FAQs

PSG and the Covid Taskforce have agreed to extend the duration period of all existing awards by 18 months from the renewal date.

This will depend on your programme provider, but the certificate is most likely to be at Level 6 or Level 7, i.e. graduate or post-graduate level.

The CertAVN is a graduate post-registration qualification, therefore the lowest achievement level will be at a level 6, but it also allows for incorporation into further extended study such as Masters degrees.

The PDP will be most successful where there is active collaboration between the new or recent graduate and senior practice colleagues. For the graduate, participation in the PDP demonstrates that they are taking their continued professional development seriously, and it will help them to identify their training needs more effectively.

Online access to an experienced Postgraduate Dean is another source of advice and support. For a new graduate working in clinical practice, undertaking the PDP is, in effect, the first year of their CPD, and, if undertaken conscientiously with support from their employer, will usually meet their RCVS CPD obligations for this period. PDP graduates also receive a substantial discount on RCVS Library membership and services, providing them with access to a wide range of information resources, including online access to journals.

For employers, the PDP system provides a ready-made structure for staff appraisal, and could be a useful adjunct to CVs when recruiting new staff in the future. There is also some evidence to show that new graduates tend to stay longer in jobs where employers are supportive of their development. Through promoting PDP in their practice, employers will be promoting good employment practice and therefore be in a better position to attract good applicants to any vacant posts. They will also be able to show that they take the CPD of their staff seriously, as required by the Practice Standards Scheme.  

This is an opportunity to support the next generation of veterinary graduates as they establish themselves in their career and we anticipate that VetGDP Advisers will feel a great sense of achievement in doing so. As graduates receive targeted support depending on their capabilities they will grow in confidence, becoming a more productive member of the team quickly. We also anticipate that they are likely to remain for longer in the workplace in which they complete VetGDP, helping retention rates.

The VetGDP online training is a chance for vets to pursue a new form of CPD, and develop transferable skills that can benefit the VetGDP Adviser as well as the wider veterinary team such as reflection, developing a learning culture in practice, and encouraging a no-blame culture.

As VetGDP is mandatory for new graduates from summer 2021, they will be seeking a practice that can support them in this way. They will know that an RCVS Approved Graduate Development Practice is a supportive employer, committed to providing the VetGDP programme to help their professional development.

Practices will be receive a certificate to display in the workplace and a digital logos to add to their website, social media and other digital channels.

It is illegal under the VMRs to supply or administer an out of date or expired veterinary medicinal product, including CDs.

All multi-dose injectables will have an “in use shelf-life” that tells the user how long the vial can be used for, after it has first been broached. It is illegal under the VMRs to use a medicine for longer than this period.

Multi-dose vials should be marked with the date of first opening, or the date of expiry, and any medicine left in the vial after the specified time must be discarded/denatured. If the medicine is a Schedule 2 CD, denaturing must be independently witnessed.

In 47% of PSS assessments, assessors found that there was lack of evidence of temperature monitoring for medicines.

Medicines need to be stored at the correct temperature in accordance with the Summary of Product Characteristics.

Where medicines are to be stored at ambient room temperature, the temperature should be kept between 8°C and 25°C and should be monitored. This is especially important where the outside temperature is particularly high or low.

Medicines such as vaccines and insulin need to be refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C. They should only be removed from the refrigerator for immediate use.

Fridge temperatures should be monitored daily, ideally by the same person, and the results logged, or if monitored by using an electronic data logger these should be alarmed, the alarm checked daily to make sure it has stayed within range and the data downloaded weekly.

A written standard operating procedure should be in place, detailing the actions to be taken should the temperatures fluctuate outside the recommended limits.

A full accreditation cycle is 7 years; however, the RCVS may grant shorter accreditation for programmes where they feel an earlier review is needed to consider progress being made towards areas needing improvement. This accreditation classification is known as ‘Accreditation for a shorter period’.

Regardless of the period of classification, the RCVS may trigger an earlier accreditation event if the yearly reports indicate there are standards that are not being met, that there are risks to student learning and experience or if there are major changes to the programme.

In some instances, where the problems are perhaps widespread and / or could severely impact student learning and experience, an accreditation classification of ‘Conditional accreditation’ could be granted. Conditional accreditation is essentially a ‘final warning’ for the programme; the Department must work to meet all the RCVS standards and provide evidence of this by the date set.

Each programme provider will have specific criteria for their entry requirements – and you can see the current list of providers.

All such medicines supplied by a veterinary practice must be labelled in accordance with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations ‘VMRs’.  For products supplied under the Cascade, the following information must be always included: 

1. The name and address of the pharmacy, veterinary surgery or approved premises supplying the veterinary medicinal product
2. The name of the veterinary surgeon who has prescribed the product
3. The name and address of the animal owner
4. The identification (including the species) of the animal or group of animals
5. The date of supply
6. The expiry date of the product, if applicable
7. The name or description of the product, which should include at least the name and quantity of active ingredients
8. Dosage and administration instructions
9. Any special storage precautions
10. Any necessary warnings for the user, target species, administration or disposal of the product
11. The withdrawal period, if relevant
12. The words ‘Keep out of reach of children’ and ‘For animal treatment only’.