UK-qualified veterinary nurses

How to apply to join the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses if you qualified in the UK.

On this page:

• Routes to registration
• If you have a diploma
• If you have a degree
• If you were studying during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Contact our team

Routes to registration

The registration process differs depending on whether you have:

• a veterinary nursing diploma, or
• a veterinary nursing degree.

If you have a diploma

You’ll be able to apply to join the Register of Veterinary Nurses once you have received your diploma.

As part of your studies you must have:

• completed at least 2,990 hours of training, and
• spent at least 1,800 out of those 2,990 hours in clinical practice.

For more information about this requirement please see the Veterinary Nurse Registration Rules 2017.

How to register

When the awarding organisation has sent us a pass list with your name on it, we’ll email you with instructions on how to register. Pass lists are sent on a weekly basis.

As part of your online application you will be asked to:

• make a declaration,
• upload your Record of Training, and
• pay your registration fee.

Please note that the veterinary nurse membership year runs from 1 November to 31 October. The fee you pay to register reflects this, with a reduced fee being applied if you register during the latter half of the membership year (1 May – 31 October) and the full registration fee being applied at all other times.

To account for our application processing time, the following will be applicable:

• If you apply to register between 15 April and 1 May, you will pay the reduced registration fee and will then be required to renew and pay the associated fee on 1 November.
• If you apply to register between 15 October and 1 November, you will pay the full year fee but will not be liable for the annual renewal fee on 1 November. This will cover your membership fees until the following renewal period.

Your Record of Training provides evidence that you’ve completed the required number of training hours.

Please allow eight weeks for the awarding organisation to confirm your qualification. If eight weeks have passed since you received your results and you haven’t heard from us, please get in touch.

Getting your certificate and badge

Once you are registered, your e-certificate of registration will be available in your RCVS My Account area. You can request a hard copy of your certificate by opting in to receive this as part of the online application process. You will also be issued an RVN badge.

You will receive these through the post within four weeks of us confirming your registration.

Please visit our fees page to find out what you’ll need to pay.

If you don't apply to register within the required timeframe

If you don't apply or get in touch with us to explain the delay in submitting your application within 12 weeks, your student status will be suspended. Your RCVS record will also be made inactive.

If this happens, you're not allowed by law to carry out delegated medical treatments or minor surgical procedures under Schedule 3. 

If you wish to go ahead with your application at a later date, you should get in touch with the Registration Team to re-open it.

If you have a degree

You’ll be able to join the Register of Veterinary Nurses once your degree has been awarded.

As part of your studies you must have:

• completed at least 2990 hours of training, and
• spent at least 1,800 out of those 2,990 hours in clinical practice.

How to register

In the April of your final academic year, your university will share an email from the RCVS with instructions on how to apply for registration. As part of your online application you will be asked to:

• make a declaration, and
• pay your registration fee.

You will also need to submit a Record of Training directly to your university. The Record of Training provides evidence that you’ve completed the required number of training hours.

When to apply

Your application must be submitted by the deadline given in your registration email.

Depending on the date that your degree is awarded by your university, you may either be registered:

• upon publication of your results, or
• on the day of your graduation.

Please confirm which is applicable to you with your university.

For more information about this requirement, download the Veterinary Nurse Registration Rules 2017.

Getting your certificate and badge

Once you are registered, your e-certificate of registration will be available in your RCVS My Account area. You can request a hard copy of your certificate by opting in to receive this as part of the online application process. You will also be issued an RVN badge.

These will either be posted to you at home or be presented to you at graduation. Please contact your university to find out which option is applicable to you.

Please visit our fees page to find out how much you have to pay.

If you don’t apply by the deadline

If you don't apply by the stated deadline, we cannot guarantee that you will be registered in time for your graduation. If you are not registered by this time, you will not be able to participate in the professional declaration and will not have your certificate or badge.

If you're choosing to delay because you're not planning to practise in the UK right away, please let us know and we'll put your application on hold.

If you don't achieve your degree

If you've applied to register but do not pass your exams first time, we'll hold your application open (and fee, if applicable) until you've achieved your degree.

If you were studying during the Covid-19 pandemic

Restrictions during the pandemic meant that lots of students were unable to attend clinical placements or employment.

This caused concern that, when they come to register, students wouldn’t be able to meet the requirements as laid out in the RCVS Day One Competences and Day One Skills for Veterinary Nurses.

In light of the situation, we made changes to the rules. These might still apply to you if you were studying during the pandemic and are yet to finish your course. It’s worth checking with your university or programme provider if you’re unsure.

Because of the restrictions in place during the pandemic, the RCVS Veterinary Nursing Council agreed that:

• Completing clinical placements or employment during this time was not compulsory.
• If students completed the Day One Skills in fewer than the required 1,800 hours, this would be assessed on a case-by-case basis on application to register.

The RCVS Veterinary Nursing Department issued guidance on completion of the RCVS Day One Skills to all programme providers. This guidance includes the use of professional discussion, set tasks and simulation where appropriate.

For more information, contact the Veterinary Nursing team at [email protected] or on 020 7202 0788.

Contact our team

If you have any questions about the registration process, our Registration Team will be happy to help.

By phone: 020 7202 0707

By email: [email protected]

By post: Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 3 Waterhouse Square, 138 – 142 Holborn, London, EC1N 2SW

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