FAQs

Candidates who fail the synoptic assessment will be given one opportunity to retake the assessment.  After two attempts candidates may be asked to undertake further training and/or advised to retake modules at the examiner’s discretion. A third attempt at the synoptic examination may be allowed at the discretion of the RCVS CertAVP sub-committee.

Candidates may only take one synoptic exam per year from any assessment provider.

We strongly advise you to have a positive response to your application before coming to the UK. You can seek employment while waiting for your application to be processed, but you are advised to inform your employer that you are not yet registered.

Candidates must take at least three further B or C modules (30 credits), in addition to the 60 credits already achieved, before they will be eligible for a second synoptic examination. You must have the correct modular combination to sit a synoptic exam but may have gained additional modules outside those necessary for a particular designation. If you wish to complete a third designation, you will need to complete a further three B or C modules in addition to the 90 credits already achieved.

Candidates may only take one synoptic exam per year from any assessment provider.

Yes, but your college will need to send us a signed VN Student Change of Details form (see 'Related documents' box) along with a covering letter explaining when you are taking a break. You will no longer be classed as an active student, so when you return to training, your college will need to inform the RCVS when you return to training so that your student status can be re-activated. Your enrolment period will remain the same.

Yes, the portfolio is yours, and all the reflections and progress updates will go with it and will be unique to you. If you change role you can take your VetGDP e-portfolio with you and sign in again with your new VetGDP Adviser. You can amend your EPAs if necessary.

To do this, you need to click the cog in the top right-hand corner of your portfolio and choose re-set. You will not lose any of your records. You will then be able to choose your new Adviser from the drop-down list. Please make sure that you have updated your relationship in your My account to the new practice. 

Find more guidance here.

RCVS-registered veterinary surgeons can use the courtesy title ‘Dr' in conjunction with the descriptor ‘veterinary surgeon’ or 'MRCVS'.

If you wish to use the title ‘Dr’ please select this title when you apply to register online.

We hold a list of people educated outside the UK who have permission to work in a practice under supervision.  You and your employer will need to complete a form detailing your place of work and who will supervise and mentor you. 

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.  

We will not ask for reflective records from veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses as part of our concerns, investigation or disciplinary processes.

However, we do not control the actions of the courts and recorded reflections, such as in ePortfolios or for CPD purposes, are not subject to legal privilege. Therefore disclosure of these documents might be requested by a court if it is concerned that they are relevant to the matters to be determined in litigation. 

PDP will count towards your CPD requirement. We view undertaking and completing the PDP as a year’s worth of CPD and it is therefore equivalent to 35 hours of CPD activity. If you undertake your PDP over more than one year, you can add 35 hours to any calendar year or split the hours across years during that time-period.

While PDP covers your minimum CPD requirement as part of your initial development, you will also be undertaking other forms of CPD during that time (e.g. congress, practice/case discussions and meetings, reading or research), details of which should be included on your CPD record. You can count any learning or development that is relevant to you as professional person as CPD so it does not need to be formal learning or clinical CPD.

Recording all CPD, including the PDP, serves as a useful reminder and prompt for skills and career development purposes. RCVS requirements for CPD are 35 hours per year. Your PDP will count as 35 hours of CPD in the year of your choosing.