How you’d get this certificate
- Zavmo teaches you. You learn the units one-to-one with an AI tutor, on your own work.
- You register with an approved centre. That is a college, training provider or employer Central Qualifications has approved to offer this qualification. Zavmo is not an approved centre, so you register with them, not with us.
- The centre assesses, and Central Qualifications awards. A qualified assessor at the centre judges your evidence, and the certificate comes from Central Qualifications.
The Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (EQ) is an occupational qualification for those working with equine animals. It develops the skills and knowledge needed to provide veterinary nursing care, including peri-operative care, diagnostic imaging, and theatre practice. Communication and professional relationships are also addressed.
These are the units Central Qualifications registers against this qualification. It is a catalogue, not a syllabus. Which of them you take depends on the combination the qualification requires, and that is set by the awarding body rather than by us. Every unit here is regulated. Zavmo teaches towards them on your own work.
Zavmo is not an awarding body, is not an approved centre, and is not affiliated with Central Qualifications. It does the teaching and the mapping. Central Qualifications sets this qualification and awards it, and a qualified human assessor makes the assessment decision.
What each unit actually teaches you to do
Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in equine practice Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the fundamental principles underpinning equine welfare.
- Understand the appropriate use of different types of accommodation for hospitalised equines.
- Understand how to maintain different types of accommodation for hospitalised equines.
- Demonstrate the ability to handle equines safely and effectively.
- Demonstrate the ability to restrain equines safely and effectively.
- Understand the essential factors required for maintaining optimal equine health.
- Know and understand the specific nutritional requirements of equines.
Communication and professional relationships in equine practice Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the dynamics of communication, including verbal and non-verbal communication techniques.
- Communicate with clients and colleagues effectively, demonstrating empathy and professionalism.
- Understand factors affecting working relationships with clients and within the veterinary team, including cultural differences and communication styles.
- Explain how to support a client through grief and loss, demonstrating sensitivity and understanding.
- Understand the principles of customer service, ensuring client satisfaction and loyalty.
Diagnostic imaging in equine practice Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Know the legal requirements for operating radiographic equipment in a veterinary practice, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation.
- Understand the principles of radiography, including image formation and radiation safety.
- Understand how to take radiographs, demonstrating correct positioning and exposure techniques.
- Process radiographs and understand digital storage and communication systems, ensuring efficient image management.
- Know the principles of alternative imaging techniques, such as ultrasound and MRI.
Home care and convalescence Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of client concordance in home care and convalescence of equines.
- Provide homecare plans for a range of surgical conditions in equines, including wound management and pain relief.
- Provide homecare plans for a range of medical conditions in equines, including medication administration and monitoring of vital signs.
Infection control in equine practice Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the role of infection in equine health, including common equine infections and their impact.
- Understand the role of infection in human health, including zoonotic diseases and their transmission from equines to humans.
- Understand the principles of disease transmission in veterinary practice, including routes of transmission and factors influencing spread.
- Understand the principles of isolation nursing in veterinary practice, including the rationale for isolation and appropriate protocols.
- Understand the principles of disinfection, including different types of disinfectants and their appropriate use in equine practice.
- Understand the principles of sterilisation, including different sterilisation methods and their application in equine practice.
- Understand how to maintain a clean clinical environment in equine practice, including cleaning schedules and appropriate cleaning agents.
- Understand how to maintain personal hygiene in relation to cross-infection in equine practice, including handwashing techniques and the use of personal protective equipment.
- Understand the principles of infection monitoring in equine practice, including surveillance methods and reporting procedures.
Introduction to professional practice, professionalism and ethics for equine veterinary nurses Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the importance of maintaining professional practice standards in veterinary nursing.
- Know and understand the legal framework that governs veterinary nursing practice in the UK.
- Understand the scope of accountability for veterinary nurses in their professional role.
- Understand the application of key ethical principles in veterinary nursing practice.
- Understand the principles of obtaining informed consent for veterinary treatment of equines.
- Understand the legal duties owed to clients by veterinary nurses.
- Understand the ethical duties owed to clients by veterinary nurses.
- Understand the legal duties owed to colleagues by veterinary nurses.
- Understand the ethical duties owed to colleagues by veterinary nurses.
- Understand the legal duties owed to equines by veterinary nurses.
- Understand the ethical duties owed to equines by veterinary nurses.
Laboratory diagnostics in equine practice Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Explain basic cell structure of commonly sampled cells in equine practice, including blood cells and tissue cells.
- Explain basic cell function of commonly sampled cells in equine practice, including their role in health and disease.
- Understand the function of laboratory equipment used in equine practice, including microscopes and centrifuges.
- Understand the use of laboratory equipment used in equine practice, including operation and maintenance.
- Understand how to collect specimens for examination in equine practice, including blood samples and tissue biopsies.
- Understand how to prepare specimens for examination in equine practice, including staining and mounting techniques.
- Test pathological specimens in equine practice, following standard operating procedures.
- Prepare specimens for transportation from equine practice, ensuring appropriate packaging and labelling.
Operational requirements in equine practice Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the aims of effective health and safety practices within a veterinary practice
- Understand how to use and maintain equipment correctly in a veterinary practice
- Understand how to maintain stocks of veterinary consumables and pharmaceuticals
- Know the principles of accurate record-keeping in a veterinary practice
Principles of equine peri-operative veterinary nursing support Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand and demonstrate how to prepare an equine for surgery, including pre-operative checks and procedures.
- Understand the requirements and apply processes for immediate and ongoing post-operative care, ensuring the equine's comfort and recovery.
- Know nursing requirements for equines before, during and following specific procedures, demonstrating knowledge of specific needs.
Principles of equine veterinary nursing support Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the anatomy of the major body systems in equines, with specific relevance to veterinary nursing care.
- Understand the physiology of the major body systems in equines, with specific relevance to veterinary nursing care.
- Understand how pathology can affect the normal function of an equine's body systems.
- Understand how to plan appropriate care for equines presenting with a range of commonly encountered conditions.
- Understand how to deliver effective care for equines presenting with a range of commonly encountered conditions.
- Understand the principles of wound healing in equines.
- Understand how to provide appropriate wound care for equines.
Principles of neonatal care for equine veterinary nurses Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of reproduction and breeding in equines
- Understand normal foal physiology and development
- Understand foal nutrition and feeding requirements
- Understand the routine veterinary care procedures for normal foals
- Understand the specific nursing requirements of sick foals
- Provide appropriate nursing care to a sick foal
Principles of supporting anaesthesia for equine veterinary nurses Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Describe the structure of the equine respiratory system.
- Describe the function of the equine respiratory system.
- Describe the structure of the equine nervous system.
- Describe the function of the equine nervous system.
- Understand the fundamental principles of anaesthesia in equines.
- Understand the function of different pieces of anaesthetic equipment used in equine veterinary practice.
- Demonstrate the correct and safe use of anaesthetic equipment used in equine veterinary practice.
- Understand how to assist with the preparation of equines for anaesthesia.
- Understand how to assist with the induction of anaesthesia in equines.
- Understand the principles of monitoring an anaesthetised equine patient.
- Apply the principles of monitoring an anaesthetised equine patient.
- Recognise potential anaesthetic emergencies in equines.
- Respond appropriately to anaesthetic emergencies in equines.
Theatre practice for equine veterinary nurses Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of theatre suite design and its appropriate use
- Understand the use of theatre suite furniture and equipment
- Dress and behave appropriately in an operating theatre environment
- Understand the management of instruments and materials during a surgical procedure
- Assist the operating surgeon as a circulating nurse
- Assist the operating surgeon as a scrub nurse
Understand and apply the principles of fluid therapy and intravenous cannulation Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the concept of body fluid compartments in animals
- Describe the structure and function of the circulatory system
- Explain the different parenteral fluid types used in practice and their indications for use
- Understand the principles of intravenous cannulation techniques
- Explain the principles of administering blood and blood products to animals
Veterinary medicine supply in equine practice Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the legal requirements in relation to the storage of veterinary medicines, including storage conditions and record-keeping.
- Understand the legal requirements in relation to the supply of veterinary medicines, including prescription requirements and labelling.
- Understand the role of a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) in the supply of veterinary medicines.
- Understand the remit of a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) in the supply of veterinary medicines.
- Understand the professional responsibilities of a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP) in the supply of veterinary medicines.
- Understand the principles of pharmacodynamics, including drug action and effects on the body.
- Administer medications to equines via different routes, following veterinary instructions.
- Supply veterinary medicines to clients, adhering to legal and professional guidelines.
- Provide advice to clients on the administration of veterinary medicines, including dosage, frequency, and potential side effects.
Veterinary nursing care for hospitalised equines Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of a systematic approach to the provision of nursing care for hospitalised equines, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
- Understand how to assess the condition of patients in equine practice, including vital signs, demeanour, and appetite.
- Understand the basic nursing care of equines, including feeding, watering, and grooming.
- Understand the basic management of equines, including exercise, socialisation and environmental enrichment.
Veterinary nursing support for emergency and critical care of equine patients Real unit · Central Qualifications
What you'll be able to do
- Understand the principles of equine first aid procedures
- Support emergency veterinary care for equine patients
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Is this the right qualification for you?
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Study the units online with a personal AI tutor, for £70 a month. Your first Future Fluency module is free.
The national standards these units are built against
What the job actually needs, in the words employers and awarding bodies already use for the work itself.
- Standard
Calculate and administer fluid therapy to veterinary patients
- Standard
Carry out equine dental examinations
- Standard
Develop, apply and monitor infection control in a veterinary practice
- Standard
Plan and manage hygiene and biosecurity when carrying out equine dental procedures
- Standard
Supply veterinary medicines
- Standard
Work to professional veterinary nursing practice standards
One email to help you decide: the facts, what it teaches and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.
The credits, and who awards them
Level 3 credits are regulated, and they are awarded by Central Qualifications rather than by Zavmo. They don’t vanish when a subscription ends or a website closes. They travel to any employer, and Zavmo keeps the map of what you have covered and what is next.
What you would be collecting
Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in equine practiceCommunication and professional relationships in equine practiceDiagnostic imaging in equine practiceHome care and convalescenceInfection control in equine practiceIntroduction to professional practice, professionalism and ethics for equine veterinary nursesLaboratory diagnostics in equine practiceOperational requirements in equine practice
Each one is a real unit registered against this qualification.
How you’d practise it
You don’t watch this. You do it.
You are not assessed on remembering this. You are assessed on applying it, analysing it, evaluating it and producing something. So that is what the practice is: projects, role play and your own live cases, with a tutor in the room.
The Coach · your practice partner Illustration - Bring the real thing Apply
“Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in equine practice” is taught against the work in front of you rather than a worked example. You bring what you are doing this week and it becomes the practice.
What you leave holding
The standards this credential builds, in the shape the product keeps them
Nothing here is marked learned. There is no learner on a public page, so the map shows what the qualification covers rather than what anybody has done.
- Calculate and administer fluid therapy to veterinary patients
- Carry out equine dental examinations
- Develop, apply and monitor infection control in a veterinary practice
- Plan and manage hygiene and biosecurity when carrying out equine dental procedures
- Supply veterinary medicines
- Work to professional veterinary nursing practice standards
How you would learn this
One to one, on the work you already do
A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.
A lesson from Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in equine practice, one of this qualification's own units.
Applied to your own work
This unit covers applied animal welfare, health, and husbandry principles in equine practice. Learners will develop skills in safe handling and restraint, understand accommodation types for hospitalised equines, and learn essential factors for maintaining equine health and nutrition.
- 1 Remember
- 2 Understand
- 3 Apply
- 4 Analyse
- 5 Evaluate
- 6 Create
It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time. Teaching towards this qualification begins when you subscribe.
Built for CQ Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing - EQ
17 units in this credential, in the order it lists them, awarded by Central Qualifications.
- Applied animal welfare, health and husbandry in equine practice
- Communication and professional relationships in equine practice
- Diagnostic imaging in equine practice
- Home care and convalescence
- Infection control in equine practice
- Introduction to professional practice, professionalism and ethics for equine veterinary nurses
and 11 more in the full unit list below.
Free tools
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Learned on your own work, taught one-to-one.
Everything you just read, learned one-to-one on the job you already do. Your free first module is Future Fluency, so you can see how the teaching works before you pay for anything.
Start my free AI Fluency moduleNo card. See how this qualification maps onto your role and meet the tutors who’d teach it, free. The learning begins when you subscribe. It’s £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.
The title, level, credits, guided learning hours and unit learning outcomes on this page are taken from the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Where this data comes from.