Temporary registration

About temporary RCVS registration and how to apply.

On this page:

• About temporary registration
• Rules and restrictions
• How to apply
• Get more information

About temporary registration

Under certain circumstances, veterinary surgeons who are not registered with the RCVS can apply for temporary registration.

Situations where you might need temporary registration include:

• Taking on a veterinary role between passing your university exams and graduating.
• Taking on postgraduate study in the UK.
• Accompanying an animal, for example a horse, to a sporting event in the UK.
• Coming to the UK to perform or teach a specific procedure or operation.
• Carrying out Official Controls in UK meat premises.

Temporary registration is granted on a case-by-case basis. See a list of possible reasons for temporary registration and the process involved.

To qualify for temporary registration, under section 7 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, a person must either:

• be entitled to be awarded a recognised UK degree, or
• be a veterinary surgeon not eligible for full Registration under the Act (Sections 2 to 6).

Rules and restrictions

When you’re registered with the RCVS on a temporary basis, your activities are usually restricted to:

• specific circumstances,
• a specific time period, and
• a particular location.

If you practise veterinary surgery outside of the restrictions set out, you’ll be removed from the Register.

Circumstances

During the period of temporary registration, you’ll be supervised by a Member or Fellow of the RCVS (the “Supervising Veterinary Surgeon”). This person must be a practising veterinary surgeon and a specialist in the field in which you’re temporarily practising. They will be responsible for ensuring you stick to the terms and restrictions of your temporary registration.

The Supervising Veterinary Surgeon will be based at the same location as you. Or, they should demonstrate that they’ve put in place arrangements to ensure effective supervision.

Period

If we approve your application for temporary registration, we’ll set out the time period. This could be days, weeks, or years, but usually no longer than five years. These five years might be granted as a single registration period, or be made up of multiple applications for temporary registration.

If you’d like to be registered with the RCVS for five years or longer, we’d expect you to apply for full registration.

Place

When you’re temporarily registered, you can only work and carry out your duties at a specific address or addresses. When you apply, you’ll be asked to state where you’ll be based, and this will form part of the restrictions of your temporary registration status.

Code of Conduct

If you’re temporary registered, you must observe the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons. You are also under the jurisdiction of the RCVS Disciplinary Committee.

Continuing professional development (CPD)

During your temporary registration, you may be asked to undertake Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

Use of the post nominal MRCVS

During your temporary registration, you cannot use the post nominal MRCVS. You cannot sign prescriptions or certificates, or other documents that require the signature of an MRCVS.

If you want to work in general practice

If you want to work as a veterinary surgeon in general practice, you cannot apply for temporary registration. Please apply for full registration.

How to apply

To apply for temporary registration, fill in and send the relevant application form to [email protected]. You will also need to pay a fee.

The following list lays out some of the most common reasons for needing temporary registration and the documents required. If you’re not sure which form to fill in, get in touch with our Registration team.

UK Graduands starting work before their degree is conferred

If you’ve passed your exams and want to start work before your veterinary degree is conferred, complete the UK graduands form.

Required documents

• Pass List from your university

Postgraduate study

To undertake postgraduate study in the UK – for example a Masters, PhD or Residency programme – complete the postgraduate study form.

Required documents

• Photocopy of your passport or EU ID card
• Recent passport photo
• Proof of primary veterinary qualification
• Letter of good standing
• Letter from organisation providing the postgraduate education

See the postgraduate study form for a detailed documents checklist.

To accompany animals during a visit to the UK

To accompany animals during a visit to the UK – for example horses taking part in a sporting event – complete the accompanying animals form.

Required documents

• Photocopy of your passport or EU ID card
• Proof of primary veterinary qualification
• Letter or certificate confirming registration and good standing

See the accompanying animals form for a detailed documents checklist.

Employment

If you are providing specialised skills where vacancies for such roles cannot be filled, complete the employed position form.

Required documents

• Photocopy of your passport or EU ID card
• Recent passport photo
• Proof of veterinary qualification
• Letter or certificate confirming registration and good standing
• Explanation – including evidence – of why temporary registration is thought to be justified.

See the employed position form for a detailed documents checklist.

To carry out specific procedures

To attend the UK to perform or teach a specific procedure or operation, complete the employed position form.

Required documents

• Photocopy of your passport or EU ID card
• Recent passport photo
• Proof of veterinary qualification
• Letter or certificate confirming registration and good standing
• Explanation – including evidence – of why temporary registration is thought to be justified.

See the employed position form for a detailed documents checklist.

Official Veterinarians

This type of temporary registration is for EAEVE-accredited veterinary surgeons coming to the UK to carry out Official Controls in meat premises.

Temporary Registration will only be granted where there is a severe shortage of OVs in abattoirs within England and Wales.

Veterinary surgeons must have passed the relevant Official Veterinarian training courses. They must also have:

• an employment contract, and
• an IELTS English Language Test Report Form with a score of at least 6.0 in each of the four elements, or
• a statement of results for the veterinary version of the Occupational English Test (OET), with a score of at least Grade C with a minimum score of 250 in each of the four components.

Please note one language re-sit is accepted for the IELTS Language Test where it meets the providers own re-sit policy.

To apply for this type of temporary registration, complete the Official Veterinarian form.

Required documents

• Photocopy of your passport or EU ID card
• Recent passport photo
• A4 copy of your veterinary qualification certificate
• IELTs English language test report form or OET statement of results
• Employment contract
• Official Veterinarian Training Course Certificate
• Letter of good standing

See the Official Veterinarian form for a detailed documents checklist.

When to apply

The application process for temporary registration takes up to 8 weeks once we have received your application and all supporting documents in the correct format.

To avoid any delay to when you can start work, we recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

Get more information

For more information about restricted registrations, please contact the Registration Team on 020 7202 0707 or at [email protected].

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