We know the value that well trained veterinary nurses can bring to veterinary practice, and we’re committed to creating CPD that helps vet nurses – whatever their level – expand their knowledge and skills. In fact, we provide so much CPD for veterinary nurses that it can all get a little confusing. So, we decided to put together a list of our top 7 vet nurse CPD courses for 2026 to help you decide which one suits your career.
Choosing CPD as a veterinary nurse
When it comes to choosing your vet nurse CPD, you’ll first want to decide what sort of CPD you want to do. Do you want to do a practical short course, which gives you instant skills to take back to practice, or work towards a further qualification like a veterinary nurse certificate, which gets you international recognition of your further skills?
Another important consideration is what subject or discipline you want to study in. The RCVS vet nurse CPD requirements state that nurses should plan CPD, which allows you to identify and fill skill gaps or gain confidence in areas you’re struggling with. So, have a think about what subjects you’re less confident in as you plan your CPD. Aside from that, you’ll want to think about whether the speaker is a good one, whether you learn best hands-on or need the flexibility of online learning, and when you can get away to do your CPD.
Our most popular CPD courses for veterinary nurses
Without further ado, let’s look at our CPD for veterinary nurses, and what’s popular for 2026.
1. Veterinary Nurse Anaesthesia Certificate
Topping our list once again, the veterinary nursing anaesthesia certificate programme is ever-popular. Over the course, you'll gain important skills, including anaesthesia for complex cases, fluid therapy, exotic anaesthesia, and CPR. After the assessments, you can achieve a Nurse Certificate – a globally recognised further qualification accredited by the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS). For those who struggle to travel, the online programme to achieve a certificate in veterinary anaesthesia starts in June.
Already got an anaesthesia certificate, or very experienced in veterinary anaesthesia already? We also offer an Advanced Certificate in Anaesthesia Nursing to help you progress your skills further.
2. Small Animal Nutrition Certificate
For veterinary nurses who enjoy clinics and client contact, the Nurse Certificate in Small Animal Nutrition is ideal. It’s always a popular course, because nutrition impacts so much of our pets’ lives. It’s also a good one for veterinary nurse careers - every veterinary practice wants a nurse they can direct clients to for nutrition queries! Our veterinary nurse nutrition certificate programme starts in October and, over 8 modules, prepares nurses for the ISVPS exams to achieve a Nurse Certificate (NCert), an internationally recognised further qualification for vet nurses.
Sound interesting? Read more about our Small Animal Nutrition Certificate programme for veterinary nurses.
3. RECOVER ALS and BLS Certification
Ever-popular, this CPR course is designed for vets and nurses to complete together, although this isn’t mandatory. On registering for the full course, you’ll get access to the Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) online training with RECOVER. You should complete this ahead of the practical day, which provides 6 hours of CPD. Delegates that complete both the online and the practical day will be certified ‘RECOVER Rescuers’ - a recognised CPR qualification. If you've already done your online training, you can just book the practical day.
We’re running the practical days in March and July in Sheffield and September in Swindon, but entry to the online course closes to bookings a month before these dates to ensure people have enough time to complete their online training. Numbers are strictly limited to allow proper teaching and support, so book now to avoid disappointment!
Find out more about our CPR training for veterinary nurses.
4. Practical Ultrasound Triage CPD for Veterinary Nurses
Another fantastic CPD option for vet nurses focusing their CPD around emergency care is this practical ultrasound triage course. This one-day ultrasound CPD course will teach you how to do Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) scans, including TFAST and AFAST scans, to triage emergency patients when the vet is already busy. The course was so popular last year that for 2026 we're offering even more days! Book in February, May, or July – but it fills up fast, so if you want to get 6 hours of CPD in veterinary nurse ultrasound skills, get booking!
Find out more about our veterinary nurse ultrasound triage course.
5. Advanced Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care Nursing
If you’ve got at least 5 years of experience as a veterinary nurse or already have a Nurse Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care, the Advanced Nurse Certificate might be of interest. This popular course is designed to help nurses extend their emergency medicine skills further, covering topics such as transfusion medicine and toxicology, as well as a unique clinic management module to help nurses manage emergency medicine teams. This is not just CPD for veterinary nurses – it's a next-level certificate programme for those that want to reach the very top of their game in ECC nursing. The 8-module programme next starts in August 2026.
Find out more about the Advanced Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care Nursing or read about the differences between the nurse certificate and advanced nurse certificate programmes.
6. One-day Online Wildlife Nursing Course
We’d argue there isn’t a veterinary nurse in practice who hasn’t tried to hand-rear wildlife, pick ticks off hedgehogs, or deal with deer RTAs. This course (suitable for both vets and nurses) covers ethics, handling, triage, treatment, and rehabilitation and release of wildlife, making it a must-do CPD course for veterinary nurses. This one-day course is held entirely online, so you’ll just need to book the time off work and curl up on the sofa with your laptop to get your 6 CPD hours. We’re only holding the course once this year – in July – so book now to reserve your space!
Find out more about the short online Wildlife Nursing Course.
7. Nurse Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging
Not a day goes by that you aren't taking radiographs, making diagnostic imaging one of the cornerstones of veterinary nursing in the UK today. So it's perhaps no surprise that every year, this is a popular veterinary nurse certificate programme. The 8 modules are delivered in a blended format – online theory and in-person practical sessions – so that they’re easily accessible for even the busiest vet nurses. It starts in May, so get booking!
Find out more about the Nurse Certificate in Diagnostic Imaging.
More help choosing your vet nurse CPD
Of course, we have more CPD for veterinary nurses than just the list above. Our CPD Advisors are here to help you decide on the skills you want to develop and plan for a long and happy career. Or, if you prefer self-service, check out the rest of the content in our CPD & Career Hub for articles to help you plan and succeed in your career.
After graduating from the University of Nottingham in 2016, Jo moved into small animal practice in the midlands, where she grew a passion for client communication and the subjects that most need it - like geriatrics and dermatology. Since 2020 she has worked as a locum vet in the Channel Islands as well as as a content writer in pet health topics.
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