Veterinary Surgeon

• Regulators:
  • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Nations: United Kingdom
• Sectors:
  • Health and care

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Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

• Regulatory authority: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
• Address:

  WeWork – 3 Waterhouse Square; 138-142 Holborn; London; EC1N 2SW

• Email address: info@rcvs.org.uk
• Website: https://www.rcvs.org.uk
• Phone number: +44 (0)2072 222 001

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Regulation

Regulation summary

No individual can practise veterinary surgery, nor use the title of veterinary surgeon in the United Kingdom unless registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. "Veterinary surgery" is defined in the 1966 Veterinary Surgeons Act as the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine, including but not limited to: a) the diagnosis of diseases in, and injuries to, animals including tests performed on animals for diagnostic purposes; b) the giving of advice based upon such diagnosis; c) the medical or surgical treatment of animals; and d) the performance of surgical operations on animals.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

Veterinary surgery

Protected titles

Veterinary surgeon

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Qualifications and experience

New professionals

• Routes to qualification:

  Recognised degree:

  University of Bristol; BVSc Veterinary Science

  University of Cambridge ; VetMB Veterinary Medicine

  University of Glasgow ; BVMS Veterinary Surgery & Medicine

  University of Edinburgh; BVM&S Veterinary Science & Medicine

  University of Liverpool; BVSc Veterinary Science

  Royal Veterinary College ; BVetMed Veterinary Medicine

  University of Nottingham; BVM BVS with BVMedSci Veterinary Medicine and Surgery

  University of Surrey; BVMSci Veterinary Medicine and Science

• More about qualification: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/registration/applications-veterinary-surgeons/

Professionals from outside the UK

• Recognition for professionals outside the UK: All - there are routes to recognition for professionals from all countries
• Summary of routes:

  Certain qualifications are accepted by the RCVS. See the link below for the full detail. If your qualification is not listed, you must sit the Statutory Membership Exam to be accepted onto the Register.

• More about recognition for professionals outside the UK: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/registration/applications-veterinary-surgeons/

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Registration

• Registration requirements:

  To have completed a recognised degree in veterinary surgery.

• More about registration: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/registration/applications-veterinary-surgeons/

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Legislation

• Title of relevant act or charter:

  The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966

• Website link to legislation: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/how-we-work/royal-charter-and-legislation
• Title of relevant act or charter:

  RCVS Supplemental Charter 2015

• Website link to legislation: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/how-we-work/royal-charter-and-legislation

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.