Animal Industries Resource Centre

Personalised and Professional Education and Training (RTO Code 31424)

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Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Learn to provide expert veterinary nursing care and advance your career

Flexible Assessment and Study Options

Choose between remote live video, recorded video, and face to face assessment at your practice or a third party venue.

Outstanding Learning Support

Students are assigned dedicated trainers to help you work through your course. All trainers and assessors have up-to-date Vet Nurse qualifications and still work in practice.

Explore Funding Assistance

We can assist Queensland students to apply for co-contribution funding support in partnership with the Higher Level Skills Program. Eligible Queensland and Tasmanian students can apply for Traineeships.

Course Overview

This nationally recognised qualification is for students who wish to develop proficiency in providing expert veterinary nursing care for animals and professional support for their owners. You will develop personal and professional skills that are recognised and in demand by employers. ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is not only a nationally recognised qualification but also globally recognised.

Delivery Information

ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is a nationally recognised course that provides training in practical and technical skills relevant to the care and nursing of animals, and the underpinning knowledge required to apply those skills in a variety of workplace situations.

The course begins with animal care basics such as safety, communication and how animals work. You then move onto more advanced studies including client care, surgical nursing, medical nursing, radiography, pathology, anaesthesia, dentistry and reproduction.

ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is conducted as part-time correspondence based study. You will be given a study timetable upon enrolment which outlines your units of study, due dates and specific requirements for assessment. Extensive support materials (videos, lessons, journal articles and book chapters) are included to view/download. Upon successful completion of all course requirements, you will be awarded a Certifiate of Completion and an Academic Transcript which documents your individual outcomes.

You will be assigned to a Student Support Coordinator, who will be available for one on one student support. Your Student Support Coordinator will check in with you on a monthly basis, however will be available via email, phone or online text chat should you ever need help with your course.

Course Duration

2 years (including scheduled study breaks). NB:

  • This duration is based on student having 15 hours per week of paid employment in a veterinary facility
  • For students with fewer than 15 hours per week paid employment (10 hours is minimum requirement) the course duration will be adjusted accordingly

Average weekly commitment to the course is 25 hours per week. NB:

  • The weekly commitment is made up of:
    • Practice/demonstrate tasks in the workplace : 17 hours (usually done in parallel with your normal work duties)
    • Private study, revision, write theory assessments: 8 hours
  • This weekly commitment is based on student having 15 hours per week of paid employment in a veterinary facillity
  • For students with fewer than 15 hours per week paid employment (10 hours is minimum requirement) the weekly commitment will be adjusted accordingly

Course duration and weekly commitment shown above represents suggested times for a student who is a typical new entrant to the industry with little prior experience. These times may vary for you depending on credits, prior learning/experience or your individual work schedule.

Units of Study

A total of twenty one (21) Units of Competency must be achieved.
Complete all seventeen (17) Core Units and four (4) Elective Units.

ACMGAS307 Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work [Core unit]

  • Learn to identify animal anatomy and physiological functions of animals.

ACMGAS308 Communicate effectively with clients and team members [Core unit]

  • Learn the skills and knowledge required to communicate effectively with clients, a supervisor, team members and industry representatives.

ACMINF301 Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work [Core unit]

  • Covers how to comply with biosecurity and infection control policies and procedures in animal care workplaces and relevant field locations.

ACMVET202 Carry out daily practice routines [Core unit]

  • Develop the skills and knowledge required to assist in providing treatments for patients (animals) on a daily basis, to maintain practice hygiene and assist with inventory and practice security.

ACMVET401 Coordinate veterinary reception duties [Core unit]

  • Learn to coordinate and undertake patient admission and discharge, provide initial veterinary nursing care to patients (animals) and grief support to clients (animal owners).

ACMVET402 Apply imaging routines [Core unit]

  • Covers how to implement and complete imaging routines, including x-rays, ultrasound and endoscopes.

ACMVET403 Perform clinical pathology procedures [Core unit]

  • Learn how to collect biological samples and perform pathology procedures, including maintaining the integrity of samples and preparing consignments for diagnostic laboratories.

ACMVET404 Perform practice office procedures [Core unit]

  • Covers performing office procedures in a veterinary practice, including maintaining veterinary supplies, controlling stock, maintaining practice accounts, generating and responding to practice correspondence.

ACMVET405 Coordinate and perform surgical nursing routines [Core unit]

  • Learn to coordinate surgery schedules, prepare the surgical environment and provide support for the veterinary surgeon, including before, during and after routine and non-routine surgical procedures and monitoring patients (animals) while they are under anaesthesia.

ACMVET406 Nurse animals [Core unit]

  • Develop the skills and knowledge required to provide high quality nursing care for patients (animals) treated or housed in a veterinary practice. It includes providing advice to clients (animal owners), monitoring animals and providing animal first aid as required.

ACMVET407 Carry out medical nursing routines [Core unit]

  • Develop the skills and knowledge required to implement medical nursing routines, including the preparation and handling of patients (animals) and equipment for specific routines.

ACMVET408 Provide nutritional advice and support for animals [Core unit]

  • Covers the skills and knowledge to provide advice to animal owners about the nutritional requirements of specific animals, and support nutritional needs of hospitalised patients across a range of medical and surgical conditions.

ACMVET409 Provide specific animal care advice [Core unit]

  • Learn how to provide advice to clients (animal owners) about animal health, behaviour, disease and reproduction.

ACMVET410 Carry out veterinary dental nursing procedures [Core unit]

  • Develop the skills and knowledge required to perform dental prophylaxis and assist with simple extractions. Dental prophylaxis involves oral examinations of the conscious and anaesthetised patient, sub- and supra-gingival tooth scaling and polishing, and the subsequent development of a homecare plan, as well as assisting in the performance of simple dental extractions.

ACMVET413 Prepare for anaesthesia and monitor animal anaesthesia and analgesia [Core unit]

  • Covers how to prepare for and monitor anaesthesia and analgesics in animals for surgical and medical procedures.

ACMVET416 Assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons [Core unit]

  • Learn about how to prepare and assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons in a veterinary practice.

ACMWHS301 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes [Core unit]

  • Develop the skills and knowledge required to plan, support and contribute to work health and safety processes in an animal care environment.

ACMSPE304 Provide basic care of domestic dogs [Elective unit]

  • Learn how to identify dogs and their behavioural and physical needs, and provide daily care requirements.

ACMSPE305 Provide basic care of domestic cats [Elective unit]

  • Learn how to identify cats and their behavioural and physical needs, and provide daily care requirements.

ACMCAS302 Provide advice on companion animal selection and general care [Elective unit]

  • Covers the skills and knowledge required to provide advice to clients on the appropriate selection of companion animals, and on their housing, nutritional and other general care requirements.

ACMSPE302 Provide basic care of birds [Elective unit]

  • Covers the skills and knowledge required to identify birds and their behavioural and physical needs and provide daily care requirements.
  • Practical skills assessment for this unit requires a video submission

ACMSPE312 Provide basic care of rodents and rabbits [Elective unit]

  • Covers the skills and knowledge required to identify rodents and rabbits and their behavioural and physical needs, and provide daily care requirements.
  • Practical skills assessment for this unit requires a video submission

ACMSUS401 Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices [Elective unit]

  • Covers the process required to analyse the workplace in an effective manner in relation to environmentally sustainable work practices and to implement improvements and monitor their effectiveness.
  • Important: Recommended for students intending to study a Diploma of Veterinary Nursing in the future

ACMVET512 Develop and implement specific practice policies [Elective unit]

  • skills and knowledge required to develop, review, update and implement policies for specific practice needs and communicate them to practice personnel to ensure the sound management of the veterinary business.

ACMGAS302 Provide enrichment for animals [Elective unit]

  • This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide behavioural management and enrichment to stimulate, replenish and maintain appropriate behavioural patterns of animals. The unit applies to individuals working under supervision in the animal care industry where it may be necessary to provide enrichment activities for animals. The animals may be housed long-term in an animal care facility, being raised or prepared for sale, or rehoused prior to release into their native habitat.

This course is available in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. If you are in a different country, please contact us to discuss availability.

Australian residents may be eligible for government funded traineeships. Further details, including eligibility criteria, can also be obtained from the Animal Industries Resource Centre.

This course is suitable for those who are working within a veterinary facility and are wishing to gain a nationally recognised qualification as a Veterinary Nurse.

Veterinary nurses wanting to update their skills can also enroll into individual units and complete them via distance education.

To enrol in ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, students are required to be working as a veterinary nurse for a minimum of 8 hours per week in paid employment. Employment must be maintained for the duration of the course. If the student changes workplaces, a “Change of details” form is available online, on the course website.

The pre-requisites for this course include:

  • Be of at least 18 years of age
  • Have completed Year 10 or be a mature aged student
  • 20 hours per week of paid employment in a veterinary facility is recommended. A minimum of 10 hours per week of paid employment in a veterinary facility is required. Course duration and study schedule will be adjusted according to weekly working hours. 
  • Have one of the following:
    • Certificate II in Animal Studies
    • Equivalent skills and knowledge to the Certificate II in Animal Studies
    • A relevant Certificate III or higher qualification in an animal science discipline

We accept enrolments to this course on a weekly basis. To find out more information and access free career guidance, contact one of our education guides.

Fees

ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing is $7500 AUD Australia-wide.

  • No hidden costs, e.g. for assignment resubmissions and deferrals.
  • Price may reduce if there are Credit Transfers from previous qualifications.
  • For international pricing which includes face-to-face assessments, please contact us directly.

Please contact the Animal Industries Resource Centre to have your individualised pricing evaluated.

Fees are payable by credit card, bank transfer, money order, bank cheque or personal cheque. Payment plans can be arranged to meet your personal needs. More info on Ezypay Payment Plans.

This course is eligible for Australian Government Traineeships or Incentives. For further information see our Funding Options page.

Course Enquiry about Enrolment

Use the form below to:

  • Ask a question about the course, or
  • To enquire about enrolling.
    NOTE: to enrol with us in this course you must:
    • have paid employment for at least 10 hours per week (but > 20 hours preferred), 
      and
    • be working in a veterinary practice delivering veterinary services to customers.

Once we can confirm you are in the required work situation, then you may receive an offer of enrolment.

 

START YOUR ENROLMENT ENQUIRY HERE