FAQs

As VetGDP is mandatory for new graduates from summer 2021, they will be seeking a practice that can support them in this way. They will know that an RCVS Approved Graduate Development Practice is a supportive employer, committed to providing the VetGDP programme to help their professional development.

Practices will be receive a certificate to display in the workplace and a digital logos to add to their website, social media and other digital channels.

It is illegal under the VMRs to supply or administer an out of date or expired veterinary medicinal product, including CDs.

All multi-dose injectables will have an “in use shelf-life” that tells the user how long the vial can be used for, after it has first been broached. It is illegal under the VMRs to use a medicine for longer than this period.

Multi-dose vials should be marked with the date of first opening, or the date of expiry, and any medicine left in the vial after the specified time must be discarded/denatured. If the medicine is a Schedule 2 CD, denaturing must be independently witnessed.

In 47% of PSS assessments, assessors found that there was lack of evidence of temperature monitoring for medicines.

Medicines need to be stored at the correct temperature in accordance with the Summary of Product Characteristics.

Where medicines are to be stored at ambient room temperature, the temperature should be kept between 8°C and 25°C and should be monitored. This is especially important where the outside temperature is particularly high or low.

Medicines such as vaccines and insulin need to be refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C. They should only be removed from the refrigerator for immediate use.

Fridge temperatures should be monitored daily, ideally by the same person, and the results logged, or if monitored by using an electronic data logger these should be alarmed, the alarm checked daily to make sure it has stayed within range and the data downloaded weekly.

A written standard operating procedure should be in place, detailing the actions to be taken should the temperatures fluctuate outside the recommended limits.

Each programme provider will have specific criteria for their entry requirements – and you can see the current list of providers.

All such medicines supplied by a veterinary practice must be labelled in accordance with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations ‘VMRs’.  For products supplied under the Cascade, the following information must be always included: 

1. The name and address of the pharmacy, veterinary surgery or approved premises supplying the veterinary medicinal product
2. The name of the veterinary surgeon who has prescribed the product
3. The name and address of the animal owner
4. The identification (including the species) of the animal or group of animals
5. The date of supply
6. The expiry date of the product, if applicable
7. The name or description of the product, which should include at least the name and quantity of active ingredients
8. Dosage and administration instructions
9. Any special storage precautions
10. Any necessary warnings for the user, target species, administration or disposal of the product
11. The withdrawal period, if relevant
12. The words ‘Keep out of reach of children’ and ‘For animal treatment only’.

The PDP is based around a set of general PDP Competences that a veterinary surgeon should normally have acquired after about a year in practice. These are supplemented by the list of clinical skills and procedures covering small animal, equine, and farm animal practice, which the RCVS developed in consultation with the profession, and against which the graduate records their day-to-day experience in clinical practice.

The PDP Competences cover the same general areas as the Day One Competences, which set the minimum standard for graduation, but with the expectation that at the end of their PDP “a graduate who has completed the PDP will be able to perform a range of common clinical procedures, or manage them successfully without supervision”. This is the standard that the graduate is asked to apply when making a judgement about their competence. They must consider not only their clinical skills, but also their general professional skills and attributes, which are set out in the general PDP Competences. 

In accordance with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, veterinary surgeons may only supply veterinary medicinal products (excluding AVM-GSL products) from veterinary practice premises on the Register of Veterinary Practice Premises (RVPP).

You cannot sit in the hearing room and listen to other witnesses before giving your evidence, as this may prejudice the case. There will be a separate room for witnesses who are giving evidence where you can wait. There may also be other witnesses for the College in the room, so we ask that you do not discuss your evidence with anyone before or after you have given it until the DC has announced its decision.

As with any legal proceedings, it is possible that there will be delays so this is why we recommend bringing a book or other activity to keep you occupied whilst you are waiting.

A list of activities which may be counted as CPD is detailed above.

Workplace activities such as case conferences could also count as CPD activity if you systematically reflect on what you have learnt. Similarly, research and clinical audit activities can be recognised as adding to your professional development if you can account for how they have contributed to your own personal learning.

Private, documented, self-directed learning such as keeping up to date with relevant veterinary journals can be incorporated into your CPD plans and it is good practice to keep your own personal record of such activities, perhaps in the form of a learning diary. You can use the online PDR to keep such notes. When documenting your private study, you should record:

• the subject matter;
• the type of learning you have undertaken to improve your knowledge and/or skills;
• the resulting outcomes of your learning - for instance, a change to the way you undertake a procedure or approach a problem.

There are increasing opportunities to take part in online assessment, and other 'mediated' distance learning involving online tutors and learning groups. There is no restriction on the number of hours of online assessment or mediated distance learning that can count towards your CPD. You should keep notes of all such activities so you can account for what you have learnt.

You may choose to work towards a qualification, such as the European Diploma, modules of the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, the Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing or other university postgraduate certificates and degrees. Achieving such a qualification will provide ample evidence of engagement in CPD activities.

Use your CPD recordings to make a summarised note of any courses you attend, secondment experience, and time spent putting together your case logs/reports. If you are using the online Professional Development Record, you can enter more information about your studies, including your observations and reflections on what you have learnt; you can upload notes, reading plans or other documents; you can set yourself objectives in the development plan, and keep a note of planned CPD activities or goals in your personal CPD diary and check them off when you’ve achieved them. If you’re using the paper-based Record Card, keep a separate file for your more detailed notes of your learning.

Ultimately, the judgement of what should count as CPD will vary for each individual, and it’s therefore up to you to decide how best to fulfil your own learning needs. It’s your responsibility to keep a record of your learning plans and activities, and to keep documented evidence of participation in courses and other activities.

There are no changes to what constitutes CPD - guidance is provided on our 'What do I need to do?' page under the heading 'What Counts as CPD?'.

We don't specify the subjects, activities or type of CPD to be undertaken.

Anything that is relevant to you, as a veterinary professional, can be counted as CPD so it does not have to be clinically related or formal learning. Work-based learning such as case or practice discussions can be a great form of CPD.