English language requirements

Examinations guidance

You must provide proof that you meet the minimum required standards in the English language. This can be demonstrated via either of the following assessments:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Achieving a score of at least 7.0 in the listening, reading, writing and speaking components of the academic version of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

or,

• Occupational English Test (OET): Achieving at least a grade B in the listening, reading, writing and speaking sub-tests of the veterinary version of the Occupational English Test (OET)

Once you have achieved the required standard in one of these assessments you must arrange for the results to be provided to us. This will be a Test Report Form if you took the IELTS or a Statement of Results if you took the OET.

You can send your test results to us by post or provide a good quality scanned copy by email (we can not accept photocopies). Alternatively, you can arrange for your test centre to post them directly to us.

Please note, we do not accept scores from any English tests other than IELTS or OET.

If you pass some sub-tests of the OET but fall below the required standard in others then you may re-sit those failed sub-tests. IELTS do not allow candidates to re-sit individual components, therefore if you fall below the required standard in any component of the IELTS test you will need to retake it in its entirety. We will confirm that we have received the test report once we have verified your scores through the IELTS/OET verification service.

For OET users, please ensure that you add the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to the list of verifier institutions permitted to access your results. IELTS test results are normally available to collect from the test centre 13 days after taking the test, whilst the OET results are normally available 17 days after the test.

English language test exemption

All RCVS registrants must be able to communicate effectively in English at an appropriate level. This can be demonstrated by passing either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET) at the minimum required standard. However, if you can demonstrate that your first native language is English and that your veterinary degree was taught and assessed entirely in English then you may apply for an exemption from the language test as part of your declaration of intention to sit the RCVS Statutory Membership Examination. In order to be considered for an exemption, you must provide:

• A letter sent directly to the RCVS from your university that formally confirms your whole veterinary degree was obtained at an English-speaking University where the whole course was taught and assessed solely in the medium of English. This letter must be written in English and be sent directly from the University to the RCVS at registration@rcvs.org.uk

In addition to one of the following:

• Documentary evidence (e.g. a letter from your school/college or qualification certificates obtained through a recognised awarding body) that you have been educated in English at primary and/or secondary level in, for example, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, or the UK for at least 5 years

or,

• Certificates of secondary school or further education qualifications examined in the medium of English and awarded by an accredited UK awarding body, such as GCSEs, A levels, Scottish Standard Grades or Highers, the International Baccalaureate

or,

• Certification of a course of higher education in the UK of at least 3 years duration leading to a degree awarded by a recognised UK university.