Student vet nurse enrolment period extended

The RCVS is extending the enrolment period for student veterinary nurses who, due to the coronavirus pandemic, have not been able to complete their qualification and join the Register of Veterinary Nurses in the normal timeframe.

Generally a student veterinary nurse’s enrolment lasts for six years, during which most SVNs complete both their licence to practise qualification and the practical training time requirement of 1,800 hours (as set out in the Veterinary Nurse Registration Rules) and apply to join the Register.

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, however, the period of enrolment for those whose enrolment would have expired between 1 October and 31 December 2020 has been extended to 31 March 2020.

The College had previously extended the period of enrolment for those that would have expired between 1 March and 31 September 2020 to 31 December 2020.

Julie Dugmore, our Director of Veterinary Nursing, explains: “In normal years where there are some students who, for a variety of reasons, do not manage to complete everything within the six year period we would ordinarily request that they apply and pay for a 12-month extension.

“During the current climate, however, with exams being cancelled and some students having to furlough, we have made the decision to automatically extend the enrolment without application or fee to hopefully reduce some of the anxieties currently being faced by student veterinary nurses.”

Student veterinary nurses in need of further information about the enrolment period or who are concerned about being able to complete their licence to practise qualification and training time requirement during their enrolment period should contact [email protected]