Vet Nurse Merit Awards

The BSAVA Vet Nurse Merit Award in Medical nursing will develop your skills and knowledge in nursing of medical conditions in both the cat and dog   

Find out more and register here

The BSAVA Vet Nurse Merit Award in ECC and Anaesthesia will develop your skills and knowledge in ECC and anaesthesia, ranging from triage and shock, to anaesthesia in cardiac patients and head trauma.

The programme consists of:

• 10 online sessions including webinars which will be recorded so you can listen at your leisure
• An online resource which will encourage support in your learning through online activities including a discussion forum
• A practical attendance course will give you chance to meet the colleagues who have been studying at the same time as you and to get your hands on experience in practical sessions covering feeding tubes, drains, vascular access techniques and CPR.
• 30 hours CPD

The course will finish with an online assessment

The online resource will open on 1st May 2023 before the first session becomes available on 8th May 2023 

Find out more and register here.

The BSAVA Vet Nurse Merit Award in Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy is designed to provide a basic introduction into the discipline of canine rehabilitation through a mixture of lectures and hands on practice. It is designed to provide a brief review of canine musculoskeletal anatomy focusing on anatomical land-marks and forelimb flexors and extensors as well as they key muscles of the trunk and neck. This section is essential to allow the candidate to develop a degree of proficiency in palpation and examination of the rehabilitation patient. It also covers the basics of gait analysis. The course will cover hot and cold therapy, manual therapy and exercise based rehabilitation, as well as the use of the use of electrotherapies and hydrotherapy. The programme consists of:

3 days of practical attendance courses

• An online resource which will encourage support in your learning through online activities including a discussion forum
• The course will finish with an online assessment
• 30 hours CPD

The online resource will open on 27th March 2023 before the first attendance sessions on Friday 14th & Saturday 15th April 2023

The third practical attendance day will take place on Saturday 20th May 2023

Find out more and register here.

The Vet Nurse Merit Award in Behaviour is our first fully online VNMA, worth 50 CPD hours. The award gives delegates an introduction to companion animal behaviour and will cover behaviour concepts and requirements of cats, dogs and a variety of exotic species. By the end of the course, you will be able to recognise the common abnormal behaviours in pets and will learn how to address them, resulting in improved patient outcome and effecting positive changes to human – animal interactions.

The programme consists of

• 12 online units containing recorded webinars, supporting notes and online tasks
• A new unit released every two – three weeks to keep your learning moving forward but allowing flexibility
• Online support with your tutors and colleagues through a variety of online discussion forums.
• The course will finish with an online assessment.
• 50 hours CPD

The online resource will open on Monday 12th June 2023 before the first session becomes available on 19th June 2023

Find out more and register here.

The BSAVA Vet Nurse Merit Award in Dermatology will increase your knowledge in veterinary dermatology and provide practical training in diagnostic techniques giving you the confidence to take your new found skills back to your nurse clinics and practice. The programme consists of:

• 3 days of attendance courses (2 theory and 1 practical)
• An online resource which will encourage support in your learning through online activities including a discussion forum
• The course will finish with an online assessment
• 30 hours CPD

The next Award in Dermatology will be arranged for September 2023. Please register your interest at: courses@bsava.com 

For More information please click here

What is the criteria for enrolment?

You must be a qualified veterinary nurse. Due to the nature of the final case study, it is preferable for you to be working in practice. However, if you are not in practice but still wish to enrol, please contact us.

Are the VN Merit Awards accredited by a professional examining body?

This course is not formally accredited; rather it provides high-quality CPD that will enhance your theoretical and practical understanding of a subject area. If you complete the course successfully, you will receive a certificate and a badge.

Is the practical course compulsory?

If a practical is included in the programme, then yes you are expected to attend.