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City & Guilds to cease offering veterinary nursing qualifications
City & Guilds claims the decision is "based on several factors."

Will no longer accept new registrations after 31 August 2020

City & Guilds has announced that it will be withdrawing veterinary nursing from its portfolio of qualifications. From September, the Awarding Organisation will not be accepting any new registrations and will cease certificating qualifications from 31 August 2023.

The qualifications affected are:

  • Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Small Animals) (7457-03) Ofqual Accreditation No: 600/6052/9
  • Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Equine) (7457-13) Ofqual Accreditation No: 600/6052/9
  • Level 3 Diploma in Small Animal Veterinary Nursing (7457-33) Ofqual Accreditation No: 603/5101/9
  • Level 3 Diploma in Equine Veterinary Nursing (7457-43) Ofqual Accreditation No: 603/5102/0

The organisation has also stated that it no longer intends to apply to become an End-point Assessment Organisation for the veterinary nursing apprenticeship end-point assessment.

City & Guilds has not yet provided a clear reason for why it has decided not to continue these qualifications, but claims that the decision is “based on several factors”.

RVN and chair of the RCVS Veterinary Nurse Education Committee Susan Howarth said: “We fully recognise this will be worrying news for many VN students, so our immediate priority is to provide as much information and reassurance as possible to those currently enrolled with City & Guilds-approved centres, or those who might be intending to enrol soon.”

A spokesperson for Central Qualifications, the other fully accredited vocational awarding body, says it is working with Colleges and Apprenticeship providers to ensure student veterinary nurses are able to qualify and register as RVNs, and also complete their apprenticeships on time. They added: “We advise colleges to contact us as soon as possible by email to: enquiries@cqual.org.”

A City & Guilds spokesperson said: “Due to significant external policy change, City & Guilds has been required to undertake a review of its provision across all sectors in which we operate. Unfortunately, this has led to the difficult decision to cease delivery of our Veterinary Nursing qualifications for Small Animal and Equine.

"This decision has not been taken lightly and we understand the disappointment it has caused to both training centres and learners. We pride ourselves on the level of service we offer our customers and the quality of the qualifications we provide. We are therefore working closely with our centres to minimise any disruption and ensure that all learners registered with us have every opportunity to complete their qualifications.”

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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."