Registration
Veterinary nurses are members of a learned and honourable profession and are required to always act in such a manner as to maintain and promote the honour, dignity and interests of the profession. Veterinary nurses take on the responsibility to promote animal health, relieving the suffering of animals and assisting in the saving of animal lives.
A veterinary nurse’s declaration upon qualification
When you become a veterinary nurse, you solemnly declare that you will:
- practice the profession with honesty and integrity;
- maintain and uphold high professional and scientific standards;
- treat your patients to the best of your knowledge and ability and never intentionally cause them harm;
- use your professional knowledge, skills and resources to protect and promote the health and welfare of animals and humans;
- continue to improve your professional knowledge; and
- strive to further the status and image of the profession of veterinary nurse.
No person may practise in the profession of veterinary nurse unless that person is registered with the SAVC or authorised by the SAVC to perform certain functions of a veterinary nurse.
In order to qualify to practice as a veterinary nurse in South Africa, you must be in possession of the prescribed qualification as defined in the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act (Act 19 of 1982).
The Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort campus) is currently the only institution in South Africa offering training for the qualification of veterinary nurse, the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (BVetNurs) degree and National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (DVN) (phased out in 2019).
After successful completion of this degree, individuals can apply to become a registered veterinary nurse and work ethically in the field of veterinary nursing.
No person may practise in the profession of veterinary nurse unless that person is registered with the SAVC or authorised by the SAVC to perform certain functions of a veterinary nurse.
The veterinary nurses’ rules include relevant information on the conduct for veterinary nurses: —
- A person who practises the para-veterinary profession of veterinary nurse shall base his or her personal and professional conduct thereon that he or she is a member of a learned and honourable profession and is required to act at all times in such a manner as will maintain and promote the prestige, honour, dignity and interests of the profession and of the persons by whom it is practised.
- The fundamental responsibilities of veterinary nurses are to save lives, to relieve suffering and to promote health.
- A veterinary nurse shall keep himself or herself abreast of the ethical rules and the laws which affect him or her in the practising of his or her profession and shall, as far as it lies within his or her power, assist in the application of those rules and laws.
- A veterinary nurse must at all times maintain the highest standard of nursing care and professional conduct.
- A veterinary nurse shall regard any information acquired during the course of his or her employment as confidential and shall refrain from divulging such information to any person except his or her employer.
- A veterinary nurse is bound to execute the instructions of a person practising a veterinary profession discerningly and faithfully and shall refuse to take part in any unethical behaviour.
- A veterinary nurse shall refrain from expressing any criticism in public through which the reputation, status or practice of a colleague in the profession is or could be undermined or injured, or through which a reflection is or could be cast on the probity, skill, methods or conduct of such a colleague.
- Subject to the provisions of Part III of the Rules Relating to the practising of veterinary professions published by government Notice No. R. 2086 of 1 October 1982, as amended a veterinary nurse in private practice shall under no circumstances—
- advertise the practice or products of his or her employer; and
- appear in advertisements as a veterinary nurse unless it is an advertisement of the employer which complies with the Rules relating to the practising
For an individual to be registered as a veterinary nurse, the applicant must be a holder of the prescribed qualification:
- BVetNurs degree from the University of Pretoria; or
- National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (DVN) from the University of Pretoria (phased out in 2019)
Requirements for registration as a veterinary nurse:
- completed SAVC application form;
- certified copy of ID document or valid passport;
- certified copy of the degree (BVetNurs or DVN); and
- proof of payment of the application fee, when applicable.
Once registered with Council as a veterinary nurse, a person will receive a SAVC registration certificate with a registration number to work legally in the field as veterinary nursing professional and continue in your chosen field of veterinary services.
No person may practise in the profession of veterinary nurse unless that person is registered with the SAVC or authorised by the SAVC to perform certain functions of a veterinary nurse.
Prescribed qualification to practice as a veterinary nurse
In order to qualify to practice as a veterinary nurse in South Africa, you must be in possession of the prescribed qualification as defined in the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary Professions Act (Act 19 of 1982).
The Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort campus) is currently the only institution in South Africa offering training for the qualification of veterinary nurse, the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (BVetNurs) degree and National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (DVN) (phased out in 2019).
After successful completion of this degree, individuals can apply to become a registered veterinary nurse and work ethically in the field of veterinary nursing.
No person may practise in the profession of veterinary nurse unless that person is registered with the SAVC or authorised by the SAVC to perform certain functions of a veterinary nurse.
Register to work as a veterinary nurse
The veterinary nurses’ rules include relevant information on the conduct for veterinary nurses: —
- A person who practises the para-veterinary profession of veterinary nurse shall base his or her personal and professional conduct thereon that he or she is a member of a learned and honourable profession and is required to act at all times in such a manner as will maintain and promote the prestige, honour, dignity and interests of the profession and of the persons by whom it is practised.
- The fundamental responsibilities of veterinary nurses are to save lives, to relieve suffering and to promote health.
- A veterinary nurse shall keep himself or herself abreast of the ethical rules and the laws which affect him or her in the practising of his or her profession and shall, as far as it lies within his or her power, assist in the application of those rules and laws.
- A veterinary nurse must at all times maintain the highest standard of nursing care and professional conduct.
- A veterinary nurse shall regard any information acquired during the course of his or her employment as confidential and shall refrain from divulging such information to any person except his or her employer.
- A veterinary nurse is bound to execute the instructions of a person practising a veterinary profession discerningly and faithfully and shall refuse to take part in any unethical behaviour.
- A veterinary nurse shall refrain from expressing any criticism in public through which the reputation, status or practice of a colleague in the profession is or could be undermined or injured, or through which a reflection is or could be cast on the probity, skill, methods or conduct of such a colleague.
- Subject to the provisions of Part III of the Rules Relating to the practising of veterinary professions published by government Notice No. R. 2086 of 1 October 1982, as amended a veterinary nurse in private practice shall under no circumstances—
- advertise the practice or products of his or her employer; and
- appear in advertisements as a veterinary nurse unless it is an advertisement of the employer which complies with the Rules relating to the practising
For an individual to be registered as a veterinary nurse, the applicant must be a holder of the prescribed qualification:
- BVetNurs degree from the University of Pretoria; or
- National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (DVN) from the University of Pretoria (phased out in 2019)
Requirements for registration as a veterinary nurse:
- completed SAVC application form;
- certified copy of ID document or valid passport;
- certified copy of the degree (BVetNurs or DVN); and
- proof of payment of the application fee, when applicable.
Once registered with Council as a veterinary nurse, a person will receive a SAVC registration certificate with a registration number to work legally in the field as veterinary nursing professional and continue in your chosen field of veterinary services.
No person may practise in the profession of veterinary nurse unless that person is registered with the SAVC or authorised by the SAVC to perform certain functions of a veterinary nurse.
