Course Overview

The animal care industry is experiencing growing demand, with an increasing need for more veterinary nurses to work in vet clinics and animal care centres. Veterinary nurses help assess, treat and care for a wide range of animals, working alongside veterinarians to ensure the best health and welfare outcomes for all breeds.

This diploma will prepare you with the skills and knowledge to provide surgical and medical veterinary nursing, and manage veterinary nursing services. You'll also learn how to perform diagnostic sampling and medical imaging.

Delivered in partnership with Otago Polytechnic, you'll apply and enrol through them and study the majority of the course online. You'll also attend compulsory on-campus blocks of study at our Windermere Campus in Tauranga.

Upon successfully completing the requirements you'll receive the award of:

• New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6)

General Eligibility

Entry criteria

• You must have the pre-requisite qualification New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5) (Veterinary Nursing Assistant) OR equivalent.

• Evidence of a companion veterinary clinic who will support the practical components of the course.

• Criminal Convictions History (via the Ministry of Justice), which is 6 months old or less, before the start date of your course (even if your report is clean we are required to sight this, your enrolment will be contingent on this report).  If you have studied with us in the previous year, supplied a criminal convictions report and are returning to the School of Veterinary Nursing, you will only need to make a declaration stating your history hasn’t changed since the previous report.

• If you don’t hold the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5) or equivalent but do have significant clinical veterinary experience, knowledge and skills, you may be eligible to have this experience assessed and applied towards the entry criteria for this course.

• International students will be individually assessed to ensure you meet the entry requirements. If English is not your first language, you must provide:

  • New Zealand University Entrance OR

  • Overall Academic IELTS 6.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR

  • Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).

Part Time Work Details

20 Hours of Work permit weekly for international students.

Language Requirement

• IELTS Academic score of 6 with no band score lower than 5.5 or completed New Zealand Certificate in English Language Level 4 with the Academic Endorsement or meets a relevant English Proficiency Outcome as outlined by NZQA.