LIST OF
EDUCATION
PATHWAYS

In New Zealand there are many different education pathways to become qualified in veterinary nursing, veterinary technology, and allied animal healthcare. Below is a list of some of the pathways that are available now.

Veterinary Nursing

The pathway to become a qualified veterinary nurse includes:

• New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6) with strands in Companion Animal Veterinary Nursing, and Equine Veterinary Nursing.

The diploma is intended for people who want to work as a veterinary nurse in a clinical veterinary/animal healthcare setting such as companion animal veterinary clinics, equine veterinary clinics, or alongside veterinarians providing companion animal or equine healthcare services in a variety of settings. Graduates will have technical knowledge and skills to work as a veterinary nurse in a clinical veterinary setting. They will have a high level of responsibility and discretion within their scope of practice, in a wide range of dynamic and often unpredictable situations and following protocols in all aspects of clinical veterinary practice or animal healthcare settings. The qualification is stranded to recognise the specialist skills required for providing veterinary nursing care to either companion animal or equine veterinary practices.

• Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (Level 7, three years of full time equivalent study or one year for those already qualified with a diploma). Two NZQA versions: 4001 and 3995.

The purpose of the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing is to produce highly-skilled graduates who place veterinary nursing in a scientific, evidence-based framework and who have an holistic view of animal health within the broader context of environmental and human/societal well-being. This qualification will prepare individuals for a range of roles within the animal health industry and builds upon the skills embedded within the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5) and New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6) while at the same time placing them in a position to pursue further postgraduate study.

Historically, New Zealand had a Certificate in Veterinary Nursing (Level 5, one year of full time study) but this was discontinued in 2017.

Veterinary Technology

Massey University used to have a Bachelor of Veterinary Technology but this was discontinued around 2019.

Rural Animal

There are a range of rural animal qualifications and pathways:

• NZ Diploma in Rural Animal Veterinary Technology (Level 6, two years of full time study).

• NZ Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4) rural animal strand.

• NZ Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) rural animal strand;

• Historic qualifications include: NZ Certificate in Animal Technology Rural Animal Technician (Level 5) and the National Certificate in Rural Animal Technology (Level 4).

Equine

Equine pathways are relatively new to New Zealand.

• New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) equine.

• Future: NZ Diploma in Equine Veterinary Nursing (Level 6, two years of full time study).

• Future: NZ Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4) equine strand.

Animal Healthcare Assisting

The purpose of this pathway is to provide the animal healthcare sector with people who have technical knowledge and skills to assist in the provision of healthcare for animal patients, working in collaboration with clients and multidisciplinary animal healthcare teams, and following protocols in all aspects of clinical veterinary practice or animal healthcare settings. Graduates will have the technical knowledge and skills to assist veterinarians and veterinary nurses in a clinical veterinary setting. They will work under broad supervision, or guidance, within their scope of practice, in a wide range of dynamic and often unpredictable situations. This qualification is stranded to recognise the specialist skills required for providing healthcare assisting to either companion animal, equine, or rural animal veterinary practice.

Qualifications currently include:

• NZ Cert Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4, one year of full time study) companion animal, equine, and rural animal strand options.

Historically New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5) with Veterinary Nursing Assistant Strand (discontinued).

New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care L3 (FT and PT) (PT, FT). Student enquiries to: marketing@nta.co.nz NZ Cert in Animal Care (Level 3) (Companion Animals); NZ Cert in Animal Technology (Level 5) (Veterinary Nursing Assistant); NZ Cert in Animal Technology (Level 5) (Rural Animal Technician); NZ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6); Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (third year) with EIT in 2023 we are planning to offer NZ Cert Animal Care Companion, Equine and Rural; NZ Cert Animal Healthcare Assisting Companion (and plan for Equine and Rural in 2024); NZ Dip Veterinary Nursing Companion (and plan for Equine in 2024); NZ Dip Rural Animal Veterinary Technology. We may offer NZCAM grooming from mid 2023, and Equine Dental Technology and Animal Physical Rehabilitation from 2024.
Student enquiries to: vetnursing@op.ac.nz

Animal Management

This qualification is designed for people who intend to work in a role managing the day-to-day care, welfare and/or training of animals in settings such as breeding facilities, quarantine facilities, rehabilitation facilities, animal rescue centres, pet grooming facilities, boarding facilities, commercial pet shops, public aquariums, and zoos. Graduates will have the technical knowledge and skills to manage the day-to-day animal care and husbandry operations in an animal facility, under broad supervision, or guidance. This qualification is stranded to recognise the specialist skills required for managing care and husbandry within the contexts of companion animal; fish, amphibian and reptile; canine behaviour and training; pet grooming; and zookeeping facilities; and to promote a positive welfare state for animals.

• 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.

• Bachelor of Applied Science (Animal Management and Welfare, Level 7).

Animal Care

This pathway is for people who want to enter an animal related field, and who intend to work in a role assisting with the care of animals in a non-production context in settings such as rural blocks, animal rescue centres, boarding facilities, and animal recreation businesses. Graduates will have the skills, knowledge, and attributes to assist with the care of animals under limited supervision. This qualification is stranded to recognise the specialist skills required for assisting with care and husbandry within the contexts of companion animals, equine, and rural animals. Qualifications include:

• NZ Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) companion animal, rural animal, and equine.

Allied Animal Healthcare

This qualification is intended for people who are aware of the importance of animals in society, and who intend to practise as part of the multidisciplinary animal healthcare team within a diverse range of clinical environments. Graduates will have technical knowledge and skills to work as an animal healthcare technician in a clinical veterinary setting. They will have a high level of responsibility and discretion within their scope of practice, in a wide range of dynamic and often unpredictable situations. The qualification is stranded to recognise the specialist skills required for providing canine and equine rehabilitation or equine dental technician services.

• Future: New Zealand Diploma in Animal Healthcare Technology (Level 6) with strands in Canine and Equine Rehabilitation Technology, and Equine Dental Technology.