Level 3 Certificate Introduction into Small Animal Rehabilitation

The course is open for Veterinary Nurses who hold the L3 Veterinary Nursing Diploma, FdSc/BSc Veterinary Nursing and are currently employed in a veterinary practice.

The key purposes of the qualification are:

• Know the ethical and legal principles applicable to the application of small animal therapy
• Planning and implementing treatment and rehabilitation programs for small animal patients
• Be able to identify small animal patients requiring rehabilitation and deliver manual therapy safely and effectively, be able to plan and implement rehabilitation and exercise programs for a variety of common small animal rehabilitation cases
• To develop further treatment skills in land-based therapy to support the safe delivery in veterinary practice

The programme includes a balance of practice-based learning and theoretical teaching and use a variety of strategies to ensure students can undertake clinical tasks proficiently.

The course runs over one academic year and focusses on the following topics:

• Module 1 VNPT - Introduction to small animal rehabilitation
• Module 2 VNPT - Basic anatomy and physiology of the canine and feline with a rehabilitation bias
• Module 3 VNPT - Common conditions requiring rehabilitation in small animal practice
• Module 4 VNPT - Animal movement and function
• Module 5 VNPT - An introduction into basic assessment and treatment techniques for use within small animal rehabilitation
• Module 6 VNPT - Clinical practice and rehabilitation service development

To enrol on the course, you should have achieved the L3 Veterinary Nursing Diploma or FdSc/BSc Veterinary Nursing and are currently employed in a veterinary practice.

You will need to provide a testimonial from your employer in support of your application. We will judge each application on an individual basis and our decision is final.

You must also be physically and mentally able to undertake the full range of tasks necessary to achieve this qualification.

Once we have received your application, we will get in touch with you to arrange an informal interview.

We have strict equal opportunities policies and no one who studies with us will be subjected to unfair discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, creed, age, or special needs.

The certificate at Abbeydale runs as a one-year programme. We accept new students each year in September and January (numbers depending). The course is delivered via pre-recorded lectures via our virtual learning environment, live discussions and feedback and tutorials. There are 5 days of practical workshops run as a block at Abbeydale delivered by an ACPAT Chartered and Veterinary Physiotherapist.

The course has 70 guided learning hours, and the total qualification time will take 205 hours.

Your knowledge and understanding will be assessed by:

• Written essay
• Case studies
• Case study presentations
• Viva examination
• Synoptic assessment(s)

Your practical skills will be assessed by:

• Practical examination
• Completion of a minimum of 64 practice placement hours and the completion of a competency skills workbook

Your professional behaviours will be assessed by:

• Regular reviews with your tutor, against learning outcome and assessment criteria set in the syllabus

All the examinations take place at Abbeydale Vetnurse Training.

The course requires you to complete a minimum of 64 hours of clinical placement within a veterinary practice where you will be required to select patients requiring rehabilitation (your practice where you are employed). Thus, developing a rehabilitation service within the veterinary practice.

You will be supported during the placement by weekly telephone/video link contact with your tutor for case discussions and/or support in developing the rehabilitation service, scheduled tutor visit at your place of work and completion of a practical competency workbook.

The teaching and qualification fees for the course are £3417. Payable upon commencement of the award.

On successful completion of SVPS Level 3 Certificate Introduction into Small Animal Rehabilitation learners can develop in practice rehabilitation services or they may progress to further study in veterinary physiotherapy, osteopathy or other routes of animal complimentary therapy training.

1. Career-focused courses with great employment prospects

We’ll help you get your career off to the best possible start. Our course completion and pass rates are consistently well above 90% and are often 100% on our veterinary nurse programmes. Many of our students also progress onto higher qualifications.

2. Hands-on learning with qualified veterinary physiotherapists

All L3 Certificate Introduction into Small Animal Rehabilitation is taught by a qualified veterinary physiotherapist. You’ll benefit from their insight and experience and they’ll support you throughout the course to help you prepare for your future career.

3. Personal support before, during and after your studies

Enrolling on a course with us will bring you new opportunities and challenges. We’re here to help you every step of the way. We can help you with your initial application and give you advice and support on careers, fees, funding and academic study.

4. Quality teaching and examination success

We use a wide range of teaching methods with a strong focus on individual and small-group learning. As a result, our course completion and pass rates are consistently high and are often at 100%

Jeni Wood SVN

This course is helping me so much in my day to day in-practice activities. The in-depth theoretical knowledge has given me confidence to be able to talk to clients in much more detail when helping them understand what is wrong with their pet or describing a procedure. The course has enabled me to be able to offer a continuation of their care once they have been treated by a Veterinary Surgeon by offering post procedure/trauma rehabilitation advice.

I work full time and have 3 children and found completion of the course manageable.

Application process

September 2021

Applications must in in by 31st July, with all supporting documents. If there are any documents or certificates missing, the prospective students will not be interviewed.

Prospective students will need to be available to attend an interview at a mutually agreeable time.

Please note no places will be reserved, if more applications than spaces received then decisions will be made on interview day, this could result in the prospective student starting with the next cohort.