Level 2 Diploma Veterinary Care Assistants 2025-26

If you're looking for your start in the veterinary nursing industry, this is the course for you! This one year course will have you studying in our simulated veterinary practice surroundings, gaining experience in the college's animal unit and also earning real work experience from an industry placement.

There are over 4,000 veterinary practices in the UK alone. Veterinary nurses are vital to the running of a successful practice and responsible for working with veterinary surgeons to provide expert care and treatment to a variety of animals. The sense of purpose that comes from nursing an ill animal back to health makes becoming a veterinary nurse a highly rewarding career.

Important note: to be accepted onto this course, it is a requirement that students organise their own veterinary nursing placement before enrolment takes place in late August. Please read the 'Entry Requirements' section for more information on what this involves.

Topics include: Animal handling and restraint, health, hygiene and disease, animal emergencies and first aid, veterinary terminology, veterinary anaesthesia, medication, radiography, employment issues and health and safety in a veterinary practice.

Following successful completion of this course you may gain employment in the land-based sector as a veterinary care assistant. Progression to an apprenticeship in the animal care industry may also be an option to enable you to gain more experience working hands-on. You can also progress onto the Level 3 Diploma in Vet Nursing to gain registered veterinary nursing qualifications. Jobs you could progress into include:

• RCVS registered veterinary nurse assistant
• RCVS registered veterinary nurse
• Specialise in a range of topics, particularly in the care of exotic pets, feline medicine, anaesthesia or dentistry
• Work in specialist practices (feline, equine, reptile or large animal practices), emergency vet practices, referral practices orthopaedic, cardiology, oncology, ophthalmology) or veterinary/university hospitals
• Locum veterinary nurse
• Head veterinary nurse
• Veterinary practice manager
• Education
• Clinical coach
• Researcher
• Veterinary hydrotherapist
• Veterinary physiotherapist
• Veterinary supplies sales representative

Progression options following successful completion of this course may enable you to progress into employment as a veterinary care assistant in a veterinary practice, an apprenticeship in animal care or the level 3 diploma in vet nursing course.

Direct Entry: GCSEs at grade 4 or above in Maths and English, with at least a grade 3 in another subject.

To be accepted on to this course you will also require to have a work placement arranged in a RCVS approved veterinary practice for a minimum of 2 days per week for 1 year. This placement or employment must be confirmed between the student and the practice prior to enrolment on the course.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

East Durham College's Houghall Campus is committed to providing a supportive and welcoming environment for all our students. The campus, some of which is over 80 years old, has seen over £40m invested in new facilities over recent years. However, there are still some aspects of the site which are not fully accessible and would cause an issue for those with limited mobility or wheelchair users and due to the nature of the site, adjustments may not always be reasonable at this stage. The College is committed to further investment and improvements of the site, as we work towards ensuring the campus is as accessible as possible. If you have limited mobility or are a wheelchair user and wish to undertake a course at the Houghall Campus, please contact Student Services on 0191 375 4710 in the first instance to discuss your needs and options.

Practical sessions, seminars, self study and tutorials. Significant industry work experience at an established veterinary practice.

September 2025

One year, full time. Students attend college 2-3 days a week and complete a minimum of 16-hours a week work placement at a RCVS approved veterinary practice.