Continuing Veterinary Education (CVE) is mandatory for retention on the Veterinary Council of Ireland’s register, the body has confirmed to That’s Farming, writes farming journalist, Catherina Cunnane.
Veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses must complete VCI-accredited courses, which can take the form of online, in-house and on-farm learning, to fulfil these requirements.
Veterinary practitioners are required to accumulate 20 CVE credits in the CVE year, January 1st to December 1st, annually, the spokesperson confirmed.
Meanwhile, Veterinary nurses are required to accumulate 12 CVE credits in the CVE year, January 1st to December 31st, annually.
CVE credits
The spokesperson explained: “The Veterinary Council provides veterinary professionals with a list of courses which will provide them with required CVE credits and the means by which to register for them and access them.”
“CVE courses must be approved by the Veterinary Council of Ireland in order to be eligible for CVE credits.”
“To obtain course approval, Irish course providers must submit a course approval application in respect of any CVE course they wish to provide.”
“A course approval application is requested to be submitted at least 8 weeks in advance of the course commencement date in order to allow adequate time for the council to consider it for approval, but they can be submitted in a shorter time period if necessary.”
Registrants who accumulate in excess of their required CVE Credits during any CVE year may carry these excess credits into the following two years, after which such excess credits are expired, the spokesperson confirmed.
Registrants who are enrolled in a post-graduate programme of education or a residency programme, which relates to the practice of veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing, are automatically deemed to have fulfilled their CVE requirements for the duration of the year (or years) that they are enrolled, the statement concluded.
About the VCI:
The Veterinary Council of Ireland is the statutory body responsible for the regulation and management of the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing.
The principal function of the Veterinary Council is to regulate the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the Republic of Ireland, in the interest of animal health and welfare and in the interest of veterinary public health.
The functions of the Veterinary Council include:
- Protection of the public through the supervision of veterinary education;
- Maintenance of the register of veterinary practitioners and nurses;
- The registration of veterinary premises;
- Disciplinary action in cases of professional misconduct.
It is a legal requirement that veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses register with the VCI before engaging in any type of veterinary work in Ireland.
Anyone found to be practising while unregistered will be guilty of an offence of the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 and face prosecution.
A full list of registered veterinary professionals can be accessed through the VCI’s website.
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