Our Surgical Nursing Program is designed specifically for veterinary nurses and technicians. It has been developed by veterinary specialists and experienced nurses, all of whom hold advanced qualifications in their field.
The program includes eight online modules covering essential surgical topics such as anaesthesia and analgesia, imaging, soft tissue surgery, and orthopaedics. Each module features presentations, detailed notes, interactive quizzes, and exercises to help reinforce your learning as you progress. You’ll also have support from a dedicated module tutor, available to answer your questions throughout the month that each module is active.
With 24/7 online access, you can learn at your own pace and fit study around the demands of a busy practice.
This program is accredited with the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS) meaning you can achieve a Nurse Certificate or Vet Tech Certificate (NCert/VTCert) 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].
Register your interest to receive program updates.
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June 2026
Module Speaker:
Claire Dorey-Phillips BSc (Hons) VNPA ISFM Dip FN RVN
The surgical nurse/tech/assistant is an essential part of the surgical team. A good working knowledge of both surgical principles and equipment is essential to ensure surgical asepsis and safety to both the patient and surgical personnel. This module will cover all of the surgical principles and review surgical asepsis, sterilisation and surgical personnel preparation techniques. The range of surgical instrumentation and equipment has increased in recent years and is now more easily accessible; this module will introduce you to its use and maintenance.
Key learning objectives:
July 2026
Module Speaker:
Claire Dorey-Phillips BSc (Hons) VNPA ISFM Dip FN RVN
The success of a surgical procedure depends primarily on good planning and the awareness of potential patient risk factors. The surgical nurse/tech/assistant is an integral part of the surgical team. This module will give you the background understanding and knowledge of the importance of pre-surgical assessment and patient preparation. With the background knowledge of disease pathophysiology and surgical techniques, this module will give you the confidence to nurse the peri-operative patient.
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August 2026
Module Speaker:
Nicola Grint BVSc PhD CertVA DVA DiplECVAA MRCVS
There is no such thing as a safe anaesthetic only a safe anaesthetist’. This module will give you the ability to approach the anaesthesia of more critical surgical patients to optimise outcomes. The ability to confidently calculate drug requirements and understand monitoring equipment will help you navigate a surgical list with ease.
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September 2026
Module Speaker:
Nicola Grint BVSc PhD CertVA DVA DiplECVAA MRCVS
Anyone involved in a surgical list will need to be up-to-date on pain assessment and multi-modal options for managing pain peri-operatively. This module will give enable you to promote patient welfare by using a pro-active and thorough approach to analgesia.
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October 2026
Module Speaker:
Barbara Jardim Gomes IMVM MVMV CertAVP(DI) DipECVDI MRCVS
This module will allow you to have a deeper understanding of the part imaging plays in a busy surgical setting. The ability to confidently acquire diagnostic radiographs, triage patients using ultrasound and identify those patients who would benefit from advanced imaging will be of great benefit to you.
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November 2026
Module Speaker:
Darren Barnes MA VetMB CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS
By the end of this module, you will be able to prepare confidently for a wide variety of soft tissue procedures through your understanding of the underlying conditions and risks associated with the procedure.
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December 2026
Module Speaker:
Alison Mann BSc (hons) Dip HE CVN Dip AVN (small animal) RVN
This module will expand your knowledge of fracture types, their repair and a variety of other orthopaedic procedures. Attentive and proactive rehabilitation nursing care is one of the most integral parts of successful postoperative outcomes. This module will give you the understanding to select which of these techniques is likely to be most useful in specific cases.
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January 2027
Module Speaker:
Darren Barnes MA VetMB CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS
As per Simon Sinek “Always plan for the fact that no plan goes to plan”. This module aims to give you the knowledge of potential complications that can arise and hence the confidence to deal with them effectively to ensure a positive outcome. Wound management is also an integral part of the nursing aftercare. This module will review wound types and discuss advances in their treatment.
Key learning objectives:
Alison graduated from Writtle College in 2005 with a BSc (hons) in Equine Science and qualified as a small animal VN in 2009 whilst working in mixed practice in Bristol. In 2010 she moved to Langford Vets to work as a surgical nurse. During this time she has achieved the Dip AVN (small animal). For a few years she worked as a clinical teaching nurse for the University of Bristol, teaching practicals and lectures to undergraduate VNs in the Veterinary Nursing and Bioveterinary degree course. She moved back into clinical nursing in 2018, returning to the theatre team, becoming Head Theatre Nurse in 2019.
Barbara graduated with an integrated Master’s in Veterinary Medicine from the Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal in 2009. After graduation, she worked for a year in a small animal practice in Portugal. In 2011 Barbara moved to the United Kingdom to undertake a one-year rotating internship at a referral practice in Swindon followed by three years working in general practice. In 2015, she began a four-year senior clinical training scholarship in Diagnostic Imaging at the University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital. During her residency, Barbara obtained the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in Diagnostic Imaging in 2017 and a Master’s degree investigating canine oesophageal disease in 2019. After completing the residency Barbara moved to the northeast of England to work in a multidisciplinary small animal referral practice and gained a Diploma in Small Animal Diagnostic Imaging in February 2020.
Claire graduated from the University of Bristol in 2005 with a BSc (Hons) in Veterinary Nursing and Practice Administration. Following graduation, Claire joined a multidisciplinary referral hospital where she went onto lead various departments including surgery and medicine before becoming a head nurse and, finally, clinical nursing training manager. During this time Claire's passion for feline medicine and surgery grew and I 2015 Claire left to take up the role of a Lead Nurse primarily in Feline Medicine and to help set up another multidisciplinary hospital in Hampshire, where she was instrumental in obtaining gold Cat-Friendly Clinic status as well as obtaining her diploma in feline nursing. Claire's main interests are feline medicine/ surgery, and emergency and critical care.
Darren graduated from Cambridge University in 2006, spending a one year rotating small animal internship at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket thereafter. He then spent 5 years in general practice in Bishops Stortford whilst studying for the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery under the supervision and guidance of Dick White. He returned to Cambridge University as a Staff Surgeon for one year before completing a three year Surgery Residency training at Dick White referrals. He was awarded the Diploma in Small Animal Surgery by the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in February 2017 and continues to work as a Specialist in Small Animal Surgery at Dick White Referrals.
Full Payment Upfront: Total payable AU$4,950 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 ($4,450) 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.
You need to have achieved your primary vet nurse or vet tech qualification to be eligible to enrol and undertake the program and ISVPS exams.
Nursing Programs – you must hold a recognised Veterinary Nurse qualification (e.g Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing).
Vet Tech. Programs – you must hold a recognised Veterinary Technician/Technologist qualification.
These programs are postgraduate study and require learners to have a sound knowledge of veterinary nursing, including basic anatomy and physiology.
Proof of qualification will 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.
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 [email protected] for any specific questions and we can help.
Most delegates complete the program within a 12–18-month time period (depending on course start and assessment dates). Delegates have 3 years access to taught modules from program start date.
An additional 52 hours of self-study over most programs is recommended. You will also require access to journals and articles via an internet library service.
Online Nursing/Tech program candidates have access to the RCVS Knowledge Library. Delegates will be required to register via the online learning platform once they 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 can not be deferred.
The majority of the NCert/VT Cert programs are a minimum of 100 CPD hours (approximately 48 hours of delivered sessions and 52 hours self-study time).
Please note that the CPD hours depend on the number of modules, which can vary. Check the program details on the specific webpage.
Yes, we do accept limited late admissions (subject to availability). If you join late, you will be required to catch up on the module content that you have missed. Please be aware that although discussion forums can be access after the module is finished, the Specialist Tutors are only available for questions during the month their module is being delivered.
Yes, the CPD points allocated to any programs that are RACE approved are eligible to count towards the 20 CPD points that are required annually by Vet Nurses/Technicians to keep their AVNAT registration.
The content for the Nurse/V Tech Online Programs covers the global syllabus for the ISVPS Certificates.
This means there is material in the program that may be referable to UK/Europe and other regions. All program materials are accessible for the ISVPS qualification.
No, you don’t need to be available at the time of the webinar. Any live content is recorded and can be watched at any time. This gives you the flexibility to study when and where you want, and to structure your learning around your busy work and life schedules.
The NCert / VTCert is the ISVPS postgraduate qualification awarded to veterinary nurses / technicians who successfully complete the accredited training program from Improve Veterinary Education and complete the required ISVPS assessments for the Certificate.
To obtain either the NCert or VTCert delegates will be required to:
For the most up-to-date information on the ISVPS assessments for the NCert/VTCerts please contact ISVPS directly at [email protected] or visit the ISVPS website.
Registration and associated assessments with ISVPS are optional but strongly encouraged.
Delegates who choose NOT to register with ISVPS will receive an acknowledgement of their ‘Continuing Professional Development’ (CPD) hours from Improve Veterinary Education.
Delegates ARE NOT eligible to receive the postgraduate qualifications (NCert or VTCert) 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 direct to ISVPS.
ISVPS registration fees are NOT included in the Improve Veterinary Education Australia program fees.