Regulation
- Veterinary medicine is regulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
- The RCVS regulatory function is authorised by the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966).
- In the UK the term “Veterinary Surgeon” is the general description for all veterinarians, the preferred term in most other countries.
Veterinary Specialist Recognition
European Veterinary Specialists®, Diplomates of Colleges recognised by the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties, and Fellows of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists can apply to the RCVS to join the UK Specialist Register.
- The RCVS also lists holders of its own specialist Diplomas (at European Qualifications Framework level 8) and Fellowship.
- RCVS Diplomas have been discontinued where equivalent European College diplomas now exist, meaning that this legacy national system is now being superseded by the European system.
Advanced Veterinary Practitioners
- The RCVS recently established a “middle tier” qualification, between basic clinical level and specialist level based on its professional Certificates.
- Separate lists of these nationally recognised Advanced Practitioners are available from the RCVS.
- Advanced Practitioners are not allowed to call themselves specialists based on this listing or Certificate qualifications.
Continuing education of veterinary general practitioners
- Compulsory continuing education requirements are in place for all veterinary surgeons, as mandated by the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons.
- Where this is achieved through formal qualifications, veterinarians are allowed to use recognised abbreviations after their name.
Veterinary education
- There are eight veterinary schools in the UK that offer a full veterinary curriculum leading to a veterinary qualification.
- All are approved by RCVS and EAEVE.
- The courtesy title of Doctor was approved for use by the RCVS in 2015.
Membership Organisations
- The main membership organisation for veterinarians is the British Veterinary Association.
- There is also a membership organisation for UK based veterinary specialists, the British College of Veterinary Specialists.
- These membership organisations do not have any regulatory functions.
