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.

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.

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’.

You will need to update your 1CPD record on completion of a course. You can do this by either selecting the link to 1CPD in the right-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
• Select the record button at the bottom of the page
• Select 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.

The Academy will continue to develop and launch courses on a regular basis. New courses will be announced on the homepage, and you will see them within your ‘My Academy’ area when they become available. By providing us with feedback through our surveys, you can help to guide the courses that will be available on the Academy in the future.

You will be asked to provide your availability for a period of several months. This information will then be used to work out a date that is best for all involved. We aim to identify a hearing date within three months of a matter being referred, however this is not always possible due to the availability of all those involved. Once a hearing date has been identified on, you will be notified.

The length of time that a hearing takes varies according to the number of witnesses being called, some hearings can last 2 or 3 days and some can last 3 weeks. You will not be required to attend for the whole hearing and will only be asked to attend on the day you will be giving your evidence. You will not be required to stay at the hearing after you have given your evidence. Nearer the hearing, you will be told the exact date and time you need to be there.

RCVS Council’s recommendations, including those to replace elections with an independent appointment process, will be consulted on during 2024 before any final decision on what it might recommend to government.

Changing the composition of RCVS governance would require new legislation. We therefore do not anticipate any amendment to Council’s composition until a replacement to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 is introduced and ratified by Parliament. At present, there is no timetable for this.

There is one exam per year, this includes re-sit examinations. The written component is normally held in Spring (March and re-sits in May) and is run remotely, allowing candidates to take the examination securely using their own computer from a suitable location of their choosing.

The OSCE is held at Harper Adams University in Autumn.

Specific dates are provided to candidates once they are available.

To make the event more accessible, we will be holding Veterinary Nurses Day in different parts of the country. The next two events are confirmed as: 

• 3 December 2025 - Central Hall Westminster, Storey's Gate, London SW1H 9NH - please note that this event is now sold out
• 6 May 2026 - Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LR

In both locations, the venues are conveniently located in the city centers, close to various public transport links. We encourage you to use public transport to travel to the event where possible.

For directions, please see each of the the venue's websites.