The Liphook Equine Hospital

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Veterinary Qualifications - what do they mean?

Below is a brief explanation of the basis of the qualifications that your vet may hold:

1. The veterinary degree

When vets graduate from university they must pass degree examinations and are awarded a veterinary degree that has slightly different abbreviations from different Universities although all are equivalent and essentially mean the same. For example, Bristol, Liverpool and Sydney award the BVSc; Cambridge award the VetMB; Dublin award the MVB; Edinburgh award the BVM&S; Glasgow award the BVMS and London award the BVetMed. All vets must have one of these degree qualifications before they can register to practice.

2. Membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Anyone with a recognised veterinary degree is eligible to become a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (denoted as MRCVS) and registration and membership is essential in order to practice in the UK. Hence all practicing vets will be members of the RCVS. Occasionally vets may be awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (denoted as FRCVS).

3. Post-graduate qualifications

a. RCVS certificates and diplomas

There are two classes of further qualifications available from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons known as certificate and diploma examinations in particular aspects of equine medicine and surgery. These qualifications are entirely voluntary, very hard to achieve and held by relatively few veterinary surgeons. They include the Certificate in equine practice (CertEP - 82 holders in UK), the Certificate in equine internal medicine (CertEM(IntMed) - 39 holders in UK), the Certificate in veterinary anaesthesia (CertVA - 133 holders in UK), the certificate in equine orthopaedics (CertEO - 16 holders in UK) and the Certificate in equine orthopaedic surgery (CertES(Orth) - 33 holders in UK), the Diploma in equine internal medicine (DEIM - 3 holders in UK) and the Diploma in equine soft tissue surgery (DESTS - 5 holders in UK).

 

b. RCVS specialist status

Veterinary surgeons may be named as recognised specialists in a particular area of equine medicine or surgery on the basis of experience, publications and qualifications. These areas include RCVS specialist in Equine Surgery (10 holders in UK) and RCVS specialist in Equine Internal Medicine (5 holders in UK).

 

c. European diplomas and specialist status

Pan-European examinations and qualifications are also available in the areas of equine internal medicine (DipECEIM) and equine surgery (DipECVS). Unlike the RCVS qualifications, holders of european diplomas automatically become recognised specialists also.

© The Liphook Equine Hospital 2005