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If you are a veterinary surgeon or a veterinary nurse with questions about completing your annual renewal, you may find the answers below helpful.

You can also find information about logging into My Account and how to update your details. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for you can contact us using the details at the bottom of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Before you complete your annual renewal

  • Your annual renewal comprises of four parts;

    1. Confirming your Register and correspondence details 
    2. Declaring any convictions
    3. Paying your annual renewal fee

    Even if your employer is paying your fee or you have a Direct Debit set up, you will still need to confirm your Register details, declare any convictions  to remain Code compliant.

    If the fee is not received in full before 1 June (for vets) or 1 January (for VNs) then your name will be removed from the Register and you will no longer be able to work as a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse anywhere in the UK.

    Please note that, as well as it being illegal to practise in the UK whilst your name is not on the Register, any professional indemnity insurance may also be invalidated. You will also no longer be able to use the post nominal MRCVS or RVN.

  • Vets will receive their annual renewal notice at least four weeks in advance of the annual renewal deadline of 1 April.

    VNs will receive their annual renewal notice at the end of September or start of October in advance of the annual renewal deadline of 1 November.

    Your notice will be sent by email (if we have a valid email address for you). If we do not have your email address we will send your annual renewal notice to your correspondence address.

  • You must annually:

    • Confirm/amend your Register and correspondence details
    • Declare any criminal cautions, convictions or adverse findings
    • Pay an annual registration fee

    To complete your annual renewal please click the ‘My Account’ button in the top right-hand corner of this website. Alternatively, a paper copy of the renewal form can be posted to you on request.

    Even if your employer is paying your fee or you have a Direct Debit set up, you will still need to confirm your Register details, declare any convictions to remain Code compliant.

  • We will send you monthly reminders by email and sometimes by text, until all four parts of your annual renewal have been completed.

    If we do not hold a valid email address or mobile number for you, then we will send you one reminder to your correspondence address.

  • The annual renewal for vets is due for completion by 1 April each year.

    The annual renewal for VNs is due for completion by 1 November each year.

    Vets: If you pay your fee after 30 April the fee amount will increase by £35.00.  If the fee is not received in full by 31 May your name will be removed from the Register. Should you, at any point, need to restore your name to the Register then you will need to pay an additional restoration fee.

    VNs: If you pay your fee after 1 November, the fee amount will not change. However, if we have not received your payment or confirmation of your registration by 1 January your name will be removed from the Register of Veterinary Nurses.

    It is illegal to practise in the UK whilst your name is not on the Register, and any professional indemnity insurance may also be invalidated. You will no longer be able to use the post nominals MRCVS or RVN.

    Should you, at any point, need to restore your name to the Register then you will need to pay an additional restoration fee.

  • You can still complete your annual renewal, and pay your fee, in the 'My Account' area of the website.

    You will be asked to enter your username and password, which you were sent in your last renewal notice. If you don't know your username and password you can still complete your annual renewal online by clicking the 'Create/Reset password' and 'Forgot username' buttons, underneath the 'Sign in' button. Please note you will need access to the email account we hold on your RCVS record.

    If you are logging in to ‘My Account’ for the first time, you will be prompted to create a security question before you can enter.

    If you do not have an email address on your record then you will need to contact the Registration Department before you can access ‘My Account’ and complete your annual renewal.

  • All vets and VNs are now being asked to complete their annual renewal online.

    However, if you are unable to complete your annual renewal online please contact the Registration Department.

  • You can check your Direct Debit status in the 'My Account' area. Alternatively, please check with your bank to see if this is set up.

    If you are unsure you can contact the Finance Department at [email protected].

Logging into your online account

  • Click the ‘My Account’ button in the top right-hand corner of this website. In order to login you must use the username and password, which were sent to you as part of your last annual renewal.

    The first time you log in you will be asked to choose a security question and provide its answer.

    In your profile page you will be able to change your password as frequently as you wish.

    Please note your username is not case sensitive and will always appear in capitals, regardless of how it is typed in. Your password however is case sensitive.

    The password we provided you with is in upper case. However, if you change your password to something more memorable you will need to decide whether you want it in upper or lower case. If the case doesn’t match you won’t be able to log in.

  • Once logged in, click on the 'Complete my Annual Renewal' button. Confirm or amend all the fields of the form and click ‘Submit’. Completing your renewal online is quick and easy and should take no more than ten minutes.

    Your submission will be automatically saved in our database. Please note that changes of name and voluntary removals are subject to approval and may take up to three working days to be processed. During that time, your account will not reflect these changes. We will email you once these changes have been approved.

    You can now proceed to online payment or choose another payment method.

  • Upon successful submission you will be taken to a ‘Thank you’ page that confirms we have received your details. You will also receive an email confirming your submission. NB if you don't see the submission message, or you don't receive a confirmation email (please check all your folders), then your annual renewal may not have been successfully submitted.

    Once you have confirmed your details you can proceed to the online payment area, return to your profile page or select to view your submission, where you can then print a copy of it. Please note that you can only review and print your submission at the time of completing your annual renewal. You can't go back and do this at a later date.

    If your employer requires proof that you have completed your annual renewal in full, please provide them with a copy of the email confirmation you will automatically receive.

  • If the wrong information is used to login on 5 successive attempts, you will be locked out of your account as a security measure. If your account is locked due to too many incorrect attempts, it will automatically unlock after 15 minutes and you may proceed to the 'Reset password' option if needed.

  • You can use the ‘Forgot username’ or ‘Create/Reset password’ facilities and you will receive an email, to the address we hold for you on our database, with a link to detailed instructions.

    Please note that these facilities are only functional if we hold a valid email address for you.

    For your own security, staff at the RCVS do not have access to your password so you will need to use the 'Create/Reset password' facility.

    If in doubt you can contact the Registration Department on 020 7202 0707 or [email protected].

Paying your annual renewal fee

  • You should pay your annual renewal fee online via the ‘My Account’ area. Once you have logged in and completed your annual renewal form, you may go straight to the ‘Online payment’ area. You may make your payment using a Visa debit or credit card, or MasterCard.

  • This indicates that you have no fee to pay. Either your practice may already have paid your fee, or your fee may have been collected by Direct Debit. This may also be due to a previous credit you had on your account.

    If in doubt, please check with your practice or contact the RCVS Finance Department on 020 7202 0722 or [email protected].

  • Once you have submitted your payment you will be taken to a 'Payment Confirmation' page which will also display the email address to which a payment confirmation email has been sent.

    Payment receipts are also available in 'My Account', in the 'Receipts tab'.

  • If your employer is paying your fee and you have a direct debit set up, please go to RCVS My Account and unlink your Annual Renewal fee from the direct debit.  

    We will send reminders about each fee instalment to the email address we have on your record, but it will be your responsibility to ensure the remaining balance is paid.  

  • Some members have been experiencing payment issues with VISA cards and some Alliance & Leicester cards. 

    Please note you only have 3 attempts on the same card.  If you are unsuccessful after 3 attempts, please try again using an alternative card. 

    Please note the address of the debit or credit card being used must match the billing address the RCVS hold on your record (this is normally your correspondence address), or your payment will fail. This is for your security and in line with recent changes to UK banking regulations.

    Before making your payment you have the opportunity to check and amend the billing address we hold for you, please ensure all address fields are completed or your payment can not be processed.  If you are using an overseas address, you don’t have a postcode or zip code, please populate it with 00000.

  • Please note you only have 3 attempts on the same card. 

    If you are unsuccessful after 3 attempts, please try again using an alternative card. 

     

Paying by other methods

  • Yes, once payment has been received, you will receive confirmation by email.

    Payment receipts are also available via the 'My Account' area.

     

  • Direct Debits are collected on an annual basis and cannot unfortunately be made by instalments.

    Direct debits can be set up, amended and cancelled via your My Account area online.

    To ensure your fee is collected by Direct Debit it must be submitted at least 12 working days prior to the collection date.

    The annual fee is automatically debited from your bank account each year when it becomes due. You are advised to check your bank account shortly after the collection of fees to confirm if the money has been debited successfully.  

  • You can cancel your direct debit or unlink any products from your direct debit via your My Account area.

    If you are cancelling your direct debit, we also advise you to cancel your Direct Debit directly with your bank.

  • Even if your employer is paying your annual renewal fee, you will still need to access the online 'My Account' area to confirm your Register details and disclosure declaration.

    Your employer can pay your fees by bank transfer.  They will need to email [email protected] with a list of names and membership numbers for allocation.

    If your practice requires proof of the fee due, please use the annual renewal notice emailed to you.

    Please note you will be emailed a payment receipt, even if your employer has paid your fee. In addition, payment receipts are available to view in 'My Account', in the 'Receipts tab'.

Removing or restoring your name

  • If your circumstances have changed and you would like to remove your name from the Register, then you can do this online via 'My Account' as part of your annual renewal, as well as at any point during the year.

    Vets: Please ensure you remove your name before 30 April or you will need to pay a proportion of the fee for the new registration year.

    Where no voluntary removal request is received before 1 June (vets) or 1 January (VNs) then your name will be removed for non-payment. Please note this may affect the fee you pay, should you need to restore to the Register. 

    All removals from the Register must be approved by a member of the Registration Department and may take up to three working days to be approved. You will receive confirmation by email once your name has been removed.

    Please note, if you are off the RCVS Register for more than 12 months, you will need to produce confirmation of your good standing before your name can be restored to the Register again. A certified translation of the certificate (or letter) will also be required if it is not issued in English.

Changing your name

  • If you are wishing to change your name, there are few different ways you can do this depending on the reason.

    Due to marriage or divorce

    If you have got married and wish to change your name, you can do this by supplying a photocopy of your full marriage certificate.

    If you wish to revert back to your maiden name, you can do this by providing a photocopy of your Decree Nisi or Decree Absolute.

    Reverting to a previously recorded name

    If you would like to revert to a previously used name, so a name that has been recorded on your RCVS record before, you can do this by sending us a copy of your valid passport or EU ID card. Please note, either name can be logged on your passport or EU ID card.

    Changing your name for any other reason

    To change any part of your name, that has not already been logged on your RCVS record and is not one of the reasons listed above, you will need to supply a deed poll certificate. This will need to be supported by a passport in your new name (the same name as stated on your deed poll certificate), or an official sworn statement. The sworn statement will need to be carried out and signed in person by a solicitor stating that the relevant identity checks have been carried out and the two names noted in the deed poll certificate are of the same person.

    For more information on completing a deed poll, please visit the GOV.UK website.

    How to submit your name change

    You can complete a name change by uploading the relevant document(s) to the My Account area. Alternatively, you can send the document(s) by post or email to the Registration Department using the contact details below.

    We do acknowledge the inconvenience the above request may cause you. Unfortunately, the relevant official documentation is required because the Register is a legal document.

    Finally, if you are responsible for signing anything official, for example training records, prescriptions, certificates or the ordering of drugs, and your signature is changing following your name change then please ensure all relevant parties are informed.

  • Not unless you intend to practise under your new name.

    If you intend to continue practising under your original name, you will not be required to change your name on the Register. If you would like to practise under your new name, then it is recommended that you change your name on the Register to follow suit.

Changing your email address

Changing your registration category

  • If you're a vet whose circumstances have changed and you would like to change your registration category, then you can do this online in the 'My Account' area as part of your annual renewal.

    Alternatively, and outside of the annual renewal period, you can download the relevant Change of Category Form.

    Please note, if you change your category after 30 April you will need to pay a proportion of the fee for your previous registration category as well as the fee for the category you are changing to.

    Please click here to view the change of category fees table.

    If you have a Direct Debit set up you will need to change your category before 22 March to ensure your Direct Debit can be recalculated in time for the 1 April deadline.

    All changes of category must be approved by a member of the Registration Department and may take up to three working days to be approved. You will receive confirmation by email once you can proceed with your payment and again once your category has been changed.

    Please note, if you have been listed as 'non-practising' for 12 months or longer, you will also need to produce confirmation of your good standing. A certified translation of the certificate (or letter) will also be required if it is not issued in English.

    Please do not hesitate to contact the Registration Department if you have any queries regarding your change of category.

  • It can take up to 30 days for a refund to be processed during the annual renewal process.

Disclosing a conviction

  • You can disclose a new caution, conviction or absolute and conditional discharge online in the ‘My Account’ area as part of your annual renewal. You will be asked to provide supporting documentation, where relevant. Alternatively, you can notify the Professional Conduct Department, using the details below. Either way a member of the Professional Conduct Department will contact you following the disclosure of a conviction, to confirm they have received it.

    For further information on disclosing a new conviction, please contact the Professional Conduct Department directly on 020 3821 1142 or [email protected]

  • All veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses must disclose to us any caution or conviction, including absolute and conditional discharges or adverse findings which may affect their registration, whether in the UK or overseas (except for minor offences excluded from disclosure by the RCVS). Minor road traffic offences, including fixed speeding penalty notices, are exempt from disclosure.

    Veterinary surgeons must also disclose any spent convictions.

    For further information, please see the RCVS Protocol on Handling Convictions. You may also contact the Professional Conduct Department on 020 3821 1142 or at [email protected] for more information.

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