Record number of overseas vets join the Register after passing RCVS Statutory Membership Exam

On Thursday 21 November 2024, a record number of successful candidates for the RCVS Statutory Examination for Membership were welcomed to the Register of Veterinary Surgeons in Manchester, at a formal ceremony celebrating their achievements.

The Statutory Examination for Membership (better known as ‘the Stat Exam’) needs to be undertaken by those overseas veterinary surgeons who hold veterinary degrees that are not recognised by the RCVS. The exam is made up of two components (each covering the three species domains of: companion animal; production animal and veterinary public health; and equine): a written theory exam, and a clinical, practical exam. Candidates must also have demonstrated their English language competence and professional good standing before being entered into the exam.

This year, a record 37 candidates passed the Stat Exam and are eligible to join the UK Register. Some twenty-nine of these attended the ceremony, along with their friends and families, which was hosted by RCVS Senior Vice-President Dr Sue Paterson FRCVS and RCVS Chief Executive Lizzie Lockett at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester.

Speaking at the occasion Sue said: “Presiding at the Statutory Membership Exam Ceremony is one of the best jobs we get to do as Officers of the College, so it is an absolute pleasure to be able to share this special day with you, and your friends and family at this magnificent venue in Manchester…and of course many congratulations to all of you for the enormous hard work, commitment, drive and determination that you have shown in taking and passing the RCVS Statutory Entrance Examination.  

 “I had a look at the wide range of countries that we have represented amongst our successful candidates this year. I think perhaps except for the polar regions we have vets from every continent. Alphabetically our successful candidates come from Afghanistan, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, India, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Ukraine, West Indies [Saint Kitts and Nevis] and Zimbabwe. In all 19 countries. We are delighted to welcome you all to the veterinary profession in the UK.”  

After leading those in attendance through their professional declarations, Sue formally welcomed them as Members of the RCVS, able to practise veterinary surgery in the UK.

Among those who attended the day were two successful candidates with refugee status – the second and third refugees to join the Register through the College’s refugee support scheme.

Tetiana Khramova MRCVS (pictured right), a vet and Ukrainian refugee, said: “I wanted to be a surgeon since I was sixteen years old – first a human surgeon, and then a veterinary surgeon. My parents wanted me to be a programmer so veterinary medicine degree was actually my second degree – I also have a Masters degree from a technical university.

“In Ukraine I was a soft tissue surgeon and also lectured and mentored.

“When the war started, I relocated to the UK and worked as a veterinary care assistant at Chantry Vets. Now I'm a senior vet, also at Chantry Vets – I managed to register with the RCVS very fast…within several hours of passing the Stat Exam!

“There are quite a lot of differences in regulations and laws working in veterinary in the UK compared to in Ukraine, so I’m glad that I had that time working as a veterinary care assistant to prepare myself. But I’m so happy to be back!”

Also in attendance on the day was Dr Evans Onyango (pictured left). Evans grew up in the small village of Uradi in Kenya. He said: “I always mention the Uradi village because it’s a very special place for me – it’s where I grew up with my family. Later on, I was adopted by my auntie because my family couldn’t afford to buy me food or provide me with further education. So, from Uradi, I then went to Nairobi to attend the University of Nairobi where I did a veterinary medicine internship.”

When asked about what he wants to do now that he has passed the Stat Exam, Evans added: “I have a strong passion for orthopaedics so I would love to work towards becoming an advanced practitioner in that field. I hope, that one day, I will become a specialist in orthopaedics.”

Dr Dinesha Ratnayake (pictured below, right), who is originally from Sri Lanka and graduated in 2018 from the University of Peradeniya, also successfully passed the exam.

 On joining the Register, she said: “It’s probably one of the toughest exams I’ve ever sat in my life. There’s a lot to study. I probably started studying around one and a half years ago. In Sri Lanka the equine and farm animal side of things aren’t that developed, so I had to start from scratch.

“In preparation I also did a lot of seeing practice in the small animal practice that I worked in as a veterinary care assistant, plus I also volunteered at an equine hospital as well as with a farm animal practice. I gained a lot of experience through working.

“I’m excited to start working here as a veterinary surgeon because that has always been my passion.”

Seyedmajid (Majid) Karbalaeeseyedjavad (pictured left), another successful candidate, grew up in Tehran, Iran, and was inspired by his veterinarian father to pursue a career in veterinary. Majid said: “I had my own veterinary surgery in Iran and it expanded quite quickly. I then decided to do a residency, which I successfully passed. Then, after that, my wife wanted to pursue her education in the UK as a Spanish teacher and came here to study her Masters.

“Since graduating back in 2015, I hadn’t done anything with farm animals or horses, so I had to study everything again for the Stat Exam. Luckily, I passed the exam first time – I think I was really lucky. One of my friends who passed the exam last year helped me a lot with my studies. Even with that guidance though, the exam is still huge – there’s a lot of material that you need to study.”

Jude Ale (pictured below, right) graduated from the Federal University of Agriculture in Nigeria in 2015. He said: “After graduating in 2015, I worked with one of the best small animal clinics in Nigeria under the mentorship of a fantastic doctor who is fortunately here with me today. He flew in all the way from Nigeria just to celebrate with me which I appreciate so much.

“For the Stat Exam I had to do a lot of unlearning and relearning as a lot of the diseases, equipment and processes in the UK aren’t the same as in Nigeria. I started studying in March 2023 along with my study partner Ebenezer who also passed the exam and is here with me today. Initially we did two hours studying a day, before building it up to six hours, and then in December, to around seven hours a day. After that, we did countless hours, just going to bed when we got tired. My work were really good, as they gave me time to study and were really supportive.

“My wife was also extremely supportive and put her own needs last, so I want to give her a big shout out.”

He added: “I want to dedicate becoming an MRCVS to my late son Isaac who sadly recently passed away, my wife, my mentor and everybody who has supported and motivated me.”

Further information about registration for overseas vets and which degrees are and aren’t recognised by the RCVS can be found on the Stat Exam section of our website.