A Student Veterinary Nurse, often known as an SVN, is someone in training to become a qualified veterinary nurse.

They usually wear a green and white stripey uniform with green trousers, but this can vary between veterinary practices with some students wearing blue, blue striped and even purple!

Most Student Veterinary Nurses have carried out an Animal Care or Animal Nursing Assistant course before starting their Veterinary Nurse training, though this isn’t always the case, but gives you a head start!

To be considered for a place on a course, you will need to obtain 5 GCSE Grades at Grade C and above (usually English, Maths and Science), and have completed at least 2 weeks of work experience within a veterinary setting.

The course can either be done through a full university course or through a diploma, carried out while you are working. Usually 1 day at college and the rest in the workplace, with block weeks to support this. The course takes around 3 years to complete.

Once confident, student nurses can do most of the things qualified veterinary nurses can do, under supervision!

Click the link to read more about the role of the Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN).