A woman wants to become a veterinary physiotherapist after the tragic death of her parents

A woman gives up her career to become a veterinary physiotherapist after the death of her parents. Katie Nicols, 45, is currently a commercial manager for a global company before taking a course to qualify as a veterinary physiotherapist.

Katie hopes to help rehabilitate animals after injury or surgery at her own practice. But as the industry moves increasingly towards regulation, Katie became concerned that the course she was enrolled in was not a regulated qualification and was not accredited by RAMP, a voluntary industry regulatory body (IRB) recognized by DEFRA.

Kate, who lives in Iron Acton in South Gloucestershire, realized this could have a significant impact on her future ability to be registered, seen by vets and recognized by insurance companies, and now he changed courses to continue his studies.

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She said: “I realized that without being accredited by RAMP and the course not actually being a regulated qualification, my education wouldn’t allow me to take my insurance work and veterinary referrals and that scared me really. Especially when this course is such a big step for me.

“It meant everything to know I was doing a high quality course because when I qualify I have to compete with established physios and have a proper career in the industry. I have to have the knowledge and skills to support myself.”

Kate is now studying at the Academy of Veterinary Physiotherapy which is accredited by RAMP and offers regulated qualifications which are listed in the Regulated Qualification Framework (RQF) and hopes to qualify within two years alongside her ongoing commitments.

Animal lover Kate, who lives with her partner Karl and three dogs Max, Jess and Ollie, has always dreamed of working with animals. He originally studied for a degree in Equine Studies at Aberystwyth University in the late 1990s.

Kate also cares for three horses, one retired, a companion pony and a hotblood that she competes in dressage and currently rides at an advanced intermediate level. Kate is also a British Dressage List 4 judge. But then life took over and she ended up in a sales role, rising through the ranks to the position she now holds with a medical packaging company.

However, Kate’s perspective changed completely when, in 2016, her mother died suddenly, a shock that set Kate on the path to fulfilling her ambitions for a new life. She said: “My mum died sadly which was a huge shock, she wasn’t even retired and she was 61. I had already lost my father ten years ago and it all made me really think about where my heart was and what I wanted. to do with my time.

“I’ve always had horses and cats and dogs and I knew if I was going to make a change I had to stop thinking about it and start doing it. Going to university wasn’t an option, so I looked for courses I could do alongside work that offered distance learning and hands-on training.”

Kate is now enjoying her course under the guidance of veterinary physiotherapist Wendy Vaughan, who founded the Academy, an approved training provider of the award-winning Ofqual-regulated iPET Network, which offers regulated qualifications that are also recognized and RAMP accredited. .

These new qualifications ensure that the dream job of a veterinary physiotherapist is made available through a flexible, accessible and achievable route to all those wishing to work in the animal care sector.

Wendy said: “This is the course I wish I could have done, we offer study skills, personal and professional development and all the technical skills needed, delivered with flexibility and a real desire to bring people in the industry operating at a high level.”

Kate added: “I can’t wait to work for myself and now for someone else to get a huge bonus. Being with animals and helping them is amazing and this is my dream come true.”