ACM40418 Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
Ready for a career as a veterinary nurse, or animal welfare worker?
This course provides the job-ready skills to be a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse or Animal Welfare Worker.
The SM TAFE expert team of lecturers are professionals in the field, teaching how to assist Veterinarians with surgery procedures on animals both pre and post-operation.
This qualification is directly aligned with priority industry areas where the jobs are today, and into the future. As part of the state government Lower fees, local skills initiative, from 1 January 2020 through to 31 December 2025 you'll only pay half the course fees, capped for each year at $1,200; or $400 (plus resource fee) if you're aged 15—24 or eligible for a concession. Find out more
CampusesBentley.
When Semester 2, 2023. Semester 1, 2024. Continuous enrolment.
Study Mode On Campus. Traineeship.
Are you passionate about the care of pets and want to build a career working day to day with a range of animals and creatures great and small? This course will give you the job ready skills to become a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse or Animal Welfare Worker.
Playing an essential role in animal health care, a Veterinary Nurse dedicates their daily work to maintaining and monitoring the welfare and wellbeing of sick animals. Be guided by from our expert team of lecturers who are professionals in the field as you learn how to assist Veterinarians with surgery procedures on animals both pre and post-operation.
Develop clinical skills in administering anaesthesia and medication, radiology (x-ray), dental procedures, nutrition and applying bandages to wounds. Build knowledge of how to nurse animals back to health and providing advice and support to animal caregivers, as well as daily tasks such as keeping equipment clean and sterilised.
Vet nurses are in high demand and you can work in a range of diverse settings such as at a veterinary clinic, animal hospital, specialist clinic, in wildlife rescue or at a zoo.
This course is popular and highly competitive to get into. Please ensure you enter all your work and work experience, both related to the field and unrelated, in your application.
Study in specialist facilities
SM TAFE is the only TAFE to offer a live veterinary clinic open to the general public, staff and students to make bookings for consults and surgeries. The clinic is based at our Bentley campus and allows our training Vet Nurses real-world experience while being supervised by qualified Veterinarians and Vet Nurses.
Students can gain on-the-job skills in animal care with a range of species including dogs, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, along with an aviary housing various birdlife. The clinic allows development of skills in a safe and supported environment, in preparation for industry work placement.
You can visit the Student Vet Clinic at South Metropolitan TAFE(opens in a new tab) on Facebook.
- work effectively in a veterinary practice
- provide care to a wide variety of animals
- assist with surgery preparation and procedures
- perform pathology and imaging procedures
- provide post-surgery care and advice
- workplace safety and health
This course requires police clearance. See the important information tab for instructions.
Important information
Select your preferred campus and apply
All year round
Details
Indicative fees and charges
The fees quoted are estimates only and are for all units in the course for students enrolling on a full-time basis. If you're a student that has successfully completed a lower-level qualification that is a prerequisite for this course, you'll only pay for the units that you need to enrol in to complete this course. Please view the full list of fee disclaimers.
Units
| National ID | Unit title |
|---|---|
| ACMGAS307 | Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work |
| ACMGAS308 | Communicate effectively with clients and team members |
| ACMINF301 | Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work |
| ACMVET202 | Carry out daily practice routines |
| ACMVET401 | Coordinate veterinary reception duties |
| ACMVET402 | Apply imaging routines |
| ACMVET403 | Perform clinical pathology procedures |
| ACMVET404 | Perform practice office procedures |
| ACMVET405 | Coordinate and perform surgical nursing routines |
| ACMVET406 | Nurse animals |
| ACMVET407 | Carry out medical nursing routines |
| ACMVET408 | Provide nutritional advice and support for animals |
| ACMVET409 | Provide specific animal care advice |
| ACMVET410 | Carry out veterinary dental nursing procedures |
| ACMVET413 | Prepare for anaesthesia and monitor animal anaesthesia and analgesia |
| ACMVET416 | Assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons |
| ACMWHS301 | Contribute to workplace health and safety processes |
ELECTIVES
Select FOUR (4) units from this elective list.
| National ID | Unit title |
|---|---|
| ACMBEH301 | Identify behaviours and interact safely with animals |
| ACMSPE302 | Provide basic care of birds |
| ACMSPE304 | Provide basic care of domestic dogs |
| ACMSPE305 | Provide basic care of domestic cats |
| ACMSPE310 | Provide basic care of mammals |
| ACMSPE312 | Provide basic care of rodents and rabbits |
| ACMSUS401 | Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices |
| ACMVET412 | Coordinate practice promotional activities |
| HLTAID011 | Provide First Aid |
Semester 1, 2024
Details
Units and fees
Semester 1, 2024
| National ID Unit title | General fee | Concession | Resource fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACMWHS301 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes | $97.20 | $28.80 | $49.75 |
| ACMVET404 Perform practice office procedures | $56.70 | $16.80 | $21.75 |
| ACMVET416 Assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons | $89.10 | $26.40 | $26.50 |
| ACMVET413 Prepare for anaesthesia and monitor animal anaesthesia and analgesia | $113.40 | $33.60 | $21.25 |
| ACMVET410 Carry out veterinary dental nursing procedures | $56.70 | $16.80 | $32.75 |
| ACMVET405 Coordinate and perform surgical nursing routines | $178.20 | $52.80 | $74.25 |
| ACMGAS307 Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work | $145.80 | $43.20 | $55.50 |
| ACMVET401 Coordinate veterinary reception duties | $97.20 | $28.80 | $28.50 |
| ACMVET202 Carry out daily practice routines | $48.60 | $14.40 | $43.00 |
| ACMINF301 Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work | $64.80 | $19.20 | $44.50 |
| ACMGAS308 Communicate effectively with clients and team members | $40.50 | $12.00 | $10.50 |
| National ID Unit title | General fee | Concession | Resource fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
$32.40 | $9.60 | $33.25 |
|
|
$32.40 | $9.60 | $33.25 |
|
|
$56.70 | $16.80 | $26.50 |
|
|
$89.10 | $26.40 | $26.50 |
Semester 1, 2024 fee
| Tuition fee | Resource fee | Total fee* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | $1,198.80 | $527.75 | $1,726.55 |
| Concession | $355.20 | $527.75 | $882.95 |
Semester 2, 2024
| National ID Unit title | General fee | Concession | Resource fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACMVET409 Provide specific animal care advice | $129.60 | $38.40 | $27.25 |
| ACMVET408 Provide nutritional advice and support for animals | $129.60 | $38.40 | $14.25 |
| ACMVET407 Carry out medical nursing routines | $97.20 | $28.80 | $46.00 |
| ACMVET406 Nurse animals | $113.40 | $33.60 | $65.50 |
| ACMVET403 Perform clinical pathology procedures | $97.20 | $28.80 | $54.75 |
| ACMVET402 Apply imaging routines | $129.60 | $38.40 | $13.00 |
Semester 2, 2024 fee
| Tuition fee | Resource fee | Total fee* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | $696.60 | $220.75 | $917.35 |
| Concession | $206.40 | $220.75 | $427.15 |
Indicative fees and charges
The fees quoted are estimates only and are for all units in the course for students enrolling on a full-time basis. If you're a student that has successfully completed a lower-level qualification that is a prerequisite for this course, you'll only pay for the units that you need to enrol in to complete this course. Please view the full list of fee disclaimers.
Details
Units and fees
Core
| National ID Unit title | General fee | Concession | Resource fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACMGAS307 Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work | $145.80 | $43.20 | $55.50 |
| ACMGAS308 Communicate effectively with clients and team members | $40.50 | $12.00 | $10.50 |
| ACMINF301 Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work | $64.80 | $19.20 | $44.50 |
| ACMVET202 Carry out daily practice routines | $48.60 | $14.40 | $43.00 |
| ACMVET401 Coordinate veterinary reception duties | $97.20 | $28.80 | $28.50 |
| ACMVET402 Apply imaging routines | $129.60 | $38.40 | $13.00 |
| ACMVET403 Perform clinical pathology procedures | $97.20 | $28.80 | $54.75 |
| ACMVET404 Perform practice office procedures | $56.70 | $16.80 | $21.75 |
| ACMVET405 Coordinate and perform surgical nursing routines | $178.20 | $52.80 | $74.25 |
| ACMVET406 Nurse animals | $113.40 | $33.60 | $65.50 |
| ACMVET407 Carry out medical nursing routines | $97.20 | $28.80 | $46.00 |
| ACMVET408 Provide nutritional advice and support for animals | $129.60 | $38.40 | $14.25 |
| ACMVET409 Provide specific animal care advice | $129.60 | $38.40 | $27.25 |
| ACMVET410 Carry out veterinary dental nursing procedures | $56.70 | $16.80 | $32.75 |
| ACMVET413 Prepare for anaesthesia and monitor animal anaesthesia and analgesia | $113.40 | $33.60 | $21.25 |
| ACMVET416 Assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons | $89.10 | $26.40 | $26.50 |
| ACMWHS301 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes | $97.20 | $28.80 | $49.75 |
Elective
| National ID Unit title | General fee | Concession | Resource fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
$89.10 | $26.40 | $26.50 |
|
|
$56.70 | $16.80 | $26.50 |
|
|
$32.40 | $9.60 | $33.25 |
|
|
$32.40 | $9.60 | $33.25 |
Indicative fees and charges
The fees quoted are estimates only and are for all units in the course for students enrolling on a full-time basis. If you're a student that has successfully completed a lower-level qualification that is a prerequisite for this course, you'll only pay for the units that you need to enrol in to complete this course. Please view the full list of fee disclaimers.
Semester 2, 2023
Details
Units and fees
Semester 2, 2023
| National ID Unit title | General fee | Concession | Resource fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACMWHS301 Contribute to workplace health and safety processes | $97.20 | $28.80 | $48.25 |
| ACMVET404 Perform practice office procedures | $56.70 | $16.80 | $21.25 |
| ACMVET416 Assist with the preparation of veterinary drugs and poisons | $89.10 | $26.40 | $26.50 |
| ACMVET413 Prepare for anaesthesia and monitor animal anaesthesia and analgesia | $113.40 | $33.60 | $21.25 |
| ACMVET408 Provide nutritional advice and support for animals | $129.60 | $38.40 | $13.75 |
| ACMVET405 Coordinate and perform surgical nursing routines | $178.20 | $52.80 | $74.25 |
| ACMGAS307 Identify animal anatomy and physiology for animal care work | $145.80 | $43.20 | $54.00 |
| ACMVET401 Coordinate veterinary reception duties | $97.20 | $28.80 | $27.50 |
| ACMVET202 Carry out daily practice routines | $48.60 | $14.40 | $43.00 |
| ACMINF301 Comply with infection control policies and procedures in animal care work | $64.80 | $19.20 | $43.00 |
| ACMGAS308 Communicate effectively with clients and team members | $40.50 | $12.00 | $10.50 |
| National ID Unit title | General fee | Concession | Resource fee |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
$64.80 | $19.20 | $46.25 |
|
|
$32.40 | $9.60 | $32.25 |
|
|
$32.40 | $9.60 | $32.25 |
|
|
$89.10 | $26.40 | $25.75 |
Semester 2, 2023 fee
| Tuition fee | Resource fee | Total fee* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | $1,279.80 | $519.75 | $1,799.55 |
| Concession | $379.20 | $519.75 | $898.95 |
Semester 1, 2024
| National ID Unit title | General fee | Concession | Resource fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACMVET410 Carry out veterinary dental nursing procedures | $56.70 | $16.80 | $31.75 |
| ACMVET409 Provide specific animal care advice | $129.60 | $38.40 | $26.50 |
| ACMVET407 Carry out medical nursing routines | $97.20 | $28.80 | $44.50 |
| ACMVET406 Nurse animals | $113.40 | $33.60 | $63.75 |
| ACMVET403 Perform clinical pathology procedures | $97.20 | $28.80 | $53.00 |
| ACMVET402 Apply imaging routines | $129.60 | $38.40 | $12.75 |
Semester 1, 2024 fee
| Tuition fee | Resource fee | Total fee* | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | $623.70 | $232.25 | $855.95 |
| Concession | $184.80 | $232.25 | $417.05 |
Indicative fees and charges
The fees quoted are estimates only and are for all units in the course for students enrolling on a full-time basis. If you're a student that has successfully completed a lower-level qualification that is a prerequisite for this course, you'll only pay for the units that you need to enrol in to complete this course. Please view the full list of fee disclaimers.