New routes to RCVS fellowship approved
New routes of entry will be: meritorious contribution to knowledge, meritorious contribution to clinical practice and meritorious contribution to the profession.
Old routes to RCVS fellowship will close later on this year, after council members voted in a new system which hopes to boost the number of practising vets who can become fellows of the college.
As a result, the routes to fellowship by thesis and meritorious contribution to learning will close after the next closing date for applications, 1 August, 2015. Honorary fellowship will also be withdrawn when the new fellowship launches.
Currently the fellowship has less than 250 members, of whom just 1 per cent are on the RCVS practising list.
New routes of entry will be: meritorious contribution to knowledge, meritorious contribution to clinical practice and meritorious contribution to the profession.
Speaking at the June RCVS council meeting, Peter Jinman welcomed the "excellent paper", saying it is "high time fellowship was sorted out", but noted a concern about the wording 'meritorious contribution' and questioned whether individuals would be expected to put themselves forward for this.
"Putting oneself forward for such a thing seems somewhat invidious…" he commented. "That doesn't seem to be in the best spirit. It's perhaps not the British way of doing things."
It was initially hoped by the education committee that the new routes would bring in 5 per cent of the practising profession as fellows, however it has since been decided that a target will not be set.
Councillor Kit Sturgess voiced scepticism that the 5 per cent could be achieved based on the skills requirement for becoming a fellow.
"I suspect the number of people who would feel able to make an application based on this paper would be far fewer than 5 per cent," he said as he questioned whether the bar had been set in the right place.
Council passed the new rules on 5 June and also approved the development of an interim fellowship board, which will report to council in 2018.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
