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RCVS consults on year one competences
vets in surgery
RCVS is aiming to bring the Year One Competences into line with the recently updated Day One Competences.
Views sought on new proposals

The RCVS is consulting on a new set of Year One Competences, aiming to bring them into line with the Day One Competences for new graduates, which were amended last year.

A working party chaired by RCVS Council member Dr Tom Witte developed the updated Year One Competences, which detail the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours expected of veterinary surgeons on completion of the professional development phase (PDP).

The new competences cover a range of areas, including general professional skills, practical and clinical competences and knowledge and understanding of veterinary medicine, legislation, research methods and other subjects.

Veterinary surgeons are expected to be competent in these areas upon completion of the PDP, which is a period of structured learning and development for new graduates. This should be completed within the first three years in practice.

RCVS head of education Christine Warman said: "We are keen that members of the profession from all stages of their career and all types of practice participate in this consultation and provide feedback and suggestions on our proposed Year-One Competences and the supporting guidance for each.

"If there are any key competences that you think are missing from our list we would also like to hear from you.
 
“Furthermore, in light of the fact that most graduates complete the PDP within 18 months of entering clinical practice, we are asking whether we should change the name from Year One Competences to something that better reflects the situation on the ground – for example, ‘Competences expected on completion of PDP’ or similar."

To take part in the online consultation, visit: http://www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/consultations/our-consultations/review-of-year-one-competences-for-veterinary-surgeons/

The consolation deadline is 5pm on Tuesday, 27 October 2015.

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.