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Advice on employing overseas graduates
job advert
"This guidance should assist employers in identifying the skilled workforce they need."
BEVA publishes new guidance to help employers uphold standards

New guidance has been published to help practice managers to employ overseas veterinary graduates with the necessary linguistic and clinical skills.

Many foreign veterinary graduates register to work in the UK every year. It is hoped the advice will help employers to uphold the reputation of the profession and make it easier to understand the differences between graduates from various veterinary schools across Europe.

The guidance has been developed by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), who stress that while employers should not discriminate based on nationality, language or place of graduation, they have a duty to ensure employees can perform their role safely and effectively.

Former BEVA president Tim Greet said "…it seems only common sense to make sure that a new employee, from whatever background, can cope with the necessary level of communication, so fundamental in modern veterinary practice.

"A certain level of practical skill should also be expected to avoid compromise to patient welfare and to underpin continued professional development."

The guidance includes:
  • Advice on interpreting English Language Qualification test results
  • A list of European veterinary schools that are not approved by the European Association of Establishments of Veterinary Education
  • A reminder that extra mural studies are only compulsory for veterinary students in the UK and Ireland


BEVA's president elect Mark Bowen commented: "At a time when politicians are debating language skills amongst medical graduates, it is useful to remind employers of the complex language skills required to provide the public with the service they expect.

"This guidance should assist employers in identifying the skilled workforce they need, while navigating the complexities of different English Language Qualifications and different veterinary qualifications."

View the guidance on BEVA's website: http://www.beva.org.uk/_uploads/documents/language-skills-in-non-uk-gradutes.pdf

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."