Veterinary nurse
To practise as a veterinary nurse in Sweden, you must hold either a Swedish veterinary nursing licence or a special permit. Veterinary nursing licences and special permits are issued by the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Belonging to the Animal Health Personnel
As a veterinary nurse, you are part of the animal health Personnel. This means that
- the public can rely on your professional qualifications and competence
- you must practice your profession in accordance with science and proven experience
- you are personally responsible for the treatments and procedures you carry out
- you must comply with the professional requirements applicable to your profession, including record-keeping, the issuing of certificates, and confidentiality obligations
- you are required to report suspicions that animals are not being kept or cared for in accordance with animal welfare legislation
- you are required to report suspected cases of notifiable animal diseases, such as salmonellosis and epizootics diseases, as well as certain other diseases
- you are subject to official supervision and may be subject to disciplinary proceedings before the Veterinary Disciplinary Board for Animal Health Professionals (Ansvarsnämnden för djurens hälso- och sjukvård).
As a veterinary nurse, you may independently perform professional duties without delegation, provided that you have both the formal and practical competence required for the task. Formal competence refers to the theoretical knowledge and qualifications obtained through your education. Practical competence refers to the skills and experience required to perform specific procedures safely and correctly.
If you lack the practical competence required for a practical procedure or treatment, you must not carry it out, even if you have the necessary formal competence. You are personally responsible for ensuring that you have the competence required and for how the treatment or procedure is performed.
Working in Animal Health Care
There are two categories of personnel working in animal health care.
The first category, Animal Health Personnel, includes licensed veterinarians, licensed veterinary nurses and other regulated professions within animal health care.
The second category is Other Personnel, which includes professions such as veterinary assistants, certain farriers, equine therapists and animal massage therapists.
If you are not part of the Animal Health Personnel, you are considered Other Personnel and are subject to restrictions on the treatments you may perform (the Swedish ”treatment ban”).
In brief, these restrictions mean that you are not allowed to
- perform surgical procedures or administer injections
- carry out treatments that may cause more than insignificant suffering to an animal,
- treat animals that have been sedated, anesthetized, or given local anaesthesia by injection
- treat animals that may be suspected of having an epizootic disease or a zoonotic disease.
You can find more detailed information about these restrictions at the link below. Please note that the information is only available in Swedish.
Can a Foreign Qualification Lead to a Veterinary Nurse License in Sweden?
In Sweden, it is possible to work in animal health care either as a licensed veterinary nurse or as a veterinary assistant (djurvårdare).
The distinction between veterinary nurse and veterinary assistant does not exist in all countries. As a result, it can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a qualification in animal health care obtained abroad meets the requirements for a Swedish veterinary nurse license.
Qualifications Obtained Abroad
If you have completed an animal health care qualification abroad and would like to understand how it compares to professions in Sweden, the following questions may help you make a preliminary assessment:
- Does my education correspond to the formal qualifications required of veterinary nurses in Sweden?
- Is my education at university level?
- Am I qualified to work independently and on my own professional responsibility after completing my education?
- Am I authorised to vaccinate animals and issue vaccination certificates?
- Am I authorised, under certain conditions, to perform minor surgical procedures?
- Is my education primarily focused on dogs, cats and horses?
- If I were working in human health care, would my professional title be equivalent to that of a licensed nurse?
If you answered ”Yes” to most of the questions, your qualification is more likely to correspond to the profession of veterinary nurse in Sweden.
If you have answered ”No” to most of the questions, your education is more likely to correspond to the role of veterinary assistant (djurvårdare) in Sweden.
Please note that these questions are intended only as a general guide to help you assess how your qualification compares to Swedish professions in animal health care. They cannot be used to determine whether you are eligible for a Swedish veterinary nurse licence.
The veterinary nursing programme in Sweden is offered by the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU). It is a three-year university programme focused primarily on dogs, cats and horses.
There are no formal educational requirements to work as a veterinary assistant (djurvårdare) in Sweden. However, many veterinary assistants have completed upper secondary education in animal care or a supplementary vocational training programme.
Studying to Become a Veterinary Nurse Abroad
It is not possible to determine in advance weather a qualification obtained abroad will lead to a Swedish veterinary nurse license. The assessment depends on several factors, including the content of the education at the time it was completed, any additional studies, and relevant professional experience. For this reason, each application is assessed individually.
However, the following guidelines may be useful:
- Qualifications from a third country (a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland) should be at university level, comprise at least three years of study, and have content corresponding to that of the Swedish veterinary nursing programme.
- Qualifications from another EEA-country or Switzerland should, as far as possible, meet the criteria above to improve the chances of obtaining a Swedish veterinary nurse licence.
How to Apply for a Veterinary Nurse Licence
Applications for a veterinary nurse license must be submitted through our online service.
As part of your application, you will need to upload digital copies of your diplomas, transcripts and other relevant certificates. You may either scan the documents or upload clear photographs of them. All documents must be fully legible to allow us to assess your application.
If the quality of the uploaded documents is insufficient, you may be asked to submit them again, which may result in a longer processing time.
The application fee is paid at the end of the application process using either Visa or Mastercard.
The documents required for your application depend on where you obtained your qualification. Follow the link below for information about the documents you need to submit and further guidance on the application process.
Veterinary Nursing Qualifications obtained in an EU/EEA-country or Switzerland
If you have a degree in veterinary nursing in an EEA-country or Switzerland you need to submit the following documents during the application process:
- A copy of your diploma or other qualification certificate in the original language.
- A translation of the diploma or qualification certificate into Swedish or English. The translation must be completed by an authorised translator.
- A copy of your transcript of records or Diploma Supplement in the original language.
- A translation of your transcript of records or Diploma Supplement into Swedish or English. The translation must be completed by an authorised translator.
- Certificates documenting any relevant professional experience, including information about the duties and responsibilities you performed.
- Certificates documenting any professional experience within animal health care in Sweden.
- A Letter of good standing issued by the competent authority in the country where you have practised your profession. The certificate must confirm that you are not subject to any disciplinary sanctions and must not be more than three months old. If your qualification was awarded less than three months ago, a Letter of good standing is not required. This document is only required if the profession of veterinary nurse, or an equivalent profession, is regulated in the country where you have worked.
- A copy of your passport or other proof of nationality if you are not registered in Swedish Population Register.
- Documentation demonstrating sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language. Knowledge of Danish or Norwegian is considered equivalent to knowledge of Swedish.
Apply through our online service.
You can access the e-service with or without an electronic identification (e-ID), such as Mobile BankID or Freja eID. If you wish to obtain an e-ID, please contact your bank or Freja eID.
If you access the e-service without an e-ID, some functions will not be available. For example, you will not be able to save a partially completed application. If you do not submit your application during the same session, you will need to enter all information again and upload the required documents once more.
Evidence of Swedish Language Proficiency
There are no specific requirements regarding the type of documentation that may be accepted as evidence of sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language. Each application is assessed individually.
Examples of documentation that may be accepted include
- a copy of a certificate from Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) or a similar programme
- a copy of a certificate showing that you have completed studies conducted in Swedish. The studies should correspond to at least one year of education. There are no requirements regarding the subject area, provided that the language of instruction was Swedish
- grades in Swedish from a Swedish upper secondary school
- documentation demonstrating at least one year of professional experience in Sweden where Swedish was the primary working language. Professional experience outside the field of animal health care may also be taken into account.
If you have completed upper secondary education in Sweden but obtained your veterinary nursing qualification from another country, you must still provide documentation demonstrating your knowledge of Swedish in accordance with the examples above.
Exemption from the Requirement to Demonstrate Knowledge of Swedish
If you believe that there are exceptional circumstances that mean you do not need to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language, you may apply for an exemption from this requirement when applying for a license.
There is no specific form for requesting an exemption. Instead you should submit a written request as part of your application, in place of the documentation demonstrating your knowledge of Swedish. We will assess whether the reasons you provide are sufficient to justify an exemption.
Your request for an exemption must include
- a description of the reasons why you are unable to communicate with animal owners in Swedish, keep veterinary medical records in Swedish, and read and understand Swedish legislation and regulations relating to animal health personnel
- a description of how you and your future employer will ensure that communication with animal owners can take place effectively
- a description of how you and your future employer will ensure that veterinary medical records are kept in Swedish
- a description of how you will acquire the necessary knowledge of Swedish legislation and regulations relating to animal health care.
Assessment of Your Application
Once we have received your application, we will send your educational documents to the Swedish Council for Higher Education (UHR) for an evaluation of your qualification. Please note that this process may take some time and can therefore increase the overall processing time for your application.
As a first step, we assess whether your qualification corresponds most closely to the profession veterinary nurse (djursjukskötare) or veterinary assistant (djurvårdare) in Sweden. We evaluate whether your education includes the knowledge and skills required for a Swedish veterinary nurse qualification.
We also assess whether your education has provided you with the fundamental knowledge required to practise in accordance with science and proven experience, which is a legal requirement for animal health personnel in Sweden.
Once the assessment has been completed, we will make a decision on your application. The outcome may be one of the following:
Veterinary Nurse Licence
If your qualification corresponds to the Swedish veterinary nursing qualification in terms of level, duration and content, and you have relevant professional experience in animal health care, you may be eligible for a veterinary nurse licence without having to complete any additional requirements.
You must also be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language.
Compensation Measures
If your qualification corresponds to the profession of veterinary nurse but differs substantially from the Swedish veterinary nursing qualifications in terms of content, you may be required to complete compensation measures before a licence can be granted.
On such measure may be an adaptation period during which you work as a veterinary nurse under a special permit. The required length of the adaptation period is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Working under a special permit gives you the same rights and obligations as a licensed veterinary nurse.
You must also be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language.
Application Rejected
If your qualification corresponds to the profession of veterinary assistant (djurvårdare) and your professional experience is within that profession, your application for a veterinary nurse licence will be rejected.
Veterinary Nursing Qualifications Obtained in a Third Country (Outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland)
To be eligible for a veterinary nurse licence in Sweden on the basis of a qualification obtained in a third country (a country outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland), your qualification must be at university level and comparable to the Swedish veterinary nursing qualification in terms of both duration and content.
If you hold a veterinary nursing qualification from a third country, you must submit the following documents as part of your application:
- A copy of your diploma or other qualification certificate, in the original language.
- A translation of the diploma or qualification certificate into Swedish or English. The translation must be completed by an authorised translator.
- A copy of your transcript of records, Diploma Supplement, or equivalent document in the original language.
- A translation of your transcript of records, Diploma Supplement, or equivalent document into Swedish or English. The translation must be completed by an authorised translator.
- Certificates documenting any professional experience, including information about the duties and responsibilities you performed.
- Certificates documenting any professional experience within animal health care in Sweden.
- A copy of your passport or other proof of nationality if you are not registered in Sweden.
- Documentation demonstrating sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language. Knowledge of Danish or Norwegian is considered equivalent to knowledge of Swedish.
Apply through our online service.
You can log in to the e-service either with or without an electronic identification (e-ID). Examples of e-ID solutions include Mobile BankID and Freja eID. If you would like to obtain an e-ID, please contact your bank or Freja eID.
You can also log in without an e-ID. However, you will not have access to all the functions available in the e-service. For example, you will not be able to save an application that is in progress. This means that if you do not complete and submit your application in one session, you will need to enter all information again and re-upload the required documents.
Evidence of Swedish Language Proficiency
There are no specific requirements regarding the type of documentation that may be accepted as evidence of sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language. Each application is assessed individually.
Examples of documentation that may be accepted include:
- A copy of a certificate from Swedish for Immigrants (SFI) or a similar programme.
- A copy of a certificate showing that you have completed studies conducted in Swedish. The studies should correspond to at least one year of education. There are no requirements regarding the subject area, provided that the language of instruction was Swedish.
- Grades in Swedish from a Swedish upper secondary school.
- Documentation demonstrating at least one year of professional experience in Sweden where Swedish was the primary working language. Professional experience outside the field of animal health care may also be taken into account.
If you have completed upper secondary education in Sweden but obtained your veterinary nursing qualification in another country, you must still provide documentation demonstrating your knowledge of Swedish in accor-dance with the examples above.
Exemption from the Requirement to Demonstrate Knowledge of Swedish
If you believe that there are exceptional circumstances that mean you do not need to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language, you may apply for an exemption from this requirement when applying for a license.
There is no specific form for requesting an exemption. Instead you should submit a written request as part of your application, in place of the documentation demonstrating your knowledge of Swedish. We will assess whether the reasons you provide are sufficient to justify an exemption.
Your request for an exemption must include
- a description of the reasons why you are unable to communicate with animal owners in Swedish, keep veterinary medical records in Swedish, and read and understand Swedish legislation and regulations relating to animal health personnel
- a description of how you and your future employer will ensure that communication with animal owners can take place effectively
- a description of how you and your future employer will ensure that veterinary medical records are kept in Swedish
- a description of how you will acquire the necessary knowledge of Swedish legislation and regulations relating to animal health care.
Assessment of Your Application
As a first step, we assess whether your qualifications corresponds most closely to the profession of veterinary nurse (djursjukskötare) or veterinary assistant (djurvårdare) in Sweden.
We evaluate whether your education includes the knowledge and skills required for a Swedish veterinary nurse qualification. We also assess whether your education has provided you with the fundamental knowledge required to practise in accordance with science and proven experience, which is a legal requirement for animal health personnel in Sweden.
Once the assessment has been completed, we will make a decision on your application. The outcome may be on of the following:
Veterinary Nurse Licence
If your qualification corresponds to the Swedish veterinary nursing qualification in terms of level, duration and content, and you have relevant professional experience in animal health care, you may be eligible for a veterinary nurse license without having to complete any additional requirements.
You must also be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Swedish language.
Special Permit
If your qualification corresponds to the Swedish veterinary nursing qualification in terms of level, duration and content, but you do not have relevant professional experience in animal health care, you must complete an adaptation period while working as a veterinary nurse under a special permit.
The required length of the adaptation period is determined on a case-by-case basis. Working under a special permit gives you the same rights and obligations as a licensed veterinary nurse.
Application rejected
Your application for a veterinary nurse license may be rejected for one or more of the following reasons:
- Your education is not at university level.
- Your education compromises less than three years of study.
- Your qualification does not provide the knowledge and skills required for a veterinary nurse qualification in Sweden.
- Your education does not include one or more of the core subjects covered by the Swedish veterinary nursing programme.
- Your education does not include sufficient training related to the animal species primarily covered by the Swedish veterinary nursing programme: dogs, cats and horses.
- Your education does not include training relating to any of the following animal species: dogs, cats or horses.
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