Annex
Explore the RCVS Annex on reasonable adjustments for student vets, including Day One Competences, guidance, resources, and links to sector-wide support.
Annex A
Day One Competences involving the need for a student to perform a task
27) Handle and restrain animal patients safely and humanely, and instruct others in helping the veterinary surgeon perform these techniques.
28) Perform simple, elective surgeries in an aseptic fashion.
29) Perform a complete clinical examination relevant to presentation and context.
30) Attend all species in an emergency and perform first aid.
32) Use diagnostic techniques and use basic imaging equipment and carry out an examination effectively as appropriate to the case.
33) Safely perform sedation, and general and regional anaesthesia; implement chemical methods of restraint.
34) Assess and manage pain.
35) Recognise when euthanasia is appropriate and perform it humanely.
36) Perform a systematic gross post-mortem examination, record observations.
42) Perform ante-mortem inspection of animals destined for the food-chain, including paying attention to welfare aspects; correctly identify conditions affecting the quality and safety of products of animal origin, to exclude those animals whose condition means their products are unsuitable for the food-chain.
Annex B
Resources and links
- Adjustments for disabled students and apprentices
- Advice note for the higher education sector from the legal case of University of Bristol vs Abrahart
- American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) / Competency Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs)
- RCVS Day One Competences
- RCVS Mind Matters resources
- RCVS Mind Matters support
- RCVS standards and methodology
- RCVS. Treatment of animals by unqualified persons
- Scope - reasonable adjustments in college and university
- The University of Bristol v Abrahart [2024] EWHC 299 (KB) (14 February 2024)