COURSE OVERVIEW

The move from your CCS year into private practice is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel daunting.

This 16-module, 20 CPD point course is designed to ease that transition. It provides practical guidance and support across all aspects of small animal practice, helping you navigate the realities of consults, cases, and client expectations with greater confidence.

By building on the strong theoretical foundation you’ve gained at Onderstepoort, the course offers a clear framework for where to start, how to grow, and how to establish a solid footing in practice. Our goal is to give you the tools, clarity, and reassurance you need to step into private practice feeling capable and supported.

Our mission: To help you master those day-one competencies so you can walk into private practice feeling calm, confident, and ready to kick ass in this awesome profession of ours.

Your mentors: A dynamic team of South African veterinarians working across the globe, along with veterinary coach Desiré Rees.

The goal: For you to love your work, take this challenging profession in your stride, and most importantly – Thrive!

A huge thank you to our valued industry partners for joining us on this journey!

COURSE OUTLINE

Module 1:

Mastering your Consults & Admin

  • History taking & perfecting your clinical exam
  • The diagnostic plan & optimising workflow
  • Patient histories & referral letters
  • Pharmacy & dispensing rules
  • Euthanasia

Module 2:

Challenging Pet Owners and Financial Discussions

  • Difficult clients
    • Pet owner profiles
    • How to win them over & when to draw the line
  • Financial discussions
    • Confident conversations
    • Empowering pet owners

Module 3:

Anaesthetics

  • The pre-anaesthetic exam & machine refresher
  • Protocols – routine vs compromised patients
  • Take the stress out of anaesthetics – monitoring simplified
  • Anaesthetic emergencies

Module 4:

Fundamentals of Ultrasound

  • How to use your machine effectively
  • Patient factors and managing expectations
  • Ultrasound image interpretation and recognition of the ‘basic’ organs
  • Beginner ultrasound-guided procedures

Module 5:

Anaesthetics

  • Introduction to Anaesthetics
  • The Anaesthetic Machine
  • Anaesthetic Drugs
  • Anaesthetic Monitoring
  • Recovery
  • Anaesthetic Complications and Emergencies

Module 6:

Emergencies

  • PART 1 – Fundamentals of emergency & critical care
  • PART 2 – Respiratory emergencies
  • PART 3 – Common emergencies

Module 7:

Cardiorespiratory

  • Is it heart or lungs? Navigating the dyspnoeic patient
  • Cardiorespiratory diagnostic imaging
  • Practical airway sampling
  • Common conditions

Module 8:

Dermatology

  • Mastering dermatology consultations
  • Pattern recognition – primary & secondary lesions
  • Common conditions – diagnostic & treatment roadmaps
  • Client communication – improving understanding & compliance

Module 9:

Cytology

  • Blood smears
  • FNA tips, when to biopsy & common neoplasia
  • Skin & ears
  • Urine sediment

Module 10:

Urogenital System

  • PART 1
    • A practical approach to presenting abnormalities
    • Urine analysis & important diagnostics
    • Common urogenital diseases
  • PART 2 – Feline urethral obstruction – the emergency consultation

Module 11:

Musculoskeletal System

  • A stepwise approach to the lameness exam
  • Common musculoskeletal conditions
  • Osteoarthritis – the multimodal approach
  • When to refer

Module 12:

Neurology

  • Mastering the neuro exam
  • What’s my next step?
  • Client discussions
  • Common neurological conditions

Module 13:

Endocrine

  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Cushing’s
  • Addison’s
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism

Module 14:

Applied Clinical Pathology

  • Multisystemic – pyrexia, anaemia, abdominal effusions, FIP
  • AHDS, pancreatitis, triaditis, liver disease
  • Urethral obstruction, CKD
  • Endocrine

Module 15:

The Anaemic Patient

  • A systematic approach
  • Common conditions
  • Practical tips for blood transfusions

Module 16:

Ophthalmology

  • Ocular emergencies
  • Common conditions & important drugs
  • Diagnostic tests for the GP vet
  • When to refer

COURSE DETAILS

  • 16 comprehensive modules
  • 8 months‘ access to the online Khula Classroom
  • Course runs from 1 October 2025 – 1 June 2026
  • Work through course material at your own pace
  • Over 25 hours of learning material
  • Downloadable course material, bonus content and practice resources
  • Fully CPD accredited for 20 CPD points
  • Complementary training material provided by MSD Animal Health and Hill’s Pet Nutrition

COST:

R5 150 (incl VAT)

Download full Course detailer Here

REGISTRATION FORM

Kindly fill in your details below. Once your details have been validated, we will contact you with further information and an invoice within 3 working days.

By clicking the “Sign Me Up” button, you confirm that you have read and agree to Khula Vet’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.