RCVS Council

The RCVS Council is the main governing body of the RCVS, responsible for setting the College’s strategic direction and upholding professional standards across the veterinary profession. 

Current RCVS Council

The RCVS Council currently consists of 24 members:

• 13 elected members (all veterinary surgeons)
• 3 appointed members representing the nine UK universities with an RCVS-accredited degree (Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Nottingham, Surrey, and Harper & Keele in Stoke-on-Trent, which was formally approved in October 2025)
• 2 appointed veterinary nurses

In addition, the Chief Veterinary Officer serves as an ex-officio observer.

How are Council Members elected?

Every year, three or four elected Members of Council complete their terms or begin new ones at the Annual General Meeting, depending on the election cycle.

The election process begins in early October of the preceding year, when retiring members eligible for re-election - as well as the veterinary press - are notified.

Only veterinary surgeons on the RCVS Register may stand for election.

Extract from the annual announcement

Nominations of persons for election to the Council must be submitted in writing on the prescribed form to the Registrar, duly completed on or before 31 January [year], along with all accompanying statements and photographs.

The nominations form and details about the form and content of statements from candidates and proposers are available from the Registrar.

Voting papers will subsequently be distributed to all members of the College, other than those who are resident in the Republic of Ireland who have not retained their right to vote in Council elections in the March mailing to members. Each nomination form must bear the signatures and registered addresses of two proposers. 

NO proposer may:

1. Nominate more than one candidate; or
2. Be a member of Council; or
3. Reside in the Republic of Ireland, unless he/she has retained his/her right to vote in Council elections."

Voting papers are returned to the Electoral Reform Services for collating and secure storage for six months, after which time they are destroyed. In recent years, the number of returned papers has averaged 16 per cent.

Online voting is now available to members.

Am I eligible to stand for election?

You are eligible if you are a registered member of the RCVS. This includes non-practising or overseas members.

Can I attend a Council meeting?

Any member is welcome to attend a Council meeting as an observer. You cannot actively participate unless the President addresses you directly. If you wish a specific issue to be raised, please submit it to the relevant committee for consideration.

Meeting dates and papers

The next RCVS Council meeting is on Thursday 22 January 2026.

View October 2025 meeting agenda and papers

Can I see minutes from Council meetings?

Any member may view the minutes of the Council meetings. Copies dating back to December 1991 are held at the College, and you can make an appointment to visit. Older minutes are stored off-site, so advance notice is required to  retrieve them.

NB: minutes from each meeting are agreed by Council at the following meeting and available thereafter.

Is there a Code of Conduct for Council and Committee members?

A Code of Conduct for Council and Committee Members was approved by RCVS Council in September 2017 and enforced under the (Governance) Legislative Reform Order of July 2018.

It can be downloaded from 'Related documents' below.