31/05/2026
Our Amber has completed 100% on her NPL. Just exams and OSCES left to go!!
Staff have been supporting Amber during her journey but her main support has come from Izzy who is her Clinical Coach.
Becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) takes real dedication. Student nurses complete an RCVSāapproved qualification while working in an approved Training Practice, and they build a detailed clinical skills portfolio through the Nursing Progress Log (NPL), which covers hundreds of skills across anaesthesia, theatre practice, inpatient care, lab work, radiography, and communication ā all of which must be practiced in clinic and signed off by a Clinical Supervisor.
Alongside this, students complete 20% offātheājob training, which includes college or university teaching, practical workshops, online learning, tutorials, and supervised training sessions.
They also gain over 1,800 hours of handsāon experience in practice and must pass written and oral exams in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, anaesthesia, diagnostics, infection control, and professional responsibilities.
Practical OSCE exams then assess real nursing tasks such as patient preparation, bandaging, lab techniques, imaging, and theatre setāups. Courses can take between 24 and 48 months depending on route. Once all training and assessments are completed, students can join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses.
