RCVS Day One Competences for Veterinary Nurses
The minimum essential competences we expect all student veterinary nurses to have met when they register.
Accrediting veterinary nursing qualifications
To work as a veterinary nurse in the UK, you must be registered with the RCVS. We maintain the Register of Veterinary Nurses. Registered vet nurses are qualified to provide animal care and, under the direction of a vet, can carry out certain treatments and procedures controlled by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
Registration as a vet nurse grants a ‘licence to practise’. To be eligible, a vet nurse must achieve a qualification from a university or awarding organisation accredited by the RCVS.
Accreditation process
For an academic institution to gain RCVS accreditation, it must complete an eight-stage process. Once accredited, it can provide training that leads to a recognised veterinary nurse qualification, enabling graduates to register as vet nurses.
The eight stages are:
Process stages | Action |
|---|---|
Stage 1 | Contact the RCVS at least one year before the first student cohort is registered for the qualification. Submit draft plans for design, delivery, assessment and quality assurance, together with a timeline for implementation. |
Stage 2 | RCVS representatives meet with key staff from the awarding organisation and the higher education institution to discuss the proposal and agree a timeline. |
Stage 3 | The accreditation application and supporting documentation submitted to the RCVS at least four weeks before the approval meeting or validation event. |
Stage 4 | An accreditation meeting or validation event takes place. |
Stage 5 | The RCVS provides a draft report to the awarding organisation within one month of the event. |
Stage 6 | The RCVS Veterinary Nurse Education Committee considers the report and confirms accreditation status. |
Stage 7 | The awarding organisation is informed of the outcome. |
Stage 8 | Ongoing annual quality monitoring begins |
Apply to become an accredited awarding organisation
Institutions seeking accreditation must complete the form - 'Application for accreditation or re-accreditation of an Awarding Organisation or Higher Education Institution awarding veterinary nursing qualifications'.
To request an electronic version of the form, please contact the Veterinary Nursing department on 020 7202 0788 or email [email protected]. We will also provide you with a copy of the latest Accreditation Standards.
Details of our current accreditation fee are available on our Fees page.
Further information
RCVS Day One Competences, Skills and Professional Behaviours for Veterinary Nurses
The RCVS Day One Competences, Skills and Professional Behaviours for Veterinary Nurses are the minimum essential requirements that all student veterinary nurses are expected to have met in order to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses.
Review of the Standards Framework for Veterinary Nurse Education and Training
Review of the Standards Framework for Veterinary Nurse Education and Training