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Registration categories

Below is an explanation of the different categories of membership for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.

Veterinary surgeons

UK Practising (formerly Home Practising)

A veterinary surgeon who is undertaking acts of veterinary surgery or is otherwise engaging in any activities in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man, which in the opinion of Council is veterinary related, must be registered as UK Practising.

Practising outside the UK (formerly Overseas Practising)

A veterinary surgeon who is undertaking veterinary surgery or associated veterinary activities outside the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man. Overseas practising members are not permitted to practise in the UK and their indemnity insurance may be invalid in the UK unless they change their membership category to UK Practising.

Non Practising

A veterinary surgeon who is not practising or engaging in any veterinary activity, which in the opinion of Council is veterinary related, anywhere in the world. For example, is on maternity leave, travelling, retired or unemployed but who wishes to remain on the RCVS Register.

Republic of Ireland

Veterinary surgeons qualifying before 1 June 1988, resident in the Republic of Ireland and registered as practising members with the Veterinary Council of Ireland may remain MsRCVS.

Vet. Practitioner - SVR

Members of the RCVS who were already veterinary practitioners before the 1948 Veterinary Surgeons Act came into force, but who did not hold relevant formal qualifications, were entered onto a Supplementary Veterinary Register in 1949.

Veterinary nurses

Registered

Registered veterinary nurses are permitted to carry out any medical treatment or minor surgery (not involving entry into a body cavity) to an animal in accordance with Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

Registered veterinary nurses are required to comply with the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses and fulfill the compulsory continuing professional development requirements.

Period of Supervised Practice (PSP)

Veterinary nurses who were formerly on the Register but have chosen to lapse their registration for a period of five years or more must undergo PSP before being able to return to the Register.

Veterinary nurses undergoing PSP must spend a minimum of 17 full-time weeks in clinical veterinary practice, completed within a year, in order to refresh their skills before rejoining the Register.

Veterinary nurses must register with the RCVS before commencing PSP in order to be able to undertake procedures in line with Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

Further information can be found in the PSP Guidance Notes.