Veterinary Nurse – ANZSCO 361311

Veterinary Nurses care for animals under treatment and in temporary residence at veterinary facilities and assist Veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.

Skill Level

3

Alternative Titles

• Animal Nurse
• Veterinary Assistant

Skills Assessment Requirement

Unless you are exempt in very limited circumstances, you are required to have a positive Skills Assessment to apply for the visas listed above.

Skills Assessment authority for Veterinary Nurse is Vocational Education and Training Assess (VETASSESS). To have a positive skills assessment, you must meet the following criteria:

• AQF Certificate IV Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least one year of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or
• AQF Certificate IV Qualification that is not a highly relevant field of study AND at least two years post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years; or
• AQF Certificate III Qualification in a highly relevant field of study AND at least three years of post-qualification highly relevant employment at an appropriate skill level in the last five years.
• A highly relevant field of study is a course that has a major focus on veterinary nursing
• To achieve a positive skills assessment, the applicant must meet the qualification and employment experience requirements.

Important

According to VETASSESS, pre-qualification experience for Veterinary Nurses may be considered in a skills assessment if the experience meets the following requirements:

• Three years of relevant employment;
• One year of highly relevant employment performed at the required skill level; and
• The employment experience was gained in the last five years

Potential Visa Pathways for Veterinary Nurses

Group: 3613 Veterinary Nurses

Description

Care for animals under treatment and in temporary residence at veterinary facilities and assist Veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.

Tasks

• Holding animals to allow examination and treatment by Veterinarians
• Cleaning and sterilising examination tables and equipment
• Preparing instruments and handing them to the Veterinarian
• Assisting Veterinarians to administer anaesthetics and oxygen during operations
• Placing animals in cages for recovery from operations and monitoring their condition
• Giving medications to animals
• Maintaining stock control and records
• Providing animal care advice, and preparing, delivering, and reviewing animal care education programs
• May perform diagnostic laboratory tests
• May act as receptionist, accept payments and undertake clerical work

Skill Level

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with the qualifications and experience outlined below.
In Australia:
AQF Certificate III including at least two years of on-the-job training, or AQF Certificate IV (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

In New Zealand:
NZ Register Level 4 qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 3)

At least three years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualifications listed above. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification.

Occupations in this Group

• 361311 Veterinary Nurse