New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6)

About the programme

If you want to be a Veterinary Nurse, this new pathway is the one for you. We currently offer a Companion Animal focus.

This new programme replaces the one-year New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5) (Veterinary Nursing Assistant) and the New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6). If you already hold the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5) (Veterinary Nursing Assistant), you’ll need to complete our one-year diploma.

During this programme, you’ll complete at least 750 hours of work placement.

You’ll graduate with the technical knowledge and skills you need to perform this role and will have a high level of responsibility, allowing you to operate in a wide range of dynamic settings.

You’ll be able to apply for registration on the New Zealand Register of Veterinary Nurses.

Career options are a Companion Animal Veterinary Nurse or Animal Research Technician. To widen your career options, you could study the third year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing at the end of this programme.

Entry

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• NCEA Level 2 or higher including:
  • a minimum of 12 credits in English at Level 2 or higher, and
  • a minimum of 12 credits in Maths at Level 1 or higher, and
  • a minimum of 12 credits of relevant Science (preferably Biology) at Level 1 or higher.
• Or New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3), New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4), or New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management (Level 4).
• Or a recognised equivalent.

Special and Discretionary Admission

• If you are 20 or above and do not meet the entry requirements, you are eligible for Special Admission.
• If you're under 20 and do not meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for Discretionary Admission.
• In both instances, we'll work through what that means with you to make sure you're ready for this programme.

Additional requirements 

All applicants must complete a health declaration and declaration of any criminal conviction to ensure fitness to practice before we accept you into this programme. 

Please note: Convictions of any offence and/or declaration of health conditions will not necessarily exclude you from being able to do this programme. Any decision is made on a case-by-case basis. 

English Language 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).

If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.