Advanced practitioner status

What is Advanced Practitioner Status?

The Advanced Practitioner scheme recognises veterinary surgeons who have advanced knowledge and skills in a designated field of veterinary practice.

Advanced Practitioners are expected to show:

• Advanced problem-solving skills
• Advanced and current knowledge and understanding in their area of expertise
• Advanced professional skills and a commitment to continuous improvement
• Awareness of their limits and appropriate referral to specialists
• Active involvement in their subject or species community

You can view the List of RCVS Advanced Practitioners by subject area on Find a Vet.

Application dates and how to apply

For 2025 applications: 
The application window is now closed.

For 2026 applications: 
The window will open in March 2026 and close in October 2026.

For those due to re-apply in 2026, details of your re-application window will be emailed to you in due course.

Applications can be made online through My Account.

You will need to provide:

• A reference from a practising RCVS member familiar with your work during the last five years. Download the reference form
• CPD records covering the previous five full years
• Evidence of professional skills (if not included in your postgraduate qualification)
• A completed clinical governance statement

Applications are first checked by RCVS staff and then considered by a panel of assessors. This includes advanced practitioners and certificate/diploma holders across a range of disciplines.

Find advice on how to apply for Advanced Practitioner status here.

Advanced Practitioner criteria

To be accredited as an Advanced Practitioner, you must:

• Be a practising member of the RCVS  
• Have been in practice for a full five years or more since graduation
• Have completed either the Professional Development Phase (PDP) or Veterinary Graduate Development Programme (VetGDP), if you graduated in the UK from 2007 onwards
• Hold an RCVS or other relevant postgraduate qualification
• Have completed at least 250 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) over the last five years, including 150 hours in your chosen field
• Be able to provide two specific examples of clinical governance cases you’ve been involved in

For more information on these criteria, see our guidance notes.

From 2026, approval of qualifications for eligibility for Advanced Practitioner status will be updated. Details will be published in the new guidance when available.