Central Qualifications announce first students to achieve the CQ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.
This September saw students from Bicton College in Devon and Abbeydale Vetlink Veterinary Training Ltd in Monmouth awarded the CQ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (DipVN).

“We are thrilled that our first of Bicton College’s CQ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing students will now be able to enter directly on to the RCVS register” commented Head of Centre Janet Litten. “They have demonstrated that they deserve such a position through successfully meeting the professional and rigorous standards set by CQ”.

Similarly, Samantha Morgan, Lead IV, Practice Co-ordinator and Lecturer at Abbeydale Vetlink Veterinary Training Ltd, expressed her praise for the students' achievements: “We are very proud of our first cohort of CQ students and they have worked very hard to achieve their award. We wish them all the very best for their future careers”.

The achievements of Bicton College and Abbeydale Vetlink Veterinary Training Ltd students also marked the first time that veterinary nurses qualifying through the further education vocational route will have two sets of post-nominal letters after their names; DipVN – official post-nominals of those who have achieved the CQ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing – and RVN on entry to the RCVS register.

The DipVN post-nominal letters have been selected by CQ to recognise candidates' high level of achievement. In order to complete the CQ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, a student must achieve a pass on all CQ assignments and examinations for all units covered by the qualification, with no compensation between units.

Furthermore, competence in 378 separately identified practical tasks is to be attained, recorded and verified, and final Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) passed.

“We are delighted with the achievements of all students and wish them successful careers as qualified veterinary nurses,” commented Jacqui Garrett, Director of Central Qualifications. “The CQ Diploma in Veterinary Nursing has been developed to produce competent veterinary nurses and we hope to continue to develop the qualification to reflect the needs of practices and the animals entrusted in their care. Qualifying students are now able to use the DipVN post-nominal letters, which recognise the significant achievements of those gaining the qualification”.