Statutory Membership Examination Syllabus

The examination is the means by which overseas veterinarians obtain the right to practise in the UK and as such it covers all common domestic species and both large and small animals. The examination consists of written papers in medicine, surgery, reproduction and animal health and clinical, oral and practical examinations in medicine, surgery and reproduction and oral and practical examinations in animal health. Candidates must take all parts of the examination in the same year, and must pass all subjects in order to pass the whole examination.

STATUTORY EXAMINATION FOR MEMBERSHIP SYLLABUS

An outline of the syllabus for each of the four subjects is presented below and covers all common domestic species (eg equids; cattle; sheep; goats; pigs; dogs; cats; small mammals such as guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits; domestic poultry and cage birds). The level of knowledge expected of candidates is that of a final year veterinary student who is successful in passing the appropriate veterinary degree examination.

MEDICINE
(One 3-hour written paper; practical and clinical and oral examination not exceeding 2 hours)
Aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of animal diseases including systemic, deficiency and metabolic diseases; infectious, contagious and parasitic diseases; diseases caused by poisoning. Clinical pathology. Clinical biochemistry.

SURGERY
(One 3-hour written paper; practical and clinical and oral examination not exceeding 2 hours)
The principles and practice of general, regional and operative surgery of all body systems including the anatomy of the living animal as applied to surgery. Diagnosis of surgical diseases. Principles and practice of regional and general anaesthesia, including sedation and analgesia. Diagnostic imaging.

REPRODUCTION
(One 3-hour written paper; practical and clinical and oral examination not exceeding 2 hours)
Physiology of reproduction. Breeding programmes and the management of reproduction to ensure optimum reproductive performance. Artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Pregnancy diagnosis. Infertility including herd and flock problems. Obstetrics. Diseases of the reproductive organs.

ANIMAL HEALTH
(One 3-hour written paper; practical and oral examination not exceeding 2 hours)
Handling, restraint, breeding, feeding and management in relation to animal health and production. Epidemiology, control, eradication and prevention of animal diseases. Hygiene and inspection of meat and other foods of animal origin. Legislation in relation to animal diseases as required by the statutory authority in the UK.

March 1978
January 1995