Registration for US/Canadian Graduates

Requirement for the registration of eligible AVMA/CVMA accredited veterinary surgeons

Eligibility

1. The AVMA Council on Education (COE) provides the RCVS with a listing of US and Canadian schools/colleges of veterinary medicine and their accreditation status, together with a copy of the relevant AVMA evaluation report. An application by a veterinary graduate from a US or Canadian institution will only be accepted for registration (licensure) if:

a. their school/college was accredited at the time of their graduation;

b. their degree includes all the skills and knowledge required to meet the European Union minimum training requirements (as set out in Article 38 and Annex 5.4.1 of Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament,);

c. their scores for the NBE/CCT or NAVLE meet RCVS requirements:

• for tests taken after 1992 the applicant must have achieved a score of 425 or over; or

• for tests taken before 1992, the applicant’s score must be no more than 1 standard deviation below the mean; and

d. they meet all other criteria set out in paragraph 4 below.

2. Applicants who have previously failed all or part of the RCVS statutory membership examination are ineligible for registration under this Agreement and will be required to complete the RCVS examination.

3. Canadian applicants (other than those who graduated from the University of Montreal Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) who graduated before 1 March 2001 should apply for registration using the Commonwealth route.

All applications have to be submitted to the RCVS Primary Qualifications Sub-Committee and time must be allowed for this process.

Application

YOU MUST ALLOW ADEQUATE TIME FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED AND TO COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION PROCESS BEFORE YOU INTEND TO START WORK AS A VETERINARY SURGEON IN THE UK.  IN A STRAIGHTFORWARD CASE THIS WILL NORMALLY TAKE AT LEAST 8 to 10 WEEKS AFTER YOU HAVE SUBMITTED ALL NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION.

4. Application for registration should be made using the assessment form (PDF 110Kb). The applicant is responsible for arranging for the following documentation to be sent directly to the RCVS:

a. verification of the passing scores for the NBE/CCT/NAVLE examination(s);

b. verification of current registration/licensure (within the 3 months of the date of issue);

c. verification of good professional character (within the 3 months of the date of issue);

d. A4 (or similar size) copy of their primary veterinary degree diploma;

e. a transcript of their degree results showing subjects studied and credits obtained, or other comprehensive listing of the modules/subjects studied for the degree; and

f. a photocopy of the identifying page of their passport.

g. cleared payment of the appropriate registration fee prior to booking a registration appointment

Please note: any documentation not issued in English should be accompanied by a notarised translation

5. Applicants can either provide the above documentation themselves and through their state board or, other than a copy of their passport and the degree transcript, the American Association of Veterinary State Boards’ Veterinary Information Verifying Agency (VIVA): http://www.aavsb.org/.

Registration

6. An appointment for registration will be agreed once all verification documents have been received and approved by the Registration and Education Departments of the RCVS.

7. Registration takes place at 11.00 am on Tuesday and Friday at Belgravia House. However, applicants are advised to check for unavailable 2010 registration dates, due to other RCVS commitments, and to be aware that available dates can become fully booked.

8. An appointment must be made at least 1 week prior to the preferred registration date although appointment dates are usually fully booked 2-3 weeks in advance. Failure to arrive at the appointed time may result in cancellation of the appointment.

Applicants MUST BRING THE ORIGINALS OF THE VERIFICATION DOCUMENTATION LISTED IN PARAGRAPH 4 , together with their passport. Failure to do so will result in registration being refused.

Registration Fees

9. The registration fee covers your membership (registration/licensure) until the 31 March following your registration date and the amount you will pay varies depending on the date you register – see table below.

Visa/Immigration/Work Permit Requirements

10. Membership of the RCVS licenses you to practise veterinary surgery in the UK. It does not exempt the applicant from UK entry visa or immigration requirements and applicants are advised to ascertain these before attempting entry into the UK. Information and assistance can be obtained from the British Embassies or Consulates in the USA and Canada.

11. Applicants seeking long-term employment in UK may need a work permit, which can only be obtained by an employer.

Payment

You can pay by:

• Cheque drawn on a UK Bank made payable to the ‘Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ [allow at least 14 days for clearance]

• Credit Card - incurs an additional 3% administration charge

• Bankers draft – payable to the ‘Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’

• UK Postal Order – available from UK Post Offices, payable to the ‘Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’

Please make sure you include your full name and the reference ‘RCVS Registration’ with your payment.

2009 Registration fees