Consultations

Have your say on important issues affecting veterinary practice and animal welfare.

The RCVS regularly asks for your views on important issues affecting veterinary practice and animal welfare. These consultations help us make better decisions about regulations, standards, and policies.

We welcome input from veterinary professionals, animal owners, and anyone interested in veterinary matters. Your responses help shape the future of veterinary care across the UK.

Current consultations cover topics such as:

Professional standards
Education requirements
New developments in veterinary practice

Each consultation includes clear questions and guidance on how to respond.

Open consultations

We have no consultations open at the moment.

Closed consultations

RCVS Exit Survey 2022–2024

The RCVS Exit Survey 2022–2024 is a major new report offering clear, data-driven insight into the state of the UK veterinary workforce.

Review of the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (CertAVN) framework

We have a commitment to regularly review our standards for the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (CertAVN) to ensure they remain up-to-date, fit for purpose and reflect the latest developments in the educational landscape.

UK Veterinary Leadership Development Study 2025

The RCVS Research team, in collaboration with the Advancement of the Professions team, are hosting a number of online, small group discussions throughout October which aim to gather the views of professionals from across all areas of the veterinary professions on leadership needs at all levels.

RCVS Academy Learning Needs Analysis 2025

Each year, the RCVS Academy runs a ‘learning needs analysis’, which is designed to gather insight into professionals’ views of the RCVS Academy and their wider learning needs.

Ensuring good governance

A consultation on governance reform

Review of 'under care' and 24/7 emergency cover (stage 3)

A consultation reviewing 'under care' and 24/7 emergency cover (stage 3)

Review of the Standards Framework for Veterinary Nurse Education and Training

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.

Draft Accreditation Standards and Accreditation Methodology for veterinary degree programmes

We launched six-week consultation to seek feedback on our proposed new standards against which we will be assessing veterinary degree programmes, as well as the methods we will use to evaluate whether these standards are being met.

Legislative reform consultation

The consultation covered the recommendations set out in the Report of the RCVS Legislation Working Party (LWP), plus proposed interim reforms to the disciplinary system that would bring the RCVS closer to regulatory best practice without the need for primary legislation.

Further information

If you would like further information on any of these consultations, including older consultations, please contact Ben Myring, RCVS Public Affairs and Policy Manager, on 020 7202 0783 or [email protected].