New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Companion Animal Veterinary Nursing)

Note: As a subsidiary of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, UCOL Te Pūkenga is committed to providing the best learning outcome for you. As part of this, all programmes are currently being reviewed to make them portable, consistent, and closely aligned with the needs of the industry. When published, this course information is correct, but the courses offered may change over time. If you have any questions call an Enrolment Advisor on 0800 468 265.

Course content must include cats and dogs. Content may include rabbits, rodents and birds.

This programme consists of 240 credits. 

• Academy 2 Day New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care
• New Zealand Certificate in Study and Employment Pathways (Level 4) (Health Science Field)
• New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Companion Animal Healthcare)
• New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Companion Animals)

• An animal housing facility with appropriate cages and housing for daytime housing of all animals used and onsite overnight housing facilities for some companion animals.
• Practical handling room and mock surgery.
• Appropriate husbandry equipment such as dog bath, feeding, grooming equipment and restraint devices.
• A handling facility with an examination/practical room either on or offsite.
• Access to cats, dogs, rabbits, companion animals and birds
• Access to the science labs including
• Microscopes and basic microbiological laboratory equipment.
• Incubators and water baths.
• Histology and parasitology specimens, slides and equipment.
• Diagnostic testing equipment.
• Anaesthetic and surgical equipment.
• Access to the Xray labs including working Xray machines, safety equipment, grids, film, radiographic phantoms and viewing equipment.
  

To be admitted to this programme, applicants must meet the following academic admission requirements:

NCEA Level 2 or higher including a minimum of:

• 12 credits in English at Level 2 or higher
  
• 12 credits in Mathematics at Level 1 or higher
• 12 credits of relevant science (preferably Biology) at Level 1 or higher

OR

this qualification may build on the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4) with strands in Companion Animal Healthcare, Equine Healthcare and Rural Animal Healthcare; or the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management (Level 4) with strands in Canine Behaviour and Training; Companion Animals; Fish, Amphibians and Reptiles; Pet Grooming, and Zookeeping; or the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care with strands in Companion Animal, Equine, and Rural Animals (Level 3)

OR

A recognised equivalent.

In addition to meeting the requirements for admission, all applicants must complete a health declaration and declaration of any criminal conviction to ensure fitness to practice prior to acceptance into the programme. 

Note: Convictions of any offence and/or declaration of health conditions will not necessarily exclude applicants from enrolment. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the delegated authority.

Applicants for whom English or te reo Māori is not a first language are required to provide proof of English proficiency. 

For more information about NCEA Credits see the UCOL NCEA explained page.

In addition to the Domestic Entry Requirements, the following applies to international student applicants.

English language proficiency
International students for whom English or te reo Māori is not a first language will need to provide evidence that they have an IELTS score of 6.0 (general or academic) with no individual band lower than 5.5 from one test taken in the preceding two years, or an equivalent described in NZQA Rules.

Under 20 years of age
In addition to this, international applicants under 20 years of age must have NCEA equivalency.

To optimise chances of student success, 100% attendance is required for all practical classes and work placements.  It is also strongly recommended for all theory classes. 

Practical requirements: students must be able to carry out physical activities within the Animal Room and work placement to fulfil the requirements of the programme. Students must also have no objection to working with animals, dissection of animal body parts, body fluids and cadavers. UCOL reserves the right to decline entry to the programme should an applicant's physical ability or squeamishness prevent them carrying out practical activities required to fulfil the requirements of the programme. These practical requirements will be discussed and confirmed by staff when contacting students.

Clinical placements
All learners are required to complete work placements of at least 500 hours in a veterinary clinic setting.  It is likely the placement will be out of the Manawatū region. Out-of-region placements are sourced by the student in consultation with the Programme Leader. Highest priority for local placement are students who are single parents of children under the age of 5. Not having a car, drivers licence or having work commitments or animals to care for is not sufficient to be considered priority for local placement. This means that you are very likely to be required to undertake your clinical placement outside the wider Manawatu region therefore you will have additional costs relating to your travel and accommodation.

Recognition of prior learning
Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning, including Cross Credit, Credit Transfer and Assessment of Prior Learning may be made on the Recognition of Prior Learning Form where a student believes all learning outcomes for a course have already been met. Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the UCOL Te Pūkenga Academic Statute and other relavant policies and procedures.

Application checklist
It will make the process easier if you prepare the following before you apply:

• National Student Number (NSN) (If you don't have a NSN, you may request one from NZQA, or you can supply a verified copy of your birth certificate, passport or Whakapapa statement.)
• Evidence of your highest level of academic achievement (and evidence of prior learning, if applicable)
• Evidence that you meet the entry requirements of the programme
• Check if you're eligible for additional support or a scholarship. If you're 19 years or younger, you may be eligible to enrol in one of our free Youth Transition programmes.

Note that you will need to provide any verified documents in person, via post or email (not via the online application form).