Nurse Distance Education Courses – Frequently asked questions

How long are the courses?

The ISFM Certificate in Feline Nursing is completed over 12 months
The ISFM Diploma with Foundation in Feline Nursing is completed over 18 months
The ISFM Diploma is completed over 12 months

Do I have to do the Certificate course first before I can do the Diploma?

We recommend completing the Certificate course before embarking on the Diploma. However, we do recognise that this may not suit everyone, and so we are able to offer an alternative route. For students who have not taken the Certificate course but wish to take the Diploma, 2 Foundation modules must be completed and passed at the beginning of the Diploma to allow you to complete the remainder of the course, thereby extending the course to 18 months.

Can I do the nursing course if I am not a veterinary nurse or technician?

The short answer is no. Both the nursing courses are designed for those working in a veterinary clinic and dealing with cat owners i.e. Registered Veterinary Nurses (or equivalent). These courses build on skills and knowledge obtained during nurse training and look at how to apply this to feline patients. A good underpinning knowledge of veterinary nursing (including anatomy & physiology, medical and surgical nursing, laboratory and pharmacology etc.) is therefore required as a pre-requisite. The course ‘Cat Friendly Veterinary Professional’ would be an alternative course suitable for an experienced Patient Care Assistant.

I am a nurse but currently not working full time in practice – will I need case study examples to complete the course?

Do I need computer skills to undertake the course?

Yes, computer skills are essential. The course is entirely online based and materials are accessed via a Virtual Learning Environment, so internet access is also required. Students are required to complete and submit Assessment Activities electronically, and so a basic understanding of Microsoft Office (or equivalent) including Microsoft Word is useful.

If I am unable to start the course can I get a refund?

If you have paid in full for the course and are subsequently unable to proceed, you are entitled to a full refund up until the start date.  If the course has started there is no refund. 

Are there any options to pay in instalments?

We do not offer any options to pay by instalment.

How is the course assessed?

Each module of the course contains assessments that must be passed in order to successfully complete the unit. Examples of some of the types of assessments we use are multiple choice quizzes, short and long written answers and development of educational materials such as handouts and posters.

Are the nursing courses externally accredited?

Our qualifications are not recognised by an external examining body. However, we have been running distance education courses for many years and consider ourselves very experienced in providing this type of learning. Our contributors to course materials and markers are some of the most qualified in the field. Additionally, although we cannot provide external validation, as an organisation we are recognised internationally and so hope our studying with us and achieving our qualifications is acknowledged and respected by other organisations.

How many hours of study does the course involve?

The amount of time you will need to spend studying for the course will depend on your underlying knowledge and experience, and will vary between students. However, students who have completed the courses have told that they have spent around 10-12 hours per week working on the Certificate and 15-17 hours per week for the Diploma on average.

Are there deadlines for the modules/course?

Yes, each module will have a deadline by which you need to submit all your assessments. Each course is only available whilst it is running – once the course has finished you will no longer have access to the learning platform and so will not be able to complete the course.

What if I am unable to meet the deadlines (Extenuating Circumstances)?

Extensions due to extenuating circumstances will be assessed on application via email to the Learning Team at [email protected]. It is impossible to list all circumstances that would NOT be accepted as extenuating circumstances but some more obvious examples are personal disruptions or events which could have been anticipated; such as holidays, weddings, moving house, changing address or employment, religious holidays or festivals which are usually known in advance.

Where possible, Extenuating Circumstance Requests should be submitted before a module deadline. If you have missed a deadline you have 5 working days to apply.

Are the courses all in English?

Yes, all the course notes and assessments are in English and your answers must be in English. We encourage overseas nurses to sign up for our courses, and although we will take into account that English is not the first language for these students, you should still have a good understanding of the English language.