95% Tax on enrolment fee
A fresh debate has been sparked off, after the controversial decision by the RCVS to levy a charge of over 95% on student veterinary nurse registration fees.
In a letter to all veterinary nurse training colleges, the RCVS has indicated that it plans to charge £190.00 per student veterinary nurse for regulatory purposes.
If this charge by the RCVS does go ahead, it will result in veterinary nurse students paying both the enrolment fee and the 'regulatory' fee. This has caused much concern amongst the veterinary industry, with colleges and training centres especially anxious about the extra fee.
Jacqui Garrett, director of CQ, described the fee as disproportionate. She added: "Central Qualifications will continue to do all it can to improve the quality of veterinary nurse training; we have already introduced a number of enhancements and the feedback has been excellent. We are continuing to transfer students onto the CQ DipVN and colleges or practices interested in changing should contact us as soon as possible."
"Should the RCVS continue, we will reduce the enrolment fee for the DipVN to £15 to ensure the total cost of enrolment does not increase above inflation"
The RCVS were asked for their comments on the subject and the following statement was issued:
“In the past, when students have registered with the RCVS as awarding body for the Level 3 Diploma, their fee also included enrolment with the College as regulator, to entitle them to carry out tasks under Schedule 3.
To pave the way for the College no longer being an awarding body, the fee has now been split into two parts, one part for registration with the awarding body and one for enrolment with the College. The enrolment fee with the College also covers the quality assurance of all Colleges and Awarding Bodies that provide qualifications leading to registration.”
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. 
