The RCVS Statutory Membership Exam - in conversation with our newest members

On Wednesday 3 December 2025, we welcomed a record number of successful candidates for the RCVS Statutory Membership Examination to the Register of Veterinary Surgeons in London, at a formal ceremony celebrating their achievements (see our news story for more details).

On the day, we had the pleasure of speaking to some of our 80 new members, who kindly shared their stories with us, including their journeys into veterinary medicine, why they wanted to become members of the RCVS, and their hopes and dreams for the future.

Get to know some of our newest members below.

• Zahra Mohammedi - Afghanistan
• Christian Ortalda - Italy
• Chibuzor Onyekwelu - Nigeria
• Maryam Umar - Nigeria
• Sohail Idrees - Pakistan
• Clement Farasi - Zimbabwe

Zahra Mohammedi - Afghanistan

Did you always want to be a vet?

When I was a child, my grandmother used to have chicks, one of which was mine. I loved the chick so much but one day it got shut in a door and lost both its legs. I put the bandage on and prayed and cried all night in the hope that the chick would make a miraculous recovery. Sadly, in the morning, nothing had changed, but I couldn’t have done anything more.

That was the moment that inspired me to become a vet. Knowing how to help sick animals wasn’t common knowledge – people simply weren’t familiar with where to take sick animals or find veterinary care and I wanted to change that.

What led you to come to the UK and sit the Statutory Membership Exam?

When I finished school, I applied for veterinary school and got accepted to Kabul University - coming to the UK was never part of the plan. I never thought I’d leave my country, but I had no choice.

When things became really dangerous in Afghanistan, I first moved with my family to Pakistan before moving to Gambia through Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust where I gained lots of practical skills.

Vet Partners then helped me to come to the UK, and I started working at a practice in West Yorkshire.

Vet Partners and Aireworth Vets gave me lots of opportunities to prepare for the exam. Even though I was working full-time, they gave me time to study while I was at work. Edinburgh University supported me a lot too - especially Susan Rhind - providing me with notes and resources that I needed.

How did you find moving to the UK?

It wasn’t easy. When I first arrived in the UK, I still had the trauma from everything that had happened in my country. I struggled a lot because I’d never left my family before and when I arrived in the UK, I was alone. My family and I left Afghanistan together for Pakistan, but I travelled to Gambia alone. I was worried about them as I knew Pakistan were deporting people back to Afghanistan, so Heather from the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust organised for them to move to Gambia.

They’re still in Gambia now, so I know they’re safe but it’s still hard to be away from them. Heather is so kind and I’m so grateful to her. My family stayed with her for a while, but now they’ve got their own house.

Did you have much support?

I’ve had a lot of support from many people to get me to where I am today, and I feel like one of the luckiest people. I’ve got all these wonderful people around me: Graham Duncanson, who first put me in touch with Heather in Gambia, Heather herself; James Westgate, who published my initial article in Vet Times to help start this journey; Jo Malone, the CEO of Vet Partners, and all my colleagues at Aireworth Vets.

When I arrived in the UK, I didn’t have any friends but Abby Tighgeal - a colleague at my practice - never left me alone. She always supported me like a family member, like a sister. Her family is now like my own family.

How do you feel now you’ve passed the Statutory Membership Exam?

There are millions of girls in Afghanistan who don’t have this opportunity. I never gave up because I didn’t want the Taliban to win. Now I feel like I’ve won and they’ve lost. I’ve proven that Afghan women are worthy to study and work and can do whatever they want.

"There are millions of girls in Afghanistan who don’t have this opportunity. I never gave up because I didn’t want the Taliban to win. Now I feel like I’ve won and they’ve lost. I’ve proven that Afghan women are worthy to study and work and can do whatever they want."

Studying for the exam is one thing, but you need the support of those around you – I’ve been so lucky to have such great people supporting me. I’ve been through lots of ups and downs, but I'm over the moon - I recently got engaged as well! So, two big things in my life happened recently and I’m so happy.

I always say that Afghanistan is my country, but Gambia is the country that gave me and my family visas - they saved us - and the UK is the place that built me.

Today, I am Zahra, and I passed this exam because of the UK and the UK government, so I have strong feelings for all three countries, and I don't think that I just belong to Afghanistan. I'm from Britain, I'm from Gambia, and I’m from Afghanistan.

Christian Ortalda - Italy

Where are you from and why did you decide to take the RCVS Statutory Membership Exam?

I’m from Italy and I decided to take the exam to prolong my stay in the UK. I came to Glasgow three years ago to work as a specialist in dermatology and, because I had a temporary registration with the RCVS, I had to take the exam.

How did you find the experience of preparing for the exam and taking the exam?

Preparing for the exam was hard because I had to study the last three/four years of the UK veterinary degree in a few months. But my family provided me with a huge amount of motivation - they gave me the strength to study and prepare for it.

The exam was difficult, because it embraces all the aspects of the veterinary profession, but the support from the RCVS team was great. They really helped me a lot, and I can’t thank them enough.

"The exam was difficult, because it embraces all the aspects of the veterinary profession but the support from the RCVS team was great. They really helped me a lot, and I can’t thank them enough."

What are you hoping to do now that you're a member of the RCVS?

I like to leave lots of doors open, but I want to carry on and improve my skills in dermatology.

My family are here with me today to celebrate – they’re the main reason I did this. I couldn’t have done it without them.

Chibuzor Onyekwelu - Nigeria

Where are you from and why did you decide to take the Statutory Membership Exam?

I'm from the Igbo tribe in Nigeria, and I've dreamed of becoming a vet since the age of seven. After I qualified in 2016, I practised in Nigeria for five years and decided afterwards that I would like to get on the global stage with my practice. As someone who thrives on challenges, I wanted to try something new, and that led to my journey to the UK in 2022. I finished my postgraduate studies in 2024 and started preparing for the Statutory Membership Exam after that.

What do you hope to do now that you’re a member of the RCVS?

One of the perks of MRCVS is that the membership allows you to practice in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the Republic of Ireland. So, having the licence comes with opportunities to work in four other countries, and this was a huge motivator for me.

I’m going to continue with small animal practice, which is what I was doing in Nigeria before coming to the UK. My goal is to keep developing my skills to become an outstanding small animal clinician, the kind that everyone wants to take their pets to.

How did you find taking the Statutory Membership Exam?

It was a difficult and very new experience for me, but I love a challenge! If anyone tells me that I can't do something, it becomes a motivation for me to put in the work and give it a try. I had to read a lot of new study materials. The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) was particularly very different for me - clinical exams in Nigeria aren't structured like that. But I found it interesting and learned a great deal from the process. Also, my wife was a good support system. Her support made the journey easier for me.

How did the new Statutory Membership Exam rules help you?

Luckily, the new exam rules really helped me. I initially failed one of the domains and had to resit it. Under the old rules, I would have had to wait and retake the entire exam the following year.

Maryam Umar - Nigeria

Where are you from and why did you decide to sit the RCVS Statutory Membership Exam?

I’m from Nigeria and my journey to take the exam started even before I came to the UK.

I got a job in the UK working as an Official Veterinarian (OV) auxiliary in the food industry and my husband mentioned looking into taking the exam. I was quite naïve as I didn’t know how difficult it would be but I'm really passionate about veterinary medicine. After studying for six years, I didn’t want a complete career change, or regret having not done it later down the line.

When did you first come to the UK?

I came to the UK in 2022. With my job, it was difficult to find time to ‘see practice’, as my work revolved around the public health side of things. I had to use my holidays to volunteer in practices and on farms, so I haven’t had a proper break in a while.

I don’t regret it, though – the exam has given me a new perspective of veterinary medicine. I used to be all about small animal, but in my time seeing practice I really fell in love with equine! I enjoy my current job working as an OV auxiliary and want to climb the ladder as an OV, as well as explore mixed practice.

How did you find the exam?

It was crazy! It's like studying veterinary medicine all over again. It was also difficult because I had to juggle family life as well as a full-time job. I have a six-year-old daughter and every day I would come home from work, shower, then join a study group. The study group was really useful as we gave each other a lot of support – we pulled each other through the tough times! But it’s addictive and gives you purpose.

It's an experience. It wasn't easy and comes with a lot of sacrifice but it's worth it. At the end of the day, you only remember the good parts after you've passed.

Sohail Idrees - Pakistan

Where are you from and why did you decide to take the Statutory Membership Exam?

I'm from Pakistan and completing the RCVS exam was always a dream. When I was working as a veterinary surgeon back home, I used to go on the RCVS website and say one day I’ll get there. I’ve always wanted to work in the UK as a veterinary surgeon.

How did you find the whole process?

It was really hard and very stressful.

It was the toughest exam of my life because I’d already studied in Pakistan but then had to do everything again in a different way. The last time I properly opened a book was in 2018 for my studies in Pakistan. I’d never worked in equine or with farm animals, and had never studied pigs before. I had to do it all here, and the public health content was totally different too. Getting back into that study mindset after seven years was hard!

What are your plans now?

I’ve already secured a job – working as a veterinary surgeon in Birmingham, but I plan to go for my advanced veterinary practitioner qualification in soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics.

I'm not going to stop. I want to get lots of qualifications. One day I’d love to get my picture somewhere on the wall in the Royal College - so we'll see!

"One day I’d love to get my picture somewhere on the wall in the Royal College - so we'll see!"

Is there anyone in particular who helped you get to where you are today?

I really want to thank Chorley Vets’ Company Director Sonia Green, and Clinical Director, Kirsty Barnard. They gave me a chance to work as a veterinary care assistant and always believed in me. Also, Louise Brotherton – she taught me a lot.

I also want to give a massive thank you to my dad, Mr Idrees. I know he's very proud of me - he did a lot for me and my education, and I want to thank my mum as well.

Clement Farasi - Zimbabwe

Where are you from and why did you want to take the Statutory Membership Exam?

I came to the UK in 2023 from Zimbabwe. I wanted to come here to broaden my horizons and learn more. I felt like my life had become a bit stagnant.

How did you find the exam?

The exam was difficult and it was a lot of work, but I managed to do well.

I didn’t think I was going to get here and at one point I think I broke down a bit, but I got there in the end! It was a lot of work - one of the toughest exams I've ever taken.

Have you always wanted to be a vet?

I would say so, yes. When I was young, there were a lot of dogs around that I used to play with, but my passion for veterinary developed when I was in high school.

What do you hope to do now that you're a member of the RCVS?

My passion is surgery, so I hope to broaden my passion for surgery and to maybe become an orthopaedic surgeon in the future – we’ll see how it goes!