New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6)

Course details

Feb 2025
Two years
Full-time
$8,508* per year
You may qualify for fee-free study under Fees Free Policy
Level 6
Available for International Students. International Fee Guideline
Hamilton Rotokauri Campus

Summary

Students in this programme will develop skills in the care, management, handling, and nursing of a range of companion animals in a clinical environment. Students will learn to manage patients and clients, and follow protocols in all aspects of clinical veterinary practice.

Students will get daily opportunities to care for and handle companion animals in a purpose-built Wintec facility that houses commonly kept companion animals. They will also gain exposure to the on-site vet clinic while studying.

The programme includes 240 hours of work experience (in addition to the hours on the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5)) and will prepare graduates for employment.

Please note: It is a requirement of this programme that you have a form of transport and/or someone that can transport you around the Waikato/Waipa areas to complete your work placement hours each week. We cannot guarantee you will be able to complete hours within your area of residence.

View programme modules

Module code	Module name	Level	Credits	Pre-requisites
ANML5001	Veterinary Nursing Practice	5	15
ANML5002	Anatomy and Physiology	5	15
ANML5103	Animal Husbandry and Behaviour	5	15
ANML5104	Companion Animal Practicum I	5	15
ANML5105	Introduction to Anaesthesia and Analgesia	5	15	ANML5002
ANML5106	Introduction to Medical Nursing	5	15	ANML5002
ANML5107	Introduction to Surgery and Diagnostics	5	15	ANML5002
ANML5108	Companion Animal Practicum II	5	15	ANML5001 ANML5002 ANML5103 ANML5104
ANML6101	Anaesthesia Management and Emergencies	6	15	ANML5105 ANML5107
ANML6102	Medical Nursing and Diagnostics	6	15	ANML5106 ANML5107
ANML6103	Companion Animal Practicum III	6	30	ANML5108
ANML6104	Surgical Nursing and Dentistry	6	15	ANML5107
ANML6105	Imaging and Veterinary Nursing Services	6	15
ANML6106	Companion Animal Practicum IV	6	30	ANML6103

Application process

Apply online or download and complete an Application to Enrol Form.
Complete the online Self-Disclosure Form. If you have applied in hard copy, you will also need to complete a Self-Disclosure Form, if you have applied online this form is included as part of the online application process.
If applying in hard copy, and if you are unsure that you meet the entry criteria, complete the online Additional Information Form. This will enable us to assess your application further.
If you have them, provide us with certified copies of your prior academic transcripts. Find out more about supporting material for enrolment here.
We may also need to verify your identity (your legal name and date of birth) as well as your residency status. If you’re a domestic student we may be able to do this through your National Student Number (NSN); if we can’t, we will need you to provide evidence of this by supplying verified copies of your birth certificate or passport.

Once you have submitted your application

You will receive confirmation that your application has been received and we will let you know if there is anything further that we need from you.
Your application will be assessed and we will let you know the outcome.
If you are accepted to study you will be sent an enrolment offer letter - you will need to accept this to confirm your place on the Programme. Click here to find out more about enrolment and accepting your offer.

Career/further opportunities

Graduates may be employed in a veterinary clinic as a veterinary nurse.

Events

Disclaimers

* Fees disclaimer applies

Entry criteria

Academic admission

NCEA Level 2 or higher including a minimum of:

12 credits in English at Level 2 or higher,
12 credits in Mathematics at Level 1 or higher,
12 credits of relevant science (preferably Biology) at Level 1 or higher.

Or,

This qualification may build on the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4), or the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Management (Level 4), or the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care.

Or,

A recognised equivalent.

Special admission

Any ākonga who is 20 years of age or older and has not reached the general admission requirements is eligible for special admission. Kaimahi work with the ākonga to ensure they are prepared for their intended programme.

Discretionary admission

Any ākonga who is not yet 20 years of age and has not reached the general admission requirements may be eligible for discretionary admission. In assessing whether to grant discretionary admission, the delegated authority focuses on the applicant’s level of preparedness for their intended programme.

Additional requirements

Candidates may be required to participate in an interview and selection process.
To meet legal and health requirements, candidates must be physically able to carry out the practical components of the programmes, including the ability to perform practical demonstrations and assessments. Candidates with disabilities are eligible to enrol in this programme and will be provided with the necessary resources to attain the learning outcomes where practicable, but at the time of enrolment must notify the Equity/Disability Co‐ordinator of their needs.
Prior to commencing the programme, all candidates will be required to undertake a Police check at a level sufficient for safe and effective practice within the field of veterinary nursing.
All candidates will be required to make a declaration that they are physically able to safely handle and restrain domestic animals and that they have no known health condition that could preclude their close proximity to the common range of animals (eg cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, and birds).

English language requirements

Candidates who have English as a second language are required to have an academic International English Language Test System (IELTS) Academic score of 6.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.5; or equivalent.

Don't meet the entry criteria?

CONTACT US

Pathways

To check what you need to gain direct entry to a course, review the entry criteria available on each programme page. These assist you in understanding what qualifications or experience are typically required to gain entry. You can contact our team at info@wintec.ac.nz or 0800 2 Wintec at any time for further guidance.

Your first day

Are you ready for your first day of class? Check out your start date and where you need to be. You can also find useful information about studying at Wintec on our welcome page.

Semester 1 2025

Whānau sessions

Date: Tuesday 4 February 2025
Time: 12pm-1pm
Venue: N Block Reception, Rotokauri Campus

Date: Wednesday 5 February 2025
Time: 5.30pm-6.30pm
Venue: N Block Reception, Rotokauri Campus

Date: Wednesday 5 February 2025
Time: From 6.30pm
Venue: Online via Zoom

Induction

Date: Monday 10 February 2025
Time: 10.30am-3pm
Venue: N Block Reception, Rotokauri Campus

Induction (your first day) is for all students, new and returning. We will cover the basics of this programme with you, introduce Semester 1 modules and assessments, and get to know each other.

What you will need

Please bring a pen and notebook or laptop with you to make notes. You will need to wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes during the first week as you will be in our teaching surgery.

In the second week of this programme, you will need to bring your approved scrub top, scrub pants, name badge, a stethoscope, and a watch.

There are course-related costs required for this programme. Course-related costs will need to be paid at the beginning of the semester. You will receive more information about this at induction.

Timetable information

All Wintec timetables are available online here.

How to find your way around

Campus maps can be found here.

Parking and bus information

Both the Rotokauri and City campuses have parking available - payment and permits may be required. The Gardens Campus has free parking available. Learn more about parking and find out about bus services here.

He reo pōwhiri, your official welcome to Wintec

Tēnei te mihi mahana ki a koe e piki nei, e kake nei ki te Kuratini o Waikato.

You are warmly invited to attend the official welcome to Wintec for all new students, staff and whānau (family) at either our marae, Te Kōpū Mānia o Kirikiriroa or Rotokauri campus. The pōwhiri is a welcoming ceremony involving mihimihi (speeches), waiata (singing), and will conclude with kai timotimo (light refreshments). Please gather at the campus hubs, and a staff member will guide you through our pōwhiri.

Click here to find out when the next pōwhiri will be.

Paying for your study

Course-related costs

Course-related costs (approximately $120)
The following costs are required to be paid for at the time of enrolment in the veterinary nursing diploma programme. You will receive the information as to where to pay these fees during the first week of classes.

NZ Veterinary Nursing Association subscription (approximately $55)
This is the renowned group of registered/New Zealand veterinary nurses who promote the professional and highest veterinary nursing standards in New Zealand. You will receive a student membership, and this fee includes:

Access to professional conduct and development resources
Online newsletters and quarterly journals
Access to peer-reviewed articles and quizzes to help with CPD
More information can be found at www.nzvna.org.nz

As a student, this is a valuable resource for learning and referencing in your assessments in this programme. You also receive insight into employment opportunities available post-graduation.

Dosimeter badge (approximately $32 per semester)
A dosimeter badge is provided to you as a student to ensure you are meeting the health and safety standards necessary in this programme. You will need this badge to be allowed to take radiographs of patients in clinics during work placement. You will receive a new badge every six months. You are expected to return these badges to your programme coordinator at the designated time to ensure we meet health and safety requirements. Please note, if you lose or do not return your dosimeter to your programme coordinator at the correct times during the semester, you will be required to pay additional fees per unreturned dosimeter.

You will also be responsible on your own to provide yourself with the following:

Wintec-approved scrubs and name badge (if not previously received in a Wintec VNA programme)
Stethoscope and wristwatch
Optional: nurse’s pouch and fob watch

Additional information

Booklist

Book related costs
There are four main textbooks required for this course. You will receive this list of books (and some optional resources as well) in the first week of the programme. Please be advised that these books will likely cost a sum of a few hundred dollars, but are invaluable resources that will further your learning, and are necessary to be successful in this programme.

Purchasing textbooks

If your programme requires you to have access to textbooks, these can be purchased through a range of suppliers listed below:

New Zealand-based suppliers

General book suppliers

First aid certificate

Health status

Uniform

Equipment

Clinical placement

Prospectus (course guide)

The Wintec Prospectus (otherwise known as a course guide) outlines everything you need to know about Wintec. It contains information about the Wintec campuses, student life, and the programmes that are on offer.

Access your copy of the Wintec Prospectus

The Wintec Prospectus (course guide) is available by downloading the file - click on the document below to access the file. Alternatively, to request a copy via email or the post, please complete the form below.

Undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate course guide (Prospectus)