FAQs

It is perfectly acceptable to ask for the question to be repeated or rephrased or to say you do not understand. Equally, it is also acceptable to say you can’t answer the question (e.g. because it is outside of your knowledge or involves speculation). Everyone involved in the hearing knows that most witnesses have likely never given evidence before, so will try their best to ask clear and concise questions and be as understanding as possible.

In addition to all the training our assessors normally receive, there will be further training on the remote assessment process and content.

DC hearings represent the final stage of the RCVS concerns procedure. Hearings are generally held in public and follow standard court procedures. Whilst the hearing is formal, the barristers will not be wearing wigs or gowns and the DC is very aware that most witnesses will not have been in such a setting before so will be mindful to allow plenty of breaks.

The role of the DC is to make a series of decisions. The first decision is whether the facts are proven, e.g. did the incident(s) complained of take place. It is normally during this stage of the proceedings when you (and potentially others) will be called to give evidence. When making this decision, the DC must apply the highest civil standard of proof which is ‘to be sure’. This is the same as ‘beyond all reasonable doubt’ in criminal proceedings so it is a very high threshold.

If the DC finds that the facts are proven to this high standard, it must then decide whether the veterinary professionals conduct amounts to serious professional misconduct. To make this decision, the DC may hear from expert witnesses.

Finally, if the DC decides that the facts are proven and they amount to serious professional misconduct, they will then decide on the appropriate sanction. During this stage, the DC may hear from ‘character witnesses’ and/or the veterinary professional themselves. The DC has various sanctions available to them, such as:

• no further action;
• postponement of judgment (e.g. to see if certain conditions can be met in the interim);
• a warning/repimand;
• suspension;
• removal from the register.

We will contact you at least a month in advance to give you notice of the assessment, so that you can start preparing. Once an assessor has been approved by you, they will contact you to arrange the date and time of your remote assessment.

We already operate a document upload system ‘Stanley’, which will enable practices to share all the required documentation with our assessors prior to the assessment taking place. We intend to continue using Stanley for this process but will request that you upload a few items of documentation in advance that would ordinarily be looked at on the day of a live assessment. Once upload is completed, your assessor will review the documentation before the remote assessment takes place.

At the remote assessment, your assessor will contact you via a Microsoft Teams link, and begin a video conference with you. It is recommended that this is held on a hand-held digital device, such as a smart phone or tablet. The assessor will then have the usual discussions with you regarding your accreditation, and ask you to perform a ‘walk around’ of the practice, in order to observe the key areas such as dispensary, consulting rooms, theatre and kennels.

Once complete, the assessor will then write up your report on Stanley in the usual way, and you will be required to submit evidence for any outstanding requirements by specified deadlines. You will also be required to sign a self-declaration that all other requirements of your accreditation have been met. This declaration may only be made by a MRCVS or RVN employed by your practice.

For a Veterinary Medicine Product supplied in a container other than that specified in the marketing authorisation (e.g. tablets dispensed into smaller containers) the person supplying the product must ensure that the container is ‘suitably labelled’ and must supply sufficient written information for the medicine to be used safely. This legal requirement may be met by:

• Labelling the product in accordance with the PSS’s requirements (see below) and providing a copy of the package insert or the SPC to the client.
• Providing the NOAH data sheet, or a link to the data sheet online.
• Using a dispensing envelope supplied by the drug company, or that includes that practices own written information.

RCVS PSS requirements for labelling VMPs:
All POM-V medicines supplied by the practice must be legibly and indelibly labelled with:

• Name and address of the animal owner
• Name and address of the veterinary practice supplying the medicine
• Date of supply
• Name, strength and quantity of product
• Dosage and directions for use
• ‘For animal treatment only’
• For topical preparations ‘For external use only’.

VetGDP applies to all veterinary graduates from summer 2021, so the practice or workplace you’re employed in needs to either have signed up to the programme or be willing to do so.

We introduced the VetGDP in summer 2021.

When new veterinary graduates begin their first job, they will need to get a commitment from their employer that they are signed up to VetGDP, and that there will be a VetGDP Adviser in the workplace to support them.

When veterinary graduates join the workplace, the vet who will be their VetGDP Adviser must have completed the online training. 

You should begin your VetGDP as soon as you start your first role.

You don’t need to send in your CPD Record Card to us every year. Completed records may need to be submitted with applications for the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, Diplomas and for Advanced Practitioner and Specialist status, and will be viewed during inspections for approval under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme. We also inspect CPD records for all veterinary staff when it undertakes its statutory visits to the veterinary schools. We may at times undertake random sampling of CPD records in order to monitor CPD participation so you could therefore be invited to submit your CPD record at any time. Records may also be requested from members who are subject to investigation and disciplinary proceedings.

If you are using the online Professional Development Record, we will be able to view the “My CPD Record Summary” page which lists your CPD activities. We may use this in the future to monitor members’ CPD. However, we will not routinely be able to view the more detailed records and plans underlying this summary screen unless you have given permission through the system. You may occasionally be asked to give that permission, either as part of a random sampling exercise, or if you are subject to an investigation and disciplinary proceedings.

You will need to update your 1CPD record on completion of a course. You can do this by either clicking the link to 1CPD in the left-hand-side navigation menu. The 1CPD link is available at the end of each course and module to help you directly record and reflect on your learning.

If you have the 1CPD app on your phone:

• Open the 1CPD app
• Click the record button at the bottom of the page
• Click the plus sign
• Select scan QR code
• After scanning the QR code the page will open with the course title prepopulated.

The annual deadline for exam applications is 14 January.

Application forms will be provided to candidates who have submitted a declaration of intention to sit.