RCVS VN Diploma will transfer to City & Guilds
Intellectual property and equipment which constitutes the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing will be transferring from the jurisdiction of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to the vocational awarding body City & Guilds.
The transfer follows the resolution by RCVS Council in November 2011 to close the College's own awarding body. The decision was taken to avoid conflicts of interest with the RCVS's current role as the regulator of veterinary nursing.
It is hoped that the transition to City & Guilds jurisdiction will be a smooth one. The awarding organisation has long standing experience in the land-based sector and already has professional relationships with many veterinary nursing colleges.
However, the RCVS has let it be known that for regulatory purposes, it still intends to charge student nurses 95% of the previous fee for the old RCVS award. This means that all nurses will now be required to pay a “tax” amounting to £190 to the RCVS, which has come as a blow to many in the profession.
The RCVS will continue to issue certificates and badges to those who have successfully completed a qualification that merits their inclusion in the Register, such as approved vocational qualifications or veterinary nursing degrees.
It will, however, charge student nurses a high fee at the start of their training, as well as a registration fee on successful completion of a qualification. By comparison, vet students only pay the RCVS at the end of their training when they join the register.
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. 
