Practising and registration scenarios

If you are uncertain about your registration category, the scenarios below may help you determine what it should be.  

Question: I no longer work in day-to-day practice and am on the Non-practising Register, but I want to prescribe for my own animals. Is this permitted?

Answer: only veterinary surgeons on the UK Practising Register are legally permitted to write prescriptions for animals. As you are no longer a practising vet, you cannot prescribe medication for your own animals.

Question: I am a retired vet who has an office job at my old practice. While I no longer carry out clinical work, I would like to provide advice and guidance on animal health and welfare.

Answer: as you have retired as a vet, and your current job could be performed by a layperson, you are permitted to be on the Non-practising Register. However, you cannot offer advice on animal health and welfare as you would be using knowledge and skills that are the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon. You would need to change your registration category to Practising in order to be able to give advice.

Question: I’ve been asked to be an expert veterinary witness for an animal welfare court case. Do I need to be on the UK Practising Register?

Answer: this task cannot be undertaken by a layperson as it requires knowledge and skills that are the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon. To carry out this request, you must be registered with the UK Practising Register.

Question: as a vet student lecturer, what should my registration category be?

Answer: it depends on the nature of the lectures. For example, lectures on pure science or handling farm animals could be delivered by a layperson, in which case the Non-practising Register would be appropriate. However, if the subject matter involves using your clinical judgement and/or veterinary-specific knowledge, it falls within the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon and you would need to be on the UK Practising Register.

Question: I demonstrate skills to vet students in a clinical skills lab. What should my registration category be?

Answer: interacting with an animal manikin or setting up medical equipment does not constitute an act of veterinary surgery. These tasks could be performed by a layperson, so Non-practising registration is appropriate. However, if the activities involve clinical judgement and/or veterinary-specific knowledge, they fall within the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon and therefore you are required to be on the UK Practising Register.

Question: I deliver CPD lectures twice a year. What should my registration category be?

Answer: if your role involves direct contact with animals, you must be on the UK Practising Register, regardless of how often you deliver lectures. However, if the lectures are one-off or occasional events, you may not require UK Practising status.

One-off’ refers to a single, isolated event. ‘Occasional’ refers to events that are infrequent and irregular. For example, delivering four or five lectures intermittently over a year would be ‘occasional’. Delivering one lecture every month would not be. Therefore, giving two lectures a year which do not involve direct contact with animals and could be delivered by a layperson would not require UK Practising registration.

Question: I am on maternity leave and need to arrange some Keeping in Touch (KIT) days. What should my registration category be?

Answer: this will depend on the activities you undertake on your KIT days. If they are clinical in nature and you provide veterinary knowledge or expertise, you will need to be on the UK Practising Register. If they are non-clinical, such as observing or reading, you can be on the Non-practising Register.  

Question: I am taking a sabbatical. What should my registration category be?

Answer: if your sabbatical involves a break from the veterinary profession where you will not engage in any type of veterinary work, paid or voluntary, you are not required to be on the UK Practising Register.

Question: I work at a veterinary school located outside the UK*. What should my registration category be?

Answer: the answer depends on your circumstances.

- If both the veterinary school and the students are based outside the UK, then either the Practising outside the UK Register or Non-practising Register are appropriate. Do ensure you follow the requirements of the regulator in the country in which you are working.

- If you are based outside the UK but visit the UK to lecture and/or you remotely teach UK-based students, your registration status will depend on what you teach.
If the subject can be taught by a layperson, you can be on the Practising outside the UK Register. But if the subject requires skills and knowledge that are the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon, you must be on the UK Practising Register.

- If your role is as a guest lecturer on a one-off or occasional basis and involves no direct contact with animals, then either the Practising outside the UK Register or Non-practising Register are appropriate.

* This would also include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man when considering registration.

Question: I’m a member of a team that assesses veterinary funding. I work in an office and do not provide direct veterinary advice. What should my status be?

Answer: if the advert for your job stated that the position required a vet, you will need to be on the UK Practising Register. However, if the role can be carried out by a layperson, Non-practising is appropriate.

Question: I'm employed by a government agency and do not engage in clinical practice. What should my registration category be?

Answer: If the job advert specified that the position required a vet, and the role requires knowledge and skills that are the sole preserve of a veterinary surgeon, you must be on the UK Practising Register. However, if the role can be performed by a layperson, then you are eligible for the Non-practising Register.

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