Veterinary Support Assistant Diploma
Why you should study with us
Veterinary Support Assistant Diploma Course
This course will give you an overview of the veterinary industry, the role played by Veterinary Support Assistants (VSAs), and the most common issues and challenges faced by those working in the profession.
It will equip you with the knowledge you will need to communicate effectively with other members of the veterinary team and further your career in this sector. Working as a VSA is a great way of making a real difference to the lives of sick and injured animals on a daily basis. However, the terminology and technical knowledge required to succeed as a VSA can seem intimidating to industry newcomers.
This course presents key concepts in animal care in a straightforward manner, so that you can begin your career with confidence. You will also obtain a working knowledge of key legislation necessary to keep you and your patients safe.
From administering first aid to routine surgery, you will learn what happens in the consultation rooms and operating theatres in a typical veterinary practice. The course addresses patient care at every stage of treatment, from diagnosis to surgery and post-operation recovery. It focuses primarily on the treatment of common domestic species, but the needs of exotic animals and horses are also addressed.
In light of the increasing emphasis on customer service within the industry, the course also examines the typical customer’s experience as they seek out the best possible care for their pet. Owners can become highly stressed when their beloved pet is ill, and this course contains practical advice for communicating effectively with customers facing emotional strain both in person and on the telephone.
This course will provide anyone looking to work as a VSA with a realistic insight into the workings of a veterinary practice and future options for career progression. It will also be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about animal care or further their knowledge of the veterinary industry in general.
What you will learn:
- An introduction to veterinary medicine and job roles available within the industry
- How to improve your chances of getting a job as a VSA and how to undertake further training once you have obtained a position
- Health and safety issues that affect VSAs including the pieces of legislation addressing animal welfare and workplace safety
- How veterinary patients are cared for and monitored by veterinary staff during their stay
- An overview of animal welfare issues, including common ethical dilemmas and frameworks for making difficult decisions
- Common terminology and equipment used by veterinary staff in consultations and during surgery
- The most common procedures, including diagnostic tests, used in veterinary medicine
- How to handle a variety of animal species, including cats, dogs, horses and small mammals
- How emergency situations are handled, from initial assessment through to the administration of first aid and treatment
- The role of customer service in a modern veterinary surgery and how a practice can establish a positive role within the wider community
Benefits of taking this course:
- You can learn the material any place, any time, and at your own speed.
- All you need is an internet-enabled device.
- Content is presented as brief modules, making learning easy. Access to an online support system.
- A complete overview of the issues faced by those working as VSAs in modern veterinary practices.
- Affordable cost.
This course includes
24/7 Student Support
End of course certification
Lifetime access to your course
Compatible with modern devices
- The key purposes and functions of a veterinary practice
- A brief history of veterinary medicine
- Why it is important to understand the role of each member of a veterinary team
- An overview of the most common roles within a practice, including the necessary qualifications and main responsibilities
- The entry requirements for entering into the veterinary profession as a veterinary support assistant (VSA)
- Why it is beneficial to pursue a formal qualification
- The most popular qualifications open to VSAs
- The main areas covered by VSA qualifications
- Why you need to be aware of health and safety laws and legislation from the outset of your career in the veterinary industry
- The purposes of health and safety legislation
- The nature and purpose of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
- The nature and purpose of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Why a VSA should be familiar with the techniques used to monitor inpatients
- The assessment process for newly admitted patients
- How veterinary staff ensure that inpatients are given the opportunity to have their usual day to day needs met
- The most commonly monitored measures of health, such as temperature and blood pressure
- What is meant by animal welfare and why it is important to consider the practical and philosophical issues raised by the topic
- The nature and purpose of the Five Freedoms model approach to animal welfare
- The meaning of the term “stakeholders” in relation to animal health and welfare
- The role of ethics in maintaining animal health and welfare
- Why VSAs need to be familiar with common terminology and equipment
- Common prefixes used by veterinary professionals
- Common suffixes used by veterinary professionals
- The equipment most commonly used in a consultation room
- The purpose of anaesthesia and the ways in which it is administered
- The most common surgical procedures carried out by veterinary surgeons
- Diagnostic tests used in veterinary practice to identify health problems in patients
- The day to day practices that comprise nursing care and how they are carried out
- Why animal handling is a key skill for vets, RVNs and VSAs
- Essential points to bear in mind when handling dogs
- Essential points to bear in mind when handling cats
- How to handle small mammals, including hamsters and rabbits
- Why VSAs should be familiar with common emergencies arising in everyday veterinary practice
- The purposes and nature of first aid and who is responsible for its administration
- The importance of triage and initial assessment, in ensuring the best possible outcome for a patient
- An overview of emergency procedures, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), blood transfusions and the Heimlich Manoeuvre
- Why customer service is an important skill for everyone working in a veterinary practice
- How the typical customer selects a veterinary practice
- How understanding the customer’s journey can help you deliver great customer service
- How to interact positively with customers on the telephone
ID: YDFT67YHJ
of achievement
This certificate is presented to
Your Name
For completing the
Veterinary Support Assistant Diploma
on 21st November 2026
Selena Hurford
Selena Hurford
Course Tutor
Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan
Head of Academy
Anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take the course. There are no entry requirements to take the course.
The course is broken down into 10 individual modules. Each module takes between 20 and 90 minutes on average to study. Although you are free to spend as much or as little time as you feel necessary on each module, simply log in and out of the course at your convenience.
You can study the course any time you like. Simply log in and out of the web based course as often as you require. The course is compatible with all computers, tablet devices and smart phones so you can even study while on the move!
Once you have completed all 10 modules there is a multiple choice test. The questions will be on a range of topics found within the 10 modules. The test, like the course, is online and can be taken a time and location of your choosing.
The pass mark for the test is 70%.
If you don’t pass the test first time you will get further opportunities to take the test again after extra study. There are no limits to the number of times you can take the test. All test retakes are included within the price of the course.
You can either use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Solo cards or PayPal account to pay for the online course. Our site uses the latest SSL encryption to ensure your safety. All payments are handled securely by PayPal.
You can begin the course immediately after your payment has been received. You will create your login details during the checkout process. We will also send you an email confirming your login details.
We estimate that the course will take about 12 hours to complete in total, plus an additional 30 minutes for the end of course test.
Once you have been awarded your certificate it is valid for life. The certificate does not expire or need renewing.
A super user-friendly website, with very pertinent course content. Truly enjoyed the study material and the pace at which I could study was really great. I was delighted to receive my Diploma.
I had some technical problems along the way and contacted your student support team a couple of times and found them to be most helpful and the response time/turnaround was so quick.
I have also signed up to do the Events Planning Diploma and will definitely be studying further through your Academy. Once again a huge thank you – your support team are really helpful, friendly and efficient!!
Tanya Olsen
The course was very useful. It covers everything you need starting from the introduction to the comments. Everything was explained in a way to understand easily each one module of it. I really liked the pivot table module.
It is so helpful, don’t know how I lived until now without it at work. It is just amazing. I am so glad that I started the course and I am proud of myself that I did it in a such a short time.
Thank you for this. Can’t wait to start the next one – intermediate level! Hopefully I will pass it. And who knows – maybe after that I will pass the advanced one.
Eleonora Kanazirova
Very interesting topics, I feel like I have expanded my knowledge and have more of an understanding and can use the techniques I have learnt professionally. I feel more confident in my ability!
I enjoyed the videos of the makeup application and thought the flow of the course was very well structured which made it easy to follow. It had me excited to do more and complete next stages as it was in bite size chunks.
I am very happy with the programme thoroughly enjoyed it I wish it was longer so I could learn more. Thank you for the course!
Phoebe Shufflebotham
I found the course very useful. I loved every minute of the course, the layout is clear and very easy to use. The take notes section is very useful, handy if your pen runs out of ink, which mine did.
The information was easy to read and follow. The pictures and videos was laid out very well, which are easy to follow. The PDF was great to follow and great to have for after the course to refresh your memory. Perfect for balloon modellers.
Thank you so much for the course. I have now added another certificate to my CV and customer like the idea of the certificate ? Thank you again.
Kirstie Hood
Great course. Easily readable online, no jargon and had up to date information and illustrations as well as the sources that were used within the modules. Most modules had an assessment at the end where you could check your own knowledge - this was a great add on to ensure you are up to speed. The exam was easily laid out great with no tricky to read questions. The completion certificate was easily accessible on completion and you are given your grade immediately after the exam - it even gives you the option to see your incorrect answers so you can review them in your own leisure. All of the modules are printable so you can ready back as often as you like. Not only this, but throughout the whole course, you have the ability to email representatives of the course who will answer any questions you may have and they are very prompt with their responses. I was overall very happy with this course and will definitely keep New Skills Academy in mind when taking future course. Thank you!
Gemma Johnston
This course is really concise and well written. I am exceptionally pleased with my purchase and I am hoping that I will soon progress towards a job in this industry.
You can complete this all online but you also have the option to save the modules in pdf or print the modules for your records which is great for revision.
Great price and lots of help
Rochelle Hughes
Veterinary Support Assistant Diploma Course
This course will give you an overview of the veterinary industry, the role played by Veterinary Support Assistants (VSAs), and the most common issues and challenges faced by those working in the profession.
It will equip you with the knowledge you will need to communicate effectively with other members of the veterinary team and further your career in this sector. Working as a VSA is a great way of making a real difference to the lives of sick and injured animals on a daily basis. However, the terminology and technical knowledge required to succeed as a VSA can seem intimidating to industry newcomers.
This course presents key concepts in animal care in a straightforward manner, so that you can begin your career with confidence. You will also obtain a working knowledge of key legislation necessary to keep you and your patients safe.
From administering first aid to routine surgery, you will learn what happens in the consultation rooms and operating theatres in a typical veterinary practice. The course addresses patient care at every stage of treatment, from diagnosis to surgery and post-operation recovery. It focuses primarily on the treatment of common domestic species, but the needs of exotic animals and horses are also addressed.
In light of the increasing emphasis on customer service within the industry, the course also examines the typical customer’s experience as they seek out the best possible care for their pet. Owners can become highly stressed when their beloved pet is ill, and this course contains practical advice for communicating effectively with customers facing emotional strain both in person and on the telephone.
This course will provide anyone looking to work as a VSA with a realistic insight into the workings of a veterinary practice and future options for career progression. It will also be of interest to anyone who wishes to learn more about animal care or further their knowledge of the veterinary industry in general.
What you will learn:
- An introduction to veterinary medicine and job roles available within the industry
- How to improve your chances of getting a job as a VSA and how to undertake further training once you have obtained a position
- Health and safety issues that affect VSAs including the pieces of legislation addressing animal welfare and workplace safety
- How veterinary patients are cared for and monitored by veterinary staff during their stay
- An overview of animal welfare issues, including common ethical dilemmas and frameworks for making difficult decisions
- Common terminology and equipment used by veterinary staff in consultations and during surgery
- The most common procedures, including diagnostic tests, used in veterinary medicine
- How to handle a variety of animal species, including cats, dogs, horses and small mammals
- How emergency situations are handled, from initial assessment through to the administration of first aid and treatment
- The role of customer service in a modern veterinary surgery and how a practice can establish a positive role within the wider community
Benefits of taking this course:
- You can learn the material any place, any time, and at your own speed.
- All you need is an internet-enabled device.
- Content is presented as brief modules, making learning easy. Access to an online support system.
- A complete overview of the issues faced by those working as VSAs in modern veterinary practices.
- Affordable cost.
This course includes
24/7 Student Support
End of course certification
Lifetime access to your course
Compatible with modern devices
- The key purposes and functions of a veterinary practice
- A brief history of veterinary medicine
- Why it is important to understand the role of each member of a veterinary team
- An overview of the most common roles within a practice, including the necessary qualifications and main responsibilities
- The entry requirements for entering into the veterinary profession as a veterinary support assistant (VSA)
- Why it is beneficial to pursue a formal qualification
- The most popular qualifications open to VSAs
- The main areas covered by VSA qualifications
- Why you need to be aware of health and safety laws and legislation from the outset of your career in the veterinary industry
- The purposes of health and safety legislation
- The nature and purpose of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
- The nature and purpose of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Why a VSA should be familiar with the techniques used to monitor inpatients
- The assessment process for newly admitted patients
- How veterinary staff ensure that inpatients are given the opportunity to have their usual day to day needs met
- The most commonly monitored measures of health, such as temperature and blood pressure
- What is meant by animal welfare and why it is important to consider the practical and philosophical issues raised by the topic
- The nature and purpose of the Five Freedoms model approach to animal welfare
- The meaning of the term “stakeholders” in relation to animal health and welfare
- The role of ethics in maintaining animal health and welfare
- Why VSAs need to be familiar with common terminology and equipment
- Common prefixes used by veterinary professionals
- Common suffixes used by veterinary professionals
- The equipment most commonly used in a consultation room
- The purpose of anaesthesia and the ways in which it is administered
- The most common surgical procedures carried out by veterinary surgeons
- Diagnostic tests used in veterinary practice to identify health problems in patients
- The day to day practices that comprise nursing care and how they are carried out
- Why animal handling is a key skill for vets, RVNs and VSAs
- Essential points to bear in mind when handling dogs
- Essential points to bear in mind when handling cats
- How to handle small mammals, including hamsters and rabbits
- Why VSAs should be familiar with common emergencies arising in everyday veterinary practice
- The purposes and nature of first aid and who is responsible for its administration
- The importance of triage and initial assessment, in ensuring the best possible outcome for a patient
- An overview of emergency procedures, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), blood transfusions and the Heimlich Manoeuvre
- Why customer service is an important skill for everyone working in a veterinary practice
- How the typical customer selects a veterinary practice
- How understanding the customer’s journey can help you deliver great customer service
- How to interact positively with customers on the telephone
ID: YDFT67YHJ
of achievement
This certificate is presented to
Your Name
For completing the
Veterinary Support Assistant Diploma
on 21st November 2026
Selena Hurford
Selena Hurford
Course Tutor
Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan
Head of Academy
Anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter is encouraged to take the course. There are no entry requirements to take the course.
The course is broken down into 10 individual modules. Each module takes between 20 and 90 minutes on average to study. Although you are free to spend as much or as little time as you feel necessary on each module, simply log in and out of the course at your convenience.
You can study the course any time you like. Simply log in and out of the web based course as often as you require. The course is compatible with all computers, tablet devices and smart phones so you can even study while on the move!
Once you have completed all 10 modules there is a multiple choice test. The questions will be on a range of topics found within the 10 modules. The test, like the course, is online and can be taken a time and location of your choosing.
The pass mark for the test is 70%.
If you don’t pass the test first time you will get further opportunities to take the test again after extra study. There are no limits to the number of times you can take the test. All test retakes are included within the price of the course.
You can either use your Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Solo cards or PayPal account to pay for the online course. Our site uses the latest SSL encryption to ensure your safety. All payments are handled securely by PayPal.
You can begin the course immediately after your payment has been received. You will create your login details during the checkout process. We will also send you an email confirming your login details.
We estimate that the course will take about 12 hours to complete in total, plus an additional 30 minutes for the end of course test.
Once you have been awarded your certificate it is valid for life. The certificate does not expire or need renewing.
A super user-friendly website, with very pertinent course content. Truly enjoyed the study material and the pace at which I could study was really great. I was delighted to receive my Diploma.
I had some technical problems along the way and contacted your student support team a couple of times and found them to be most helpful and the response time/turnaround was so quick.
I have also signed up to do the Events Planning Diploma and will definitely be studying further through your Academy. Once again a huge thank you – your support team are really helpful, friendly and efficient!!
Tanya Olsen
The course was very useful. It covers everything you need starting from the introduction to the comments. Everything was explained in a way to understand easily each one module of it. I really liked the pivot table module.
It is so helpful, don’t know how I lived until now without it at work. It is just amazing. I am so glad that I started the course and I am proud of myself that I did it in a such a short time.
Thank you for this. Can’t wait to start the next one – intermediate level! Hopefully I will pass it. And who knows – maybe after that I will pass the advanced one.
Eleonora Kanazirova
Very interesting topics, I feel like I have expanded my knowledge and have more of an understanding and can use the techniques I have learnt professionally. I feel more confident in my ability!
I enjoyed the videos of the makeup application and thought the flow of the course was very well structured which made it easy to follow. It had me excited to do more and complete next stages as it was in bite size chunks.
I am very happy with the programme thoroughly enjoyed it I wish it was longer so I could learn more. Thank you for the course!
Phoebe Shufflebotham
I found the course very useful. I loved every minute of the course, the layout is clear and very easy to use. The take notes section is very useful, handy if your pen runs out of ink, which mine did.
The information was easy to read and follow. The pictures and videos was laid out very well, which are easy to follow. The PDF was great to follow and great to have for after the course to refresh your memory. Perfect for balloon modellers.
Thank you so much for the course. I have now added another certificate to my CV and customer like the idea of the certificate ? Thank you again.
Kirstie Hood
Great course. Easily readable online, no jargon and had up to date information and illustrations as well as the sources that were used within the modules. Most modules had an assessment at the end where you could check your own knowledge - this was a great add on to ensure you are up to speed. The exam was easily laid out great with no tricky to read questions. The completion certificate was easily accessible on completion and you are given your grade immediately after the exam - it even gives you the option to see your incorrect answers so you can review them in your own leisure. All of the modules are printable so you can ready back as often as you like. Not only this, but throughout the whole course, you have the ability to email representatives of the course who will answer any questions you may have and they are very prompt with their responses. I was overall very happy with this course and will definitely keep New Skills Academy in mind when taking future course. Thank you!
Gemma Johnston
This course is really concise and well written. I am exceptionally pleased with my purchase and I am hoping that I will soon progress towards a job in this industry.
You can complete this all online but you also have the option to save the modules in pdf or print the modules for your records which is great for revision.
Great price and lots of help
Rochelle Hughes
Why you should study with us
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Wow what an incredible insight for the start of anyone's journey in property. This course gives you so much information and there are tests and questions on each of the modules. The course is very easy to follow and well laid out. You can actually make notes on the pages of each module using the notes tab! I am very excited to say that I passed and I only spent one week on this course. I will print all the PDF information and keep it in a file with my certificate. I feel very confident for my future plans now I have completed this course.
Nichola Anderson
Very interesting and helpful course. I ve learned a lot of interesting things about make up and the tutorials were very helpful and easy to understand. I really reccomend this course for everyone who is passionate about make up and wish to develop their skills and make a career from their hobby.
Nicoleta Lucaci
The course was clearly set out with helpful end of week tests which built my knowledge. Being dyslexic I found the course was set out in an easy to understand way. I was able to pass the test on my first attempt. The downloaded pdf are a useful resource that you can keep forever. Looking forward to the next course
Ross Dunsten
Yet another well laid out course. This is my 3rd course so far with New Skills Academy.
More than likely will be back for another one soon. This course was enjoyable to do, and I learnt a lot and passed first try. My certificate will be up on the wall soon.
Rob Coops
I am a doctor. This course is well organized, covering all areas of CBT. The videos and practical tips are very helpful. All the modules are arranged with good explanations and examples. Also each module consists of quick test and assignment which enables you to gain knowledge. Finally I would like to thank the New Skills Academy team.
Dr. M. Arshad
This course is a great way to brush up on my rusty excel skills, I recommend this course to anyone looking for something to do during lockdown, it's easy to use and talks you through each stage step by step. It has given me the confidence I need to further my career.
Georgia Darke
I found this course incredibly useful, as it provided me with practical knowledge which I can implement in my role as a Support Worker. The videos were clear and concise, and the downloadable worksheets reinforced what I had learned as I was able to put pen to paper. Overall, a fantastic course for a great price! I am looking forward to taking on my next one.
Teleisha Harley
I took up this course initially to help me with my own dog, but found that as I worked through the material I actually started thinking that this could be something that I could use to make a second income. From start to finish I found the course engaging and interesting. I am now doing another dog related course and am experiencing the same level of enjoyment. I would recommend New Skills Academy without hesitation.
Keith Smith
