While hundreds of vets in the UK hold a surgical certificate, very few hold a ISVPS General Practitioner Advanced Certificate (GPAdvCert) in surgery. And even fewer hold two! So, we thought we’d talk to Les van Blerk PgCert (SAS) GPAdvCert (SATS) GPAdvCert (SAOS) about his further qualifications, his RCVS Advanced Practitioner Status, and the skills he learned on our surgery certificate programmes.
Background and history
Les, thanks so much for agreeing to talk to us! Firstly, can you give us a potted history of your background and undergraduate education?
I’m South African, and I did a Bachelor of Science (with honours) in ichthyology (fish) in South Africa, then I got my veterinary degree and started work as a GP.
Thanks! And what sparked your interest in surgery?
I think it was Stuart King, who came to my practice as a locum. He was an orthopaedic surgeon before he sold his practice. We had a knee surgery in, and he got me to scrub in with him and I really enjoyed the orthopaedics - it was a patella luxation case, and that’s what got me going. At the time, I was looking at changing careers - I was studying law because I'd got bored of being a general practitioner – but that patella luxation case changed my whole outlook.
At the time, I was looking at changing careers - I was studying law because I'd got bored of being a general practitioner – but that patella luxation case changed my whole outlook.
So, then I started seeing more cases. I went to see practice with Damien Bush (lots of neurology!) and from there decided to do a surgical certificate. I did the Postgraduate Certificate in surgery with Improve Veterinary Education, it was a year-long consolidated certificate, and I got my PgCert(SAS) at the end of it.
Moving to the Advanced Certificates
So you already held a PGCert(SAS) — what motivated you to pursue not one but two Advanced Certificate programmes with Improve Veterinary Education?
After my Postgraduate Certificate I went back to practice, and I was building the case load steadily. I went to Vegas and did a TPLO course... and then I decided I needed to do more, so I did the Advanced Surgery Certificates, both the Orthopaedic and the Soft Tissue programmes.
I just felt that you can’t go and do one course and be able to do the surgery straight away. Courses give a great foundation, but you won’t know all of the complications until you’ve seen plenty of cases. I’ve always followed courses with seeing practice with someone. I did three further courses in hip surgeries after doing my advanced orthopaedic certificate, then I spent time with a surgeon who did a lot of hips – I did maybe 40 hips with him before doing one at my own practice.
There’s lots of practical courses out there, but the Advanced Programmes with Improve Veterinary Education were what I needed to get the foundations in place to then build on.
The Advanced Orthopaedic Surgery Certificate Programme gave me the step up I needed, as well as the introduction to the vet who I then saw practice with. There’s lots of practical courses out there, but the Advanced Programmes with Improve Veterinary Education were what I needed to get the foundations in place to then build on. It’s a structure I can add layers of experience to. It’s probably not the same for all the certificates, but mine is such a practical subject I think it’s really important that people go away and see practice and take further practical courses, not just think they’ll come away immediately being able to do the complicated surgeries.
How did you find the transition to studying at an advanced level? Was it a significant step up?
For me, the Advanced Certificates definitely needed a lot more work. The postgraduate programme was pretty intense, and then the Advanced Certificate programmes were even more, especially the extra reading. I think, if you were doing 1 hour a night for the General Practitioner Certificate, you’d have to do 3 hours work for the Advanced Certificates. The case load is also higher, you have to do a lot more cases, which means it’s a real step-up, both academically and in the respect for the qualification itself.
The case load is also higher, you have to do a lot more cases, which means it’s a real step-up, both academically and in the respect for the qualification itself.
As a practice owner, how did you balance study, clinical responsibilities, and business management?
Luckily, I had a really good team that I could rely on to keep the wheels turning while I was off ‘galivanting’. It was quite tiring doing both - running a business and doing coursework. Those nice days in summer when I wanted to be on the beach I was studying, and I spent every night reading something. You have to have an interest in it. That’s the most important thing. It’s a big outlay for the business, but I’m a happier vet, and that’s worth it. It’s set me up to continue developing.
Impact on the practice
Have these programmes expanded the types of cases you can manage in-house?
There’s no doubt it has grown the business. I think the certs have really helped us develop what we do in the practice. The better you are, the more you attract new clients, and you also attract like-minded people to the business. Almost all my staff and colleagues have or are getting certificates. Everything comes together from that.
There’s no doubt it has grown the business. I think the certs have really helped us develop what we do in the practice. The better you are, the more you attract new clients, and you also attract like-minded people to the business.
Oooo - just being nosy, can you tell us what the other certificate holders in your practice have, or what they’re working towards?
We have one vet taking a Diagnostic Imaging certificate (he’s an RCVS Advanced Practitioner too), one taking a Small Animal Surgery certificate, one taking an Emergency and Critical Care certificate, and another taking a Masters in Neurology. My nurses hold qualifications too – we have two nurses with the Nurse Certificate in Anaesthesia, and we’re planning on taking that up to five, with one of the nurses continuing to the Nurse Advanced Certificate in Anaesthesia.
And is that just people’s interests, or are you building complimentary skills?
There’s definitely a bit of both – we're lucky that all our staff are interested and passionate about their subjects – you have to be, to study at a postgraduate level, but we’re lucky to have such a wide spread of subjects that naturally compliment one another.
What about non-financial benefits for the practice? Do your clients like your impressive suite of postgraduate qualifications?
I think clients don’t really understand about the qualifications, but it definitely opens up options for them and they really appreciate that. There are still things I will refer off island – where I’m not comfortable doing them or our facilities aren’t good enough. I know I’m not a specialist – I routinely talk to specialists for help and advice. But being a better clinician makes it better for your business – you have more options for treatment and it’s better for your clients. If you haven’t done the certificate you aren’t necessarily aware of all the options. With the learning gained during the certificate programme, you’re more open to what’s happening in your field, what the research is, and what the treatment options are.
Next steps
With three significant surgical qualifications now under your belt, what’s next for you professionally? Will you continue learning?
Now that I’m at this level, I want to stay at this level, which means keeping myself current. And because the certificates have given me a good framework, it’s easier to do this. I struggle to find courses that are at my level now, but I’ll keep going. I can’t stop learning! My problem is what to do next, which is a nice place to be. I’m looking at doing a Masters, although I wish there was an Advanced Neurology Certificate!
Thank you Les, that’s such an interesting point of view! And it’s really humbling to hear of someone studying so hard to help pets. If you could give one piece of advice to someone on the fence about taking an Advanced Certificate programme, what would it be?
It’s a big commitment, but for me, it was really empowering. The platform it gave me to build on was invaluable.
So there you have it – and if you’re on the fence about taking an Advanced Certificate (or two!), hopefully that helped you make a decision. You can also talk to our incredible CPD Advisors for free veterinary careers advice and a skills gap analysis to see if the certificates are right for you.
After graduating from the University of Nottingham in 2016, Jo moved into small animal practice in the midlands, where she grew a passion for client communication and the subjects that most need it - like geriatrics and dermatology. Since 2020 she has worked as a locum vet in the Channel Islands as well as as a content writer in pet health topics.
