical veterinary practice. This can be via paid or unpaid placements.

A veterinary practice could become involved in either type of training (or both) by becoming an RCVS-approved Training Practice.

How do I go about getting training practice approval?

You will need to apply to a RCVS Veterinary Nurse Approved Centre (VNAC) to become an associated training practice. Download the List of VNACs

The Approved Centre will provide you with an application form and the criteria to be met for approval. Once you have completed your application, the Head of Centre will arrange for your practice to be visited. This visit will confirm your facilities and case-load and will also enable the visitor to discuss the ways in which the VNAC will assist you to provide good VN training.

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What is a VNAC?

A Veterinary Nursing Approved Centre is an organisation approved by the RCVS to manage veterinary nurse training and assessment. Most VNACs are colleges, training providers or larger groups of veterinary practices. A VNAC provides training and assessment through working in partnership with veterinary practices which train VN students.

The VNAC is accountable to the RCVS for ensuring that training and assessment meets nationally agreed standards. It does this through supporting practice staff and actively monitoring training and assessment which takes place in its associated practices. This process is called internal verification.

Internal verifiers are experienced and suitably qualified veterinary surgeons (MRCVS) or listed/registered veterinary nurses who monitor the work of practice-based assessors. They are employed by the VNAC. An Internal verifier will periodically visit your practice in order to observe your student being assessed, audit portfolio evidence and check records of assessment kept by the practice.

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What resources do we need to be a Training practice?

You need a reasonably well-designed practice that will enable a student veterinary nurse to learn safe and effective nursing skills. In general , this means that you must have a consultation room, an aseptic operating theatre with separate preparation area, kennels for in-patients and diagnostic facilities (radiography and basic laboratory). If your practice is RCVS Practice Standards Scheme accredited tier 2 or 3 you will have the required facilities. In addition you must have a reasonably varied and busy case load.

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Do the practice staff require any special training or experience?

The staff who will be teaching your student should have a high level of skill in small animal care and possess sufficient maturity to be able to coach and support a junior member of the practice staff. Although it is not mandatory, it is strongly recommended that a listed/registered veterinary nurse should take an active part in VN training.

You will need to ensure that either a veterinary surgeon or listed/registered veterinary nurse is available to assess your student's progress and provide regular feedback. Any veterinary surgeon or listed VN who wishes to work as an assessor but does not hold the required A1 qualification (or D32/33) will be exected to enrol on a suitable course and complete within twelve months. Your VNAC (see below) will expect him/her to attend assessor support meetings approximately three times a year.

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How much time will it take up?

The training and assessment of your student will be an active process. You will need to ensure that at least one member of your practice staff is able to lead your student's training and assess his/her practical skills from day to day.

The RCVS stipulates that you make at least three hours per week available for training and assessing your student. Most of this time will be spent teaching skills "on the job" and assessing progress, however some time will need to be spent in planning practical teaching and experience and formally reviewing your student's performance.

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Why is the veterinary nursing qualification linked to NVQs?

NVQs are nationally recognised qualifications which must comply with rigorous standards of quality assurance, overseen by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. In addition to providing nurses with a widely recognised and quantifiable qualification, these awards attract public funding through the Learning and Skills Council and form the basis of training schemes such as Modern Apprenticeships. This funding provides extensive subsidies for college-based veterinary nursing courses and enables eligible students to receive subsidised enrolment and examination fees.

Although employing veterinary surgeons do not see this money "up front" it is none the less important. The average veterinary nurse student receives upwards of £1,500 in training subsidies. This financial support would not be available for a qualification which remained outside the national system of quality assurance.

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How much will it cost me to train veterinary nurses?

Clearly, training a student nurse incurs costs to the practice. These will include:

• Your student's salary which must comply with National Minimum Wage legislation where applicable.

• The cost of time spent providing tuition and assessment in the practice

• The initial cost of training your assessor 

• The cost of internal verification visits from your VNAC

• A contribution to your student's enrolment, college and examination fees.

This may sound a lot, however the majority of students are eligible for Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funding which will subsidise their training fees either fully or in part. Your VNAC may also receive funding to assist with assessor training.

Please note that fees vary by region and we are therefore unable to give any specific information. Your VNAC will be able to provide you with further advice and assistance.

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What does the RCVS do?

The RCVS, as awarding body for veterinary nurses and NVQs, must ensure that training and assessment meet national standards. It therefore approves suitable organisations to be centres for VN training and sets the criteria necessary to provide work-based training in a veterinary practice.

The RCVS must continuously monitor standards of training and assessment in its VNACs. It does this through visiting centres and a sample of their associated practices each year. During visits, the students' assessment portfolios are monitored and students and centre staff are informally interviewed. Systems of record-keeping are scrutinised and some assessors will be visited at their practices. The RCVS visitor is known as an external verifier; he or she is an experienced and suitably qualified veterinary surgeon or listed/registered VN.

In addition to external verification, the RCVS holds independent examinations several times per year for student veterinary nurses. These examinations, taken at the end of levels 2 and 3, are an important way of ensuring that all veterinary nurses reach a similar standard of knowledge and skill before receiving their S or NVQ certificates and, ultimately, entering the VN Register.

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