← Certificate IV qualifications
Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
ACM - Animal Care and Management
Industry-recognised veterinary-nursing qualification. Many graduates progress to clinical leadership roles.
Entry requirements
- Employment in a veterinary practice
What you will learn
The ACM40418 is the formal veterinary nursing qualification recognised by the Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia (VNCA). Core units include assisting with surgical procedures, providing nursing care to animal patients, performing clinical pathology, administering and monitoring anaesthesia under veterinary direction, performing intravenous and subcutaneous injections, dental scaling and polishing under direction, and educating clients on animal husbandry and preventive health. You also study animal handling for cats, dogs, exotics and livestock, practice management, and animal welfare under the relevant state Code of Practice.
Skills you build
- Surgical preparation and theatre nursing
- Anaesthesia monitoring and recovery
- Clinical pathology (blood, urine, faecal analysis)
- Radiography positioning and operation
- Intravenous and subcutaneous injection technique
- Dental scaling and polishing under veterinary direction
- Client education and reception duties
How the course runs
Most students study while employed at a veterinary practice over 18 to 24 months, with theory delivered through blended online and TAFE block release. Around 600 to 800 hours of formal training plus on-job hours in a working veterinary practice. Theory and practical roughly 40/60. Some RTOs offer it as a paid traineeship under the Australian Apprenticeships framework.
How you will be assessed
- Practical demonstrations in veterinary teaching hospitals
- Workplace observation by a registered veterinarian
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- Case study presentations on animal nursing care plans
- On-job log book of procedures performed
Workplace and placement
Concurrent employment in a veterinary practice is required for the duration of the course. Wages are set under the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award. The practice provides supervision and on-job training under a registered veterinarian. Most students complete the course through a paid traineeship, while some study part-time as practice employees.
Typical employers
- Small animal veterinary clinics
- 24-hour emergency veterinary hospitals
- Specialist veterinary referral hospitals
- Mixed practice and rural veterinary clinics
- Animal shelters and welfare organisations (RSPCA, AWL)
- Zoo, wildlife park and aquarium veterinary teams
Pay after this qualification
$52,000 - $70,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/veterinary-nurses. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You can stay calm in emotionally heavy moments (euthanasia, trauma)
- You can handle bodily fluids and surgical environments
- You can work shift hours including weekends and emergencies
- You can deal with grieving clients compassionately
- You can multitask between reception, theatre and treatment
It is probably not for you if
- You cannot stomach surgical wounds or euthanasia
- You have a back condition that limits restraint and lifting
- You react badly to animal allergens (cat, dog dander)
- You struggle with the emotional weight of pet loss
After you finish
After Cert IV you can progress to the Diploma of Veterinary Nursing (ACM50219) for advanced practice roles in emergency, surgery, dentistry or anaesthesia specialisations. Bachelor of Veterinary Technology at Charles Sturt and University of Adelaide accepts the Cert IV as a pathway. Bachelor of Veterinary Science programs at Sydney, Melbourne, UQ, Murdoch and Adelaide require ATAR-equivalent entry but recognise the Cert IV in mature age portfolios.