City & Guilds go-ahead for Level 3 VN Diploma

The Veterinary Nurses Council has approved City & Guilds to award a Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.

This means that there are now two awarding institutions approved by the College to deliver vocational veterinary nursing qualifications that will lead to registration: City & Guilds and Central Qualifications.

“It’s great news that VN training centres now have a choice of vocational qualifications for their students,” says Kathy Kissick, Chairman of the VN Council.

“All veterinary nursing students – vocational or higher education – will continue to enrol with the College to ensure that they can legally carry out veterinary medical treatments (and assist with minor surgical procedures) during the course of their studies,” she adds.

As with any new veterinary nursing or veterinary qualification, both City & Guilds and Central Qualifications are approved provisionally, with full approval being considered once a cohort of students has been examined to a satisfactory standard, on completion.

The College’s own VN awarding body is in the process of being wound down following the Veterinary Nurses Council decision to focus on the regulatory aspects of veterinary nurse training, rather than the delivery of qualifications.

The College is, however, supporting students currently enrolled on its Level 3 Diploma, and will do so until they either qualify or the award’s Ofqual approval comes to an end.