Frequently Asked Questions

At the beginning of the programme, you will be granted access to the delegate area, which serves as a comprehensive resource hub. Here, you will discover pertinent details regarding your account, programme schedule, and financial information.

Additionally, upon enrolment in your examination, you will gain access to the ISVPS Candidate Area. This specialised section is tailored to provide you with essential information pertaining to your exams and assessments, ensuring you have the necessary support throughout the examination process.

Yes. You will receive a certificate of attendance for every course attended which you can use towards your CPD hours.

Improve Veterinary Education was established in 1998 by a group of veterinary surgeons from across the UK, including a number of recognised experts. We provide the highest quality CPD in a format that allows you to develop your skills and knowledge in a logical and progressive fashion, under the supervision of dedicated Course Directors, each of whom has the highest qualifications in his or her field.

Our courses are run in venues across the UK and also in a number of other countries including Spain, Portugal and Italy.

In order to enrol onto any Improve Veterinary Education Veterinary Certificate Programme, delegates must be qualified veterinary surgeons. If you intend to take the assessments to achieve the ISVPS GPCert, UK-based applicants must also be on the RCVS Home Practicing Register. Please note there are additional requirements if you intend to continue from GPCert to the PgC – see PgC FAQs below if your certificate programme is eligible for the PgC.

The ISVPS General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert) is a peer-recognised veterinary postgraduate award. The Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) is a university Level 7 postgraduate certificate. While all our postgraduate programmes provide the teaching for the GPCert qualification, not all are eligible for the PgC. Where the subject is eligible for both, candidates have the option of continuing to the PgC. The awards you can achieve after the teaching programme are listed in the course details.

Yes you can. In the UK, CPD requirements for vets and nurses are set by the RCVS. Currently, there are no limitations to what you can use towards CPD, but the RCVS recommend planning your CPD to best support your professional development. Taking a General Practitioner Certificate is an excellent way to do this, and details about CPD hours provided is available on the specific programme details. You will receive a certificate at the end of each module to help you evidence your CPD with the RCVS using the 1CPD platform/app. Don’t forget you’ll also need to reflect on your CPD. More tips on planning and completing your CPD can be found in our Content Hub.

GPCert programmes vary in length depending on the discipline, but most certificates take 8-24 months to study. Start and end dates can be found in the table on the right of the course details page, and more information about the planned timings for each session in the veterinary certificate programme can be found in the ‘modules’ tab. Module dates will be confirmed in your MyImprove area once you’ve started the course.

No. We understand that you are busy professionals, and we aim to be as flexible as possible. First, check to see whether an online or blended programme is available before you enrol in the course – you may be able to study these more flexibly, or remotely while you are away.

If you still need to miss a compulsory module, we’ll need advance notice. We will make every effort to find you an alternative venue and date, or stream/record the session. If the alternative dates don’t suit, you can request to transfer the missed module when the programme runs the following edition/year. Module transfer will need to be made in writing. The only restriction is that you need to attend all of the taught modules before you can sit the relevant ISVPS examination, and you’ll need to complete the certificate (including assessments) within 7 years of your course start date (see below for more details).

The certificate must be achieved within 7 years of starting your course, or 4 years of the course completion (whichever is sooner). We recommend completing the modules and taking the examination at the earliest opportunity to ensure that your learning is still fresh and current.

It’s a big undertaking to study a veterinary certificate programme, but we provide plenty of resources to help you succeed. The Improve Online Learning Platform provides access to a course notes library, delegate discussion forum, and other study resources including webinars.

A dedicated team of Programme Coordinators and Customer Success Advisors will be on hand to support every individual during their postgraduate certificate programme, assessments and examinations to ensure a rewarding and successful learning journey. You may also find your Module Tutor a good source of support.

Delegates on specific certificate courses may also receive further resources in the form of one of our “Improve International Manual of” books if relevant to their course. The full list of manuals we have available can be found here.

You’ll retain access to our online learning platform for a year after your veterinary postgraduate certificate course ends (which includes the first exam opportunity). This means you can re-watch videos or check things in your notes easily when faced with new cases in practice. We also recommend downloading your course notes or making your own while on the programme to help you look up techniques in future.

At the beginning of the certificate programme, you will receive a syllabus and specific learning objectives for all of the taught modules. During the programme, you should document your current knowledge and skills prior to each module and undertake an informal short multiple-choice exercise. After the module, you can then undertake a further multiple-choice exercise, allowing you to demonstrate and reflect on the knowledge gained and implement a strategy to address any outstanding knowledge and skills gaps via independent study. 

While the exact assessments vary depending on the veterinary postgraduate certificate you’re studying, they usually include:

• A 90-minute online Case-Based Scenario (CBS) examination, focusing on the management of in-depth clinical cases, to assess case-based decision making, for which the pass mark is 60%
• A 90-minute Online Applied Knowledge Examination (OAKE) with a variety of questions, which assesses a candidate’s application of clinical knowledge, for which the pass mark is 60%

You will receive the exact details of exam dates and requirements once you start your certificate programme, but you can also contact ISVPS for more information. Please note that there are additional assessments to receive the PgC, which are covered in detail below if your course is eligible for a PgC.

If for some reason you are not able to sit the assessments for the GPCert with your cohort, you would be entered for the next opportunity, as long as you are within the time frame for completion. Since your course access runs for one year from the end of your course, you may need to pay an additional fee to continue accessing the course for later exam opportunities.

The GPCert programme fee includes:

• Learning materials
• Access to the online learning platform
• Registration with ISVPS and exam fee (first attempt only)
• Access to a programme coordinator and customer success team
• Refreshments and lunch (during face-to-face and practical sessions only – not included in online-only programmes)

Some course fees also include a veterinary textbook to help you study.

Those progressing to the PgC also have included additional benefits – see PgC FAQs below if this course is eligible.

The programme fee does not include:

• Travel and accommodation costs if needed for your course
• Assessment fees or exam fees after the first attempt
• Missed module fees if you haven’t notified us in writing more than 14 days before the module date
• Access to further textbooks, libraries, and journals of your choice.

If you intend to continue to the PgC, please also see the PgC FAQs below for more information.

We have offices in several countries, allowing delegates to take courses all over the world. In addition, our online certificates can be studied completely remotely, allowing increased access from those in other countries.

UK face-to-face courses are held in UK venues – delegates should ensure they are able to attend these sessions prior to booking. Delegates attending from outside of Europe may require Visas in order to participate. Please note that the Student Tier 4 Visa is not applicable to Improve Veterinary Education delegates as a result of us being a private education provider. Further guidance on your entry requirements should be checked with your local embassy.

Improve Veterinary Education does not provide support in obtaining Visas but can provide supporting documentation to support your application if requested.

The Improve Online Learning Platform provides access to a notes library, discussion forum and other study resources including webinars.

A dedicated Programme Coordinator will support every individual during their PgC programme to ensure a rewarding and successful learning journey.

ISVPS will provide support with assignments.

Medicine delegates will be provided with Improve Veterinary Education’s Manual of Small Animal Medicine Vol 1 and 2 and Surgery delegates with Improve Veterinary Education’s Manual of Small Animal Surgery Vol 1 and 2.

Our Medicine and Surgery programmes are held at various locations in the UK;

Small Animal Surgery- Swindon, Hatfield and Sheffield *
*consolidated programmes only available at Sheffield venue

Small Animal Medicine – Swindon

Our Clinical Postgraduate Programmes are held at our Swindon and Sheffield training centres, see the individual programmes for venue information.

We have excellent wet-lab facilities in Swindon and Sheffield, with state-of-the-art practical training equipment and technology.

To find out more about our venues, click here: https://www.improveinternational.com/uk/venue/

Yes. Each PgC is a recognised higher education qualification. The qualification represents Level 7 (Masters) within the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It provides 60 transferable academic credits at this level. The qualifications PgC, PgCert and CertAVP are therefore, by definition, academically equivalent.

Our veterinary certificate programmes vary in length between 12 and 18 months, depending on the number of modules. You can find details for each programme on each individual programme page. We encourage delegates to complete the taught modules and take their assessments as planned, but if you need to pause your studies we have a dedicated team that will support you and discuss your options.

We accept payments by credit card/debit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and bank transfer (BACS).

It is not possible to set up a payment plan for short or practical CPD courses. However, vet and vet nurse/paraprofessional certificate programmes have payment plans available, allowing you to pay a deposit for enrolment and then monthly instalments. Details about the amount and number of instalments can be found in the pricing tab for each programme on our website.

Not all payment methods can be used for direct debit due to their technical characteristics. For direct debit you can use a debit card, a credit card, or your bank account number.

Before starting to pay instalments, you will receive an invoice detailing the remaining balance (e.g the remaining amount after deducting the deposit you’ve paid from the total cost of the enrolment).

Your instalment payments will be allocated against this invoice, which reduces the outstanding amount with each instalment you pay. There won’t be a separate invoice for each instalment.

Depending on the payment method chosen for the Direct Debit the payment can take more days to be processed. For example, credit and debit card payments will be charged immediately and might appear on the same or the next day in your bank account statement. However, payments charged on your bank account (BACS/SEPA payments) might take up to 5 business days to be processed.

There might be other reasons for the payment not being processed. Here are the main reasons:

• Insufficient funds on the account
• Transaction is not authorised by the bank
• Card used for the payment has expired
• Card issuer suspected fraud and declined transaction

If the transaction has been declined by the bank, please contact them to discuss the problem, then try again to make the payment.

• Bad internet connection.
• Amount you have tried to pay is much higher than your daily spending pattern so your bank didn´t authorise the transaction for safety reasons.
• You have exceeded the limit of the transactions per day.
• Missing Strong Customer Authentication.
• Insufficient funds on the account.

If you wish to pay for your CPD course or certificate programme by bank transfer (BACS), the bank details are at the bottom of the invoice.

According to our terms and conditions you have a 14-day cooling off period from the date your order was placed. If you cancel your order within this time, your full order will be refunded. If your circumstances change after the 14 days have passed and it is more than 30 days from the start day of the CPD course you would be liable for the deposit, and the rest will be refunded to you. If it is less than 30 days from the start date of the course you would be liable for the full cost of the course. We are sometimes able to offer the option to defer to another cohort or to substitute another person into the place on the course. Please contact our friendly team for more information.

• Full payment – the total amount of the enrolment price must be paid within 5 days of registration.
• Deposit + remaining amount – deposit for the enrolment must be paid within 5 days of registration, while the remaining amount of the enrolment must be paid up to 30 days before the course starting date.
• Deposit + instalments – deposit for the enrolment must be paid within 5 days of registration, while the remaining amount of the enrolment will be split into instalments and paid once per month following an established payment plan.

The cost of any CPD course or veterinary certificate programme, including applicable payment schedules, can be found in the ‘pricing’ tab of any programme page.

For those taking a programme that includes a HAU qualification (eg a PgC programme), the cost of the assessments is included in the fees. However, this only applies to first attempts – if you require a re-sit, you’ll need to pay HAU directly. Please contact our team for more information on how to do this.

For those taking a programme that includes an ISVPS qualification, the cost of the assessments is included in the programme fee. However, this only applies to first attempts – if you require a re-sit, you’ll need to pay ISVPS directly. If you need more information, contact our friendly team.

Yes …..

The Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) is a recognised academic qualification that will demonstrate that you have achieved a certain standard in your subject or discipline. The PgC provides 60 academic credits and is positioned at Masters Level 7 within the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) framework for higher and further education. This makes the PgC equivalent to the RCVS CertAVP and the BSAVA PGCert as well as other ‘Level 7’ qualifications. The 60 credits from the PgC can be used towards achieving a Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) or Professional Masters (MProf), which represent 120 credits and 180 credits respectively. For more information about continuing to these higher awards, please contact our team.

Please note that not all GPCerts are eligible to continue to PgCs – check individual programme details for more information.

In addition to the GPCert criteria detailed above, vets who wish to complete the Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) after their General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert) assessments need to have been in clinical practice for a year before starting the GPCert programme. UK-based applicants must be on the RCVS home practicing register, while applicants from outside the UK must hold a qualification that would entitle them to register as a member of the RCVS.

For programmes offering a PgC pathway, instructions will be provided as part of your course sign up and then upon completion of your course activity.

In programmes where the GPCert and PgC are offered separately, delegates have the option to “upgrade” to the PgC. This upgrade will be reviewed in collaboration with your programme coordinator (IVE) and the Customer Success Team (ISVPS) to confirm eligibility and provide support. You can upgrade anytime within 4 years of receiving the GPCert award.  Please note there will be additional costs to upgrade to the PgC.

As long as you were qualified as a vet for at least a year before you started the GPCert and you have done all of the GPCert course, you may be able to “upgrade” from a GPCert to a PgC. This depends on your course and must be done within 4 years of the GPCert exam date. Please contact your programme coordinator or ISVPS for further information – they will help you check eligibility and register for further modules/assessments.

Yes. Each veterinary postgraduate certificate is a recognised higher education qualification. The qualification represents Level 7 (Masters) within the QAA Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It provides 60 transferable academic credits at this level. Our PgCs are validated at this level by Harper Adams University, while other veterinary postgraduate certificate providers are validated by other universities. The PgC, CertAVP and PGCert are all Level 7, providing 60 credits, and are therefore, by definition, academically equivalent.

At Improve Veterinary Education, we pride ourselves on delivering CPD that meets the needs of busy vets in practice. We’ve been developing courses and programmes for over 25 years, combining modern learning technologies and time-honoured teaching principles. We don’t just deliver modular programmes – we pioneered them. Our world-renowned speakers are not only experts in their field, they’re excellent lecturers too, seamlessly blending theory with hands-on practical sessions where they’re appropriate. Many of our PgCs can be studied entirely online with our world-leading learning platform, enabling vets to study from the comfort of home. For more information about what it’s like studying with us or how our modern, immersive learning technologies ensure that studying for an online veterinary certificate is interactive, see our Content Hub. 

In addition to the GPCert assessments, delegates studying towards a Postgraduate Certificate will need to complete and pass additional ISVPS assessments, consisting of a Case Report (pass mark 50%) and Case Log. The Case Log consists of multiple cases which will have been completed in practice during the time period of the programme. Delegates studying towards a PgC in Cardiology, Dentistry and Oral Surgery, Dermatology, Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency Medicine & Surgery, Exotic Animal Practice, Endoscopy & Endosurgery, Feline Practice and Ophthalmology additionally undertake the distance learning Advanced Practitioner module with HAU, which requires further assessments.

Delegates taking the PgC in Small Animal Medicine or Small Animal Surgery take an additional Veterinary Professional Skills Module with HAU only if they want to apply for RCVS Advanced Practitioner status.

You must have attended all modules in order to be eligible to sit the examinations and submit the assessments.

In addition to the resources included in the course fee for the GPCert, the course fee for the PgC includes a subscription to Harper Adam’s online e-library providing access to 1,000s of scientific articles and abstracts, registration with HAU, and HAU exam fees (first attempt only)

The PgC programme fee does not include:

• Travel and accommodation costs if needed
• Assessment fees or exam fees after the first attempt
• Missed module fees if you haven’t notified us in writing more than 14 days before the module date
• Access to further textbooks, libraries, and journals of your choice.

If you wish to take the Veterinary Professional Skills Module (required for RCVS Advanced Practitioner Status) with HAU, this is also not included.

Yes! We believe in peer learning and support, so we’ve built a forum into our online programmes. Each module typically has a dedicated forum where you can post questions or reply to discussions. Your module tutor also has access so they can help guide discussions and provide help and advice. Look for “Add discussion topic” to begin a new discussion in a forum or “Reply” to add a reply within an existing discussion.

In most lessons and quizzes, your progress is saved automatically. If your connection drops, simply re-open the module once you’re back online and navigate back to where you left off. If you continue to experience disruptions, contact support or your programme coordinator.

Most modules feature an overall progress bar and tick boxes per lesson and Week. Refer to your “My Courses” page or the module main pages to see what has been completed and what remains for your courses and modules respectively.

The platform and content are designed to be viewed on most smartphones and tablets.

You will need an active internet connection to load interactive lessons, quizzes, and videos. Some PDFs or notes may be downloadable for offline reference.

To access an online course, you’ll need a stable internet connection. Some courses may have downloadable PDFs to read through offline, but interactive components require being online.

You’ll also need an up-to-date web browser (such as Chrome, Firefox, or Safari). The online learning platform is optimised to work on all major browsers; however, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari. Make sure you update your browser regularly.

For video content, audio devices (speakers or headphones) are recommended.

• We will endeavour to allocate you face-to-face modules close together in date (e.g. within the same week) to reduce the numbers of trips to the UK required but these dates are restricted so you should be aware that you may have to make separate trips as places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
• It is your responsibility to check visa requirements and ensure that you have relevant documents in place well in advance of travel.
• Delegates attending from outside of Europe may require visas in order to participate in our face-to-face programmes. Please note that the Student Tier 4 visa is not applicable to Improve Education Delegates as a result of us being a private education provider. Further guidance on your entry requirements should be checked with your local embassy.
• Improve Education does not provide support in obtaining visas but can provide supporting documentation to support your application if requested.

• Registration is made directly to ISVPS (for the GPCert) – you will be provided with contact details allowing you to complete their registration forms
• For further information about the PgC, please contact us

The PgC is worth 30 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits but delegates are advised to check with their local governing body for the relevance of these credits in their country.

The Nurse Advanced Certificate is a globally recognised further qualification for veterinary nurses. It is accredited by ISVPS and is the highest level of qualification they currently offer for veterinary nurses. Our advanced nursing programmes are designed to teach the knowledge and skills nurses will need to pass the assessments for the NAdvCert. Nurses who achieve the NAdvCert are highly regarded by colleagues and employers, having evidence of their advanced skills and knowledge in their subject area.

Veterinary nurses who successfully complete the assessments for the Advanced Nurse Certificates are eligible to use the postnominals NAdvCert followed by their abbreviated discipline in brackets. Postnominals are a fantastic way to showcase your further qualifications to your colleagues and pet owners. The ISVPS NAdvCert awards are not currently approved for inclusion in the RCVS register. They are internationally peer-recognised and respected qualifications. Your postnominals can be displayed wherever you deem appropriate, except on the RCVS register.

After completing the advanced veterinary nurse certificate programme, delegates take the following assessments with ISVPS:

• A 90-minute online examination using a variety of questions to assess application of clinical knowledge (pass mark 60%)
• A case log (a log of clinical cases where the candidate was involved in the majority of the patient care, demonstrating clinical experience in the chosen discipline, and covering a range of procedures from the syllabus)
• A written assessment, which is normally a literature review based on the candidate’s chosen subject area (Pass mark 50%)

These assessments may vary slightly depending on the subject. Full details of the assessment requirements and deadlines are available in your MyImprove area when you’ve started the course or, for more details, you can register your interest and we’ll be in touch.

The length of the advanced veterinary nursing programme varies depending on the subject being studied, with most courses taking between 6 and 10 months. Start and end dates can be found in the course details of each programme, while the planned date for each individual module is available in the modules tab. Module dates will be confirmed in your MyImprove area once you are registered for the course.

The Advanced Nurse Certificate assessments are held by ISVPS once the teaching programme has completed. Again, the dates can be found in your MyImprove area once you are registered on the programme.

The veterinary nurse Advanced Certificate programme fee includes:

• Learning materials
• Access to the online learning platform
• Registration with ISVPS and exam fee (first attempt only)
• Access to a programme coordinator to support your study

The Advanced Nurse Certificate programme fee does not include:

• Assessment fees or exam fees after the first attempt
• Missed module fees if you haven’t notified us in writing more than 14 days before the module date
• Access to further textbooks, libraries, and journals of your choice

The Advanced Nurse Certificate is designed for veterinary nurses working in general or referral practice. While it is ideally suited to those who have already completed a post-training qualification, such as a Nurse Certificate (NCert), previous study is not a prerequisite. Highly experienced veterinary nurses may also choose to pursue this advanced nursing certificate if they feel it is at a suitable level for their skills. We strongly advise that veterinary nurses have at least 5 years experience in clinical practice, in their chosen discipline, if they have not previously completed post-training qualifications.

In the UK, veterinary nurses must be on the RCVS register to take the advanced certificate. In the Republic of Ireland, veterinary nurses taking the advanced certificate need to be regulated by the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) and able to provide a unique VCI number. For more information about eligibility, please contact our team.

Yes, there will be a live session every 3 months to help embed your understanding. The date and time of these will be communicated in a timely manner.

All applicants must hold a recognised qualification in veterinary medicine.

Delegates will be provided with: 

• Notes to support every lesson 
• Reading list 
• Module Tutor (diploma holder/equivalent and or above in their field) 
• Improve Education Programme coordinator 
• Discussion Forum (tutor mentored only for online programmes) 
• Pre and post-module evaluation reflection questions 
• Reflective sessions incorporating multiple-choice writing and study skills (online only) 
• Summary videos at the end of each week (online) 
• Subject textbook (if applicable) 
• Online Study Skills 
• 12-month access to the RCVS knowledge library 
• ISVPS customer support team 
• Syllabus 

Yes. The programme has no fixed start date, you can enrol at the most suitable time for you.

The full ISVPS exam fee is included in the programme price, however, registration confirmation is required and must be done directly with ISVPS. You will be provided with ISVPS contact details allowing you to complete the registration forms. All the assessments are online. 

ISVPS is responsible for the exam using an independent invigilation company. More details can be found here (https://www.isvps.org/p/en). 

One module is released weekly.

For up-to-date  information regarding the assessment, please visit www.isvps.org.

You will spend on average 4 hours per week/module. Revising for the final exam is additional, depending on your programme. 

Selected GPAdvCert programmes provide 40 credits towards the postgraduate diploma (PgD) or Professional Master’s. For more information about progressing to these qualifications, contact our friendly team.

The assessments for the ISVPS General Practitioner Advanced Certificate (GPAdvCert) include:

• A Case Log comprising multiple relevant cases you have been involved with while studying on the programme
• A 90-minute Online Applied Knowledge Examination (OAKE) to assess application of clinical knowledge, for which the pass mark is 60%
• A 90-minute online Case-Based Scenario (CBS) exam, focusing on the management of one in-depth clinical case, for which the pass mark is 60%.
• A case report; a detailed written assessment on one clinical case managed during the programme, for which the pass mark is 50%.

Detailed information about assessments, including exam dates, will be given once you are registered on the programme.

The programme fee does not include:

• Travel and accommodation costs (if required)
• Assessment/exam fees after the first attempt
• Missed module fees if you haven’t notified us in writing more than 14 days before the module date

You may also want to budget for access to further textbooks, libraries, and journals of your choice, beyond those that are included in your programme fee.

The advanced veterinary certificate programme fee includes:

• Learning materials
• Access to the online learning platform
• Registration with ISVPS and exam fee (first attempt only)
• Access to a programme coordinator to support your learning
• Refreshments and lunch during face-to-face and practical sessions

These advanced certificate programmes are ideal for vets who already hold a GPCert or a Level 7 qualification (like a PgC, CertAVP or PGCert) in a related field, or have been working within the discipline for at least five years. More information about the subjects covered in each programme can be found by clicking on each module in the ‘modules’ tab of the course information. For assistance determining whether the GPAdvCert is at the right level for you, you can contact our team of trained veterinary CPD advisors who will be able to help.

The veterinary nurse certificate programme fee does not include:

• Travel and accommodation costs (if needed for your course)
• Assessment fees or exam fees after the first attempt
• Missed module fees if you haven’t notified us in writing more than 14 days before the module date
• Access to further textbooks, libraries, and journals of your choice.

The vet nurse certificate programme fee includes:

• Learning materials
• Access to the online learning platform
• Registration with ISVPS and exam fee (first attempt only)
• Access to a programme coordinator
• Refreshments and lunch during face-to-face and practical sessions

The length of the training programme for the veterinary nurse certificates varies depending on the subject. Start and end dates can be found in the course information for each subject. Planned module dates (subject to change) are visible in the ‘modules’ tab. The assessments are then held after the training programme is complete. Most delegates complete their veterinary nurse certificate programme within a 12–18-month time period (depending on course start and assessment dates).

Taking a veterinary nurse certificate can have significant benefits for the nurse and their practice as a whole. While these can vary depending on a nurse’s position, the practice environment, and the subject area they study, nurses with certificates generally:

• Acquire new skills, enabling them to manage cases with confidence
• Gain respect from colleagues and the public, contributing to higher job satisfaction and easier salary conversations with current and future employers
• Develop valuable study skills that support further post-qualification studies and enhance professional development

Further qualifications like veterinary nurse certificates don’t just benefit the individual – the practice usually sees a benefit too, which is why many practices provide funding and time off to allow nurses to complete certificates. Practices may see:

• Improved patient outcomes due to the candidate’s enhanced nursing skills, and the spreading of those skills through the team
• Increased client satisfaction from improved in-house nursing capabilities, which may be the difference between referral and in-house care
• Better staff retention and easier recruitment resulting from higher job satisfaction and clearly demonstrated support for professional development
• In some cases, a veterinary nurse certificate will equip a delegate with the knowledge and skills to run clinics or offer services that were previously unavailable, such as nutrition consultations or physiotherapy services. This can provide a new revenue stream for practices.

Veterinary nurses will need to successfully complete the following assessments in order to be awarded the veterinary nurse certificate (or paraprofessional certificate, if this applies):

• A written assignment (usually a case report, pass mark 50%) linked to their chosen field of study
• An online 60-minute Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) exam, for which the pass mark is standardised.
• A 90-minute Online Applied Knowledge Examination (OAKE), which uses a variety of questions to assess the application of clinical knowledge, for which the pass mark is 60% 

The assessments are organised and run by ISVPS and may vary slightly depending on the exact certificate you are taking. More information will be given in your MyImprove area once you have started the programme, but you can also contact us if you have questions.

Delegates who successfully complete the Nurse Certificate (NCert) or Veterinary Paraprofessional Certificate (VPPCert) assessments are awarded the certificate and are allowed to use the postnominals NCert or VPPCert followed by their abbreviated discipline in brackets. For example, nurses taking the Certificate in Anaesthesia will be allowed to use the postnominals NCert(AnaesthNsg) . The ISVPS NCert/VPPCert awards are not currently approved for inclusion in the RCVS register. They are internationally, peer recognised awards.  Your postnominals can be displayed wherever you deem appropriate, except on the RCVS register.

The Veterinary Paraprofessional Certificate (VPPCert) is a certificate programme for people working as veterinary nurses but who have no formal training. There are strict eligibility criteria. Delegates do not have to be RVNs, but they do need to be working mainly in a nursing role in veterinary practice, for instance, animal care assistants and kennel assistants who have nursing duties.

A Nurse Certificate (NCert) is an internationally recognised qualification for veterinary nurses, accredited by ISVPS. It is awarded in a specific subject area or discipline, and is evidence of a veterinary nurse’s dedication to their chosen area of medicine. In studying a veterinary nurse certificate, nurses develop their skills and learn new techniques, enabling them to improve the care of their patients. Veterinary nurses with certificates are highly employable, and the ISVPS Nurse Certificate is highly regarded by peers and employers all over the world.

We recommend taking each module in order and taking the assessments on the first attempt. If this is not possible you have 3 years to attend the 75% of the taught modules required to be exam-eligible and a further 4 years to pass the ISVPS assessments. This means that if a module needs to be missed due to unforeseen circumstances, or you need more time to prepare for the assessments, your course can be flexible. If you are worried about missing multiple modules or needing longer to complete your veterinary nursing certificate, we recommend contacting our friendly team for help and advice.

Proof of qualifications as awarded in the country of origin will be required prior to enrolment on the programme. These are required by ISVPS for exam registration. Please do contact us to discuss your eligibility for further information. 

Please note that you may require a visa to attend a face-to-face programme. Guidance on this can be obtained from your local embassy. Delegates should ensure they are able to attend all sessions prior to booking. Please note that the Student Tier 4 Visa is not applicable to Improve Veterinary Education delegates as a result of us being a private education provider. We do not provide support with obtaining visas but can provide supporting documentation to support your application if requested.

We have two main venues for our practical modules and CPD courses:

Courses and sessions marked as ‘Swindon’ will be held in our Clinical Excellence Centre, which can be found on the Ground Floor, Delta 1200, Delta Business Park, Welton Road, Swindon, SN5 7XZ.

Courses and sessions marked as ‘Sheffield’ will be held at Benchmark House, 8 Smithy Wood Drive, Chapeltown, Sheffield S35 1QN.
Find out more about our venues and facilities.

Start times vary between 09:00 and 09:30, depending on the course you are attending. Please refer to communications from your Programme Coordinator or Practical Course Coordinator, or check the online learning platform for details. UK venues open at 08:30 to give you plenty of time to get settled in.

You will have a short morning and afternoon break to get refreshments and an hour-long lunch break.

Improve Veterinary Education established the Pet Gifting scheme several years ago, which allows local veterinary practices to offer clients the option to donate their pet to us at time of euthanasia. Please contact us or speak to a member of the team at the venue if you would like more information.

Practical surgical sessions, held in the wet labs, will have PPE provided (surgical gowns). You may chose to bring scrubs, if you wish. For modules/courses involving live dogs (including ultrasound and physiotherapy courses), we recommend bringing a scrub top. No open-toed shoes are to be worn for practical modules.

Delegates attending face-to-face or practical CPD from overseas may require a Visa in order to participate in sessions. Please seek advice from your local embassy in relation to exact requirements. Improve Veterinary Education (IVE) does not provide support in obtaining Visas, but we can supply documentation to support your application. Please also note that a Student Tier 4 Visa is not applicable because IVE is a private education provider.

No, we do not sedate dogs used in practical CPD courses, including ultrasound scanning courses. The dogs we use are chosen for their relaxed and compliant temperament and if they show signs of distress, they are removed and allowed to settle.

The dogs we use are clinically fit and healthy. We are not able to source animals with specific problems and we feel that would be unethical. Learning to accurately scan and assess normal physiology is the best approach when teaching ultrasonography.

We are very grateful to the owners of dogs who allow their dogs to be used for our ultrasound CPD. We always ask the owners whether their dog can be clipped and make them aware of the benefit to our vets and nurses of having a clipped patient. However, clipping is sometimes denied, especially if the dog has previously had clipper rash, as many of our ultrasound scanning dogs are return patients. We find enabling the ultrasound gel to soak in by applying in advance allows non-clipped dogs to be used.

We do not provide cats for any practical ultrasound courses or modules, due to the stress this would cause to the animal through transportation and restraint. As it is not clinically necessary to scan the cat, it would not be ethical to use them for learning purposes.