Designed for those with a solid foundation in emergency and critical care, this advanced program builds on the core principles of covered in our Emergency and Critical Care Nursing and Elevate Emergency Nursing programs.
This course offers a deeper exploration of key topics, including transfusion medicine and toxicology. It also includes module on effective clinic management—focusing on physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, ongoing development, and clear communication in high-pressure situations.
You’ll dive into advanced topics that go beyond the basics, giving you the tools to lead with confidence and deliver exceptional emergency care.
This program is accredited with the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS) meaning you can achieve an Advanced Nurse Certificate or Advanced Vet Tech Certificate (NAdvCert/VTAdvCert) while you study.
Please note that ISVPS registration and examination fees are not included in the course fees.
For all enquiries about ISVPS requirements, contact [email protected].
Although no prerequisite is required to join the Nurse Advanced Certificate program and achieve its associated ISVPS qualification, it is strongly recommended that delegates considering enrolling in the program:
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August 2026
Key Learning Objectives:
Differentiate between nutritional support protocols required to care for the ECC patient, including enteral and parenteral feeding techniques.
Investigate the factors that account for patient comfort in the ECC situation: pathology, environmental factors, and ethics.
Design nursing care bundles for neurological compromise in the ECC setting: inflammatory, infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune.
Design nursing care bundles for cardiovascular compromise in the ECC setting: shock, sepsis, and trauma.
Critique different management strategies for a respiratory compromised patient: low flow oxygen, high flow oxygen, and CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).
Design a nursing care bundle to manage a patient requiring mechanical ventilation.
Investigate infection control strategies in the ECC setting, ensuring safety of staff, patent, and client.
Tutor: Jessica Herley
September 2026
In this live online webinar, the module author will delve deeper into a topic from the The Practical Approach to ECC Patient Management & Care module.
Tutor: Jessica Herley
October 2026
Key Learning Objectives:
Revise the anatomy and physiology of haemostasis in the “normal” patient.
Differentiate between different pathophysiology of common haemostasis disorders: rodenticide intoxication, DIC, haemophilia, VWD, hyperfibrinolysis.
Appraise diagnostic techniques available to assess the bleeding patient: PCV, TP, blood smear, haematology, Pt& APTT, and viscoelastography.
Interpret results of these diagnostic tests, consider how to present these findings to the veterinary team.
Compare the different blood products used in the clinical setting.
Critique the different administration techniques available in the clinical setting.
Discuss the term “massive transfusion”, accounting for indications and complications.
Compare transfusion monitoring methods, accounting for signs of a potential transfusion reaction.
Critique “gold standard” blood product storage, including accessibility and limitations.
Describe what is meant by a transfusion “trigger point”, discuss how this may differ for the individual scenario/patient.
Judge the criteria for canine and feline blood donor selection in the UK.
Defend the ethical considerations involved in blood product collection, storage and usage in the clinical setting.
Tutor: Holly Witchell
November 2026
In this online journal club, with the help of the module tutor, you will reflect upon and critique a recent peer-reviewed journal article on a transfusion medicine topic.
Tutor: Holly Witchell
January 2027
Key Learning Objectives:
Design a protocol for performing a “toxin” triage for a patient suspected of toxin exposure.
Describe the principle of ADME (adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) to understand the toxicity principles.
Examine common toxins in the UK, including risks to the patient, care giver and clinical staff in the following categories: illicit drugs, plants, house & garden products, food products, and medications.
Discuss the different diagnostic tools that may be utilised to assess for toxin exposure.
Critique diagnostic tests used for a toxin exposure, considering how to present these to the veterinary team.
Develop emergent management strategies/decontamination techniques required for a patient following toxin exposure. Consider indications and complications.
Discuss ongoing/chronic management strategies needed following toxin exposure.
Assemble a “tox-box”: judge the application of the constituents.
Discuss the legal implications surrounding toxin exposure, referring to elicit drugs, imported plants/animals and malicious poisoning.
Tutor: Rachel Woolman
February 2027
In this live online webinar, the module author will delve deeper into a topic from the Toxicology module.
Tutor: Rachel Woolman
March 2027
Key Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the rational of staff pursuing a role in the ECC setting, referring to OOH and day working, compared to those working in a “traditional” practice setting.
Compare the role of a manager, leader and employee; considering the legal features and value each role has in the veterinary team.
Formulate a staffing structure for an ECC service in varied clinical settings.
Examine the risk factors that directly/indirectly affect physical, mental, and emotional health of ECC employees.
Design strategies to manage these health risk factors in the clinical environment, to include support and training available for all staff.
Appraise different techniques to approach/manage “difficult” interactions with colleagues and members of the public.
Discuss how mindfulness in the workplace can promote longevity of the clinical team.
Construct a continuous improvement plan to recognise training needs for the ECC team, to include implementation and assessment.
Investigate how coaching team members can promote lifelong continued professional development.
Differentiate between the professional organisations available to support all staff in the workplace, referring to what support they provide.
Tutor: To be confirmed
April 2027
In this online journal club, with the help of the module tutor, you will reflect upon and critique a recent peer-reviewed journal article on a ‘professionalism in the ECC setting’ topic.
Tutor: To be confirmed
Full Payment Upfront: Total payable AU$5,100 inc GST.
ISVPS registration & examination fees are not included in this price.
AU $500 initial deposit will secure your place. The full balance of fees ($4,600) must be paid prior to the program start date (no program access will be granted until full payment is received).
All prices are inclusive of compulsory 10% GST.
ISVPS registration & examination fees are not included in this price.
Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings.
Please find the terms and conditions here.
The advanced nursing programs are the ‘next-step’ for experienced veterinary nurses who want to feel confident with more complex nursing cases and procedures.
They are designed for veterinary nurses or techs working in either general or referral practice. You need to have achieved your primary vet nurse (Cert IV) or vet tech (Bach) qualification to be eligible to enrol in the program.
In addition, it is recommended that delegates have an NCert/VTCert (or academic equivalent) in a related subject, or at least five years’ experience in practice. A background understanding of veterinary anatomy and physiology, and how these impact the pathogenesis and treatment of various conditions, will also be expected.
You can enrol directly via our website, from the program page. Our team will invoice you for the program and once agreed fees are paid, you can join the global program. Please reach out to the team at [email protected] if you have any questions on how to do this.
As a private education provider, Improve Veterinary Education Australia is not part of the national HECS scheme. Payment plans are done on a case-by-case basis and program access is given only after all enrolment fees are paid. Please be aware any payment plans incur additional fees.
Yes – there are limited opportunities for late entry. Please contact us directly at [email protected] for any specific questions and we can help.
Most delegates complete the program within 12–18 months (depending on course start and assessment dates). Delegates have 3 years’ access to taught modules from the program start date.
Additional self-study is recommended for most of the Advanced Programs, and you will also require access to journals and articles via an internet library service. Candidates will have access to the RCVS Knowledge Library, and you will be required to register via the online learning platform once you are enrolled in the program. Other internet library services are available (e.g. PubMed, Google Scholar), which may incur an additional registration fee.
Any deferral requests are considered on a case-by-case basis by the UK Improve Veterinary Education Team, who manage the Online Programs. If deferral is agreed, it will include additional administration fees and charges. Specific modules of the program cannot be deferred.
No – the content for the Advanced Nursing Programs covers the global syllabus for the ISVPS Certificates. This means there is material in the program that may be referrable to the UK/Europe and other regions.
Our advanced nursing programs are the accredited training for the Nurse Advanced Certificate (NAdvCert) or Vet Tech Advanced Certificate (VTAdvCert). This is a globally recognised further qualification for veterinary nurses and techs awarded by the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS) and is the highest level of qualification they currently offer.
The NAdvCert/VTAdvCert confers recognition that a nurse and/or veterinary technician has completed a period of postgraduate/post-qualification study and passed an examination and written assignment in their chosen field.
Successful NAdvCert/VTAdvCert holders will be regarded by peers as having had further training in a specific clinical discipline and therefore able to provide high levels of patient care, improve animal welfare, offer nursing advice to colleagues, and become involved with more complicated nursing care within their practice.
For the most up-to-date guidelines, the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies is the best resource to review. Review this link to their guidelines for the Advanced Nursing/Tech qualifications.
In summary, for the NAdvCert or VTAdvCert, delegates will be required to:
Proof of qualification may be required by the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies to sit the exam. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for the program.
For the most up-to-date information on the ISVPS assessments, please contact ISVPS directly at [email protected] or visit the ISVPS website.
Registration and associated assessments with the ISVPS are optional; however, to achieve the Adv. Cert qualifications, this is required.
Delegates who choose NOT to register with ISVPS (to pursue the AdvCert qualification route) will receive an acknowledgement of their ‘Continuing Professional Development’ (CPD) hours from Improve Veterinary Education.
Delegates are NOT eligible to receive the postgraduate qualifications (NAdvCert or VTAdvCert) in their chosen discipline without fulfilling the ISVPS requirements.
Registration is made directly with ISVPS once you are enrolled in the Online Learning Program. ISVPS contact details will be shared so you can complete their registration forms and pay the associated fees directly to ISVPS.