RCVS Advanced Practitioner Status: What is it and how do I get it?
Is becoming an RCVS Advanced Practitioner something you aspire to? Or maybe you have noticed colleagues using the title and wondered what it means. Let’s look into the Advanced Practitioner status a little more closely and discover what it is to be an Advanced Practitioner, and how to achieve this status yourself.
What is RCVS Advanced Practitioner status?
RCVS Advanced Practitioner status is awarded to veterinary surgeons who have proven their skill-set in a particular field (or ‘discipline’) above and beyond that of the standard undergraduate veterinary degree. It is a recognition of a vet’s commitment to furthering their skills and experience in a particular discipline over a period of five years. As an Advanced Practitioner, your name will appear on a searchable database held by the RCVS (the List of Advanced Practitioners) for five years after they grant your title, and then you need to re-apply.
There are 40 different areas a veterinary surgeon can obtain Advanced Practitioner status in and a vet can register for up to three categories.
Advanced Practitioner vs Specialist – What’s the difference?
Registering as an RCVS Advanced Practitioner is different from qualifying as a veterinary specialist. A specialist has further recognised qualifications in their field above that of an Advanced Practitioner, and is a protected title, so it is important to understand the limits of which you can advertise your skillset to the public even with further training in your area of interest.
An Advanced Practitioner title can be viewed as a formal recognition that your skillset lies above that of the standard university degree, but not as advanced as a specialist veterinary surgeon. Advanced Practitioner status can also be a stepping stone for those wishing to pursue residency for specialisation.
What are the benefits of RCVS Advanced Practitioner status?
There are many benefits to becoming an Advanced Practitioner for the vet, their patients, and their practice.
Benefits for the vet
- The opportunity to shape and grow your career in an area you are interested in.
- Better employment opportunities- enhanced remuneration, better work perks or negotiating the purchase of equipment to support your clinical work.
- Accountability to stay up to date with CPD in your chosen field.
- Recognition of your commitment to further education, and lifelong learning in your discipline.
Benefits to patients
- Having further knowledge in your field will allow you to practice at a high standard of care, providing the best possible service to your patients.
Benefits to the practice
- Increased caseload and revenue generation.
- Clinic can promote an Advanced Practitioner’s status as a point of difference between competitors, and as a draw to new clientele.
- Easier recruitment, as practices seen to support professional development are more attractive to employees
- Ability to offer mentorship and learning opportunities to more recent graduates.
How to achieve RCVS Advanced Practitioner status
All MRCVS members can apply to be considered for advanced practitioner status, and the RCVS has produced a lengthy document with specific guidelines. In short you will need the following:
- A suitable postgraduate qualification
- A reference covering the last 5 years
- CPD showing your interest area
- Demonstration of clinical governance
You will also need to be actively practicing on the RCVS register and you’ll need to pay a fee. Let’s look at these requirements in more detail:
Postgraduate veterinary qualifications
A postgraduate qualification in the discipline (e.g. small animal medicine) is required, equivalent to a Masters level 7. The RCVS lists several options for qualifications that meet the standard for application to the RCVS Advanced Practitioner List.
The most common (and straightforward) is the CertAVP, PgC, or GPCert. Because these qualifications are pre-approved by the RCVS, you can streamline your application. There are other ways to prove you have qualifications or skills equal to that of these certificates, and reference to the RCVS application guide is recommended to see if your qualification is eligible to include in your application for Advanced Practitioner.
Improve Veterinary Education offers several PgCs that are pre-approved for application to the RCVS Advanced Practitioner list with no further academic requirements. The approved programmes include:
- PgC in Small Animal Cardiology Studies (which we also offer online)
- PgC in Small Animal Medicine (which we also offer online)
- PgC in Small Animal Opthalmology (which we also offer online)
- PgC in Small Animal Surgery (which we also offer as a consolidated course or with some modules held online)
Reference
You will need a reference from another RCVS-registered colleague to testament your depth of experience in your chosen field spanning at least five years. You can use more than one referee if you have moved practices during the last five years. Your referee fills out a standard template questionnaire to be included when submitting your application.
Relevant CPD
The application considers your veterinary CPD record over the last five years to see if your further education matches the area you wish to apply for Advanced Practitioner status. CPD needs to be recorded in the 1CPD platform and should total 250 hours over the five years, including a focus on external CPD (in person course attendance, shadowing at another clinic etc). The CPD record must show your learning in your area of interest, but also a broader approach to maintaining your skill-set as a practicing clinician.
Demonstrating clinical governance
If you want to apply for RCVS Approved Practitioner status, you’ll also have to write a statement illustrating how you as a clinician are actively involved in clinical governance, using two individual examples to demonstrate compliance with the code of professional conduct, utilising the whole of the clinical governance cycle.
Currently practicing
You must be registered as actively practicing in clinical work with the RCVS, and self-certify management of 100 cases per year in your chosen area. If you graduated after 2007, you must also have completed the Professional Development Phase (PDP) or Vet GDP.
Fees for RCVS Advanced Practitioner Status
To be considered for the RCVS Approved Practitioner list, you’ll also have to pay the RCVS. At the time of writing, the application fee is £105. If you are successful you will need to pay a further fee each year in addition to your usual RCVS fees – this is currently £105 per year, but can go up with inflation. You’ll also have to pay a renewal fee every 5 years, which is currently also £105.
FAQs about RCVS Advanced Practitioner status
What is the difference between the CertAVP and Advanced Practitioner status?
Advanced Practitioner status is a title given to veterinary professionals who can prove they meet the requirements. The CertAVP is one of the postgraduate qualifications that can be used as part of your application for Advanced Practitioner status, alongside the PgC and PGCert. . You can be an Advanced Practitioner without a CertAVP if the RCVS considers your skill level comparable – for example overseas applicants who have an equivalent level of skills/qualifications recognised by their state board may be able to apply.
Can I reapply for Advanced Practitioner Status if I’m unsuccessful?
Yes, you can reapply, but it is worth considering why your application was unsuccessful. Having a RCVS-recognised veterinary postgraduate qualification such as a PgC can really simplify the application process. Ask a trusted colleague or mentor to review your application with you to identify areas of improvement before reapplying, or reach out to the RCVS for feedback.
Is being on the RCVS Advanced Practitioner list worth it?
Sounding like a lot of admin? Fair thought. Although it can seem a daunting process, if you are a certificate holder, proving you meet the rest of the criteria will be fairly easy, if a little labour-intensive.
Holding yourself accountable to achieve and then maintain the standard of Advanced Practitioner status can help engage your mind in your work, and increase your job satisfaction. Advanced Practitioner status may also provide a platform to discuss pay rises or improved work perks and equipment with your employer.
Whilst not for everyone, obtaining Advanced Practitioner status can be very rewarding and there are hopes that many of the profession will aim towards this goal as they progress through their professional careers.
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