VetGDP statements and exemptions
Who must enrol in the VetGDP?
You must enrol in the VetGDP if you are about to start a new job in the UK and are:
- A veterinary graduate who:
- Qualified in or after summer 2021
- Is starting your first professional role
- Has not yet completed the VetGDP
- A UK-qualified vet returning to the UK Register after a break of 5+ years.
- A vet who qualified overseas – or a UK-qualified vet who practised abroad after graduating – with less than 18 months’ experience in a role comparable to the one you will be undertaking in the UK.
Other non-exempted vets
If you are a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS) or use your veterinary degree in your work, and you qualified after 2021, you must enrol in the VetGDP if you haven’t already done so.
This includes:
- Official Veterinarians (OVs) employed by the government, Food Standards Agency (FSA) or Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
- Researchers or policymakers requiring MRCVS status.
- Locums or part-time vets working while studying.
If you need guidance on how VetGDP applies to your specific situation, please email [email protected].
Choosing your VetGDP statement
When joining the UK Register, you must choose a VetGDP statement through your My Account. This tells us whether you ready to begin the programme. It is important to complete this step even if you are not yet ready to start so that we know whether you are being supported. Please remember to update your statement if your circumstances change.
How do I make my statement?
- Log into your RCVS My Account
- Ensure you have a relationship with your practice (if applicable) - see adding a relationship with your practice
- Click the red VetGDP statement bar and choose the relevant statement
- Click submit
Making a declaration if you are a new UK graduate
When joining the UK Register, you must select one of the following VetGDP statements:
- I have started/will be starting a professional veterinary role with a clinical element in the UK - most new graduates will choose this.
- I am going to work overseas - you cannot participate in the VetGDP while working abroad. If you return to work in the UK, you will only be exempt if you have over 18 months' experience in a comparable role.
- I haven't begun a professional veterinary position yet - you're taking a break or haven't secured a role yet. Remember to update your statement once you start working.
- I am continuing my studies - for example, you are undertaking a PhD or Master's degree. If you work while you are studying in a role that requires RCVS membership, such as locum work, you must complete the VetGDP.
- My role has no clinical element - if your role requires RCVS membership or knowledge from your veterinary degree, you must complete the VetGDP. The programme can be tailored to your role, even if only one or two Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) apply.
This short film will guide UK graduates through making the VetGDP declaration.
Making a declaration if you are an overseas graduate
Choose one of the following statements:
- I have started/will be starting a professional veterinary role with a clinical element within the UK.
If you graduated overseas with less than 18 months of comparable experience, you must select this statement and sign up for the VetGDP. - I have more than 18 months of experience in a role similar to that which I will be undertaking in the UK
If you have more than 18 months of experience in a similar role, you can select this statement. You will not be required to complete the VetGDP. However, you may choose to do so
This short film offers guidance to overseas graduates on making the VetGDP declaration.
Making a declaration if you are returning to the register
Vets returning to the UK Register after a break of 5+ years are required to undertake the VetGDP.
If you have been working overseas for at least 18 months in a comparable role to the one you are taking up in the UK, you are not required to participate in the VetGDP, but you must still submit a declaration.
Please log into your My Account to make the declaration which best describes your situation.