VetGDP in the UK – A Guide for New Graduates
Often, you’ve focussed so hard on graduating from vet school, you forget to think about what comes next. And then, suddenly, you’re out in the real world, and CPD and the VetGDP aren’t far-off ideas, but something you actually have to do. This article is the first in our New Graduate Series, demystifying continuing professional development (CPD) and the Veterinary Graduate Development Phase (VetGDP) process for new vets.
What is the VetGDP?
The Veterinary Graduate Development Phase (VetGDP) is a framework of structured support to help new graduates gain important skills and mentors in clinical practice. It was designed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and brought into practice in 2021. It replaced the old system of the Professional Development Phase (PDP), which was seen to be a ‘tick-box exercise’ that poorly supported newly qualified vets. Instead, the VetGDP is designed to be a ‘workplace-based programme’ that helps new graduates ‘establish themselves in the workplace and advance their knowledge, skills, confidence and professional identity’(1).
What does the VetGDP involve?
So, what does that mean for you, as a new graduate vet? Here are your step-by-step instructions to getting the VetGDP completed.
1. Finding a GDP practice and mentor
You’ll need to join a practice that’s registered as an RCVS Approved Graduate Development Practice, and you’ll need to be assigned a trained VetGDP Advisor, who is a vet in your practice who has taken further training so they can assist you in your development. If the practice you are planning to work at hasn’t got a VetGDP Advisor, one of the vets will have to complete the training before you are allowed to start work.
2. Self-declaration and signing up
When you join the RCVS register, you must complete the VetGDP declaration. First, on your RCVS ‘My Account’ page, you’ll need to let them know where you’re working by adding a ‘relationship’ using the tabs at the top. Then, click on the red VetGDP statement bar and choose the most appropriate option. Your practice and VetGDP Advisors will need to complete their declarations too. You can now log into the 1CPD e-portfolio using the same details as you use for the RCVS ‘My Account’. You’ll need to choose your practice and VetGDP Advisor name from the drop-down menus – there’s information on troubleshooting this here.
3. Choosing your EPAs
Once you’ve started your new job, your VetGDP Advisor will need to meet with you and choose the competencies relevant to your role. These are called the ‘Entrustable Professional Activities’ (EPAs), which sounds a lot more complex than they are – they’re just skills and tasks you’ll need to be competent in as a vet. They’re deliberately ‘high level’ to keep them relevant to all vets working with all species, but most tasks you complete as a vet will fall into one of the EPAs. You’ll just need to go through them and make sure they all apply to you – in some cases, you might find your role won’t require one or more of the EPAs. It’s also possible to manually add EPAs, but most of the time this isn’t necessary as another EPA covers the competency.
4. Recording and reflecting on your EPA progress
Then, you simply record in your 1CPD e-portfolio the activities you do that show you are improving in these skills, and reflect on your progress. You’re trying to show both depth and breadth of experience, and you’ll also want to record and reflect on your progress reviews with your VetGDP Advisor, who can add their own feedback.
For example, EPA 1 (taking a history): you might record one example of a routine history, one from a sick pet, maybe a reflective one from where you missed or nearly missed a symptom that might have been mentioned sooner if you’d taken the history differently.
5. Getting the VetGDP e-portfolio signed off
Once you’ve filled out all the EPAs with enough examples, and you feel you’re able to demonstrate your competence in the areas, you and your VetGDP Advisor need to agree that it’s the right time to send in your e-portfolio for signing off. This must be done within 18 months of graduation. In doing so, you’ll show that you’ve become a competent, confident vet. The e-portfolio will be sent for review by a second VetGDP advisor – this process normally takes about 4 weeks, but the progress bar in your portfolio will help you see where in the process you are.
Top tips for your VetGDP
- Include enough information to show the e-portfolio reviewer the types of cases you’ve been seeing – you want to show off a breadth of cases, with enough detail that you can remember the case if asked
- Relate the reflection back to the success criteria for each EPA to show your progress
- Don’t use identifiable information about yourself, your practice, or your clients – the e-portfolio should be anonymous
- It’s ok to use the same case for more than one EPA!
- Don’t forget you can mention the same type of skill more than once, especially if you can show improvement – for example, you could show how you did a booster in the first week and then reflect on how it’s changed a few months later
- Try to log something every day – you could ask for an appointment slot to be put aside for you to complete your VetGDP each day
- Don’t compare yourself to your friends – some complete the VetGDP quickly, others take longer, or focus on different areas first. It’s not a competition, and you aren’t a ‘bad vet’ if you haven’t completed yours while others have
- If you’re struggling to complete some EPAs, talk to your VetGDP Advisor – you might be able to take some CPD or see practice elsewhere if you’re struggling to get cases together.
“Don’t forget to make the most of the experience. Use your Advisor meetings to learn about things you’re unsure of and use your EPAs to make achievable goals.” – Amelia Foo MRCVS, recent graduate
Vet CPD and VetGDP
Now, you might be wondering how the VetGDP relates to CPD. Vets in the UK have to complete 35 hours of CPD each year. The good news is that the Graduate Development Phase counts towards your CPD hours, to a maximum of 52.5 hours. In other words, the RCVS counts it as 18 months of CPD. So, you’ll have to do 17.5 hours of CPD in your second year to be compliant. We’ve explained all about CPD, including what counts towards your CPD hours, in our article about UK vet CPD requirements.
VetGDP FAQs
Is VetGDP compulsory?
VetGDP is compulsory for all new graduate vets starting a role in practice. Some graduates may stay in higher education or take a non-clinical role, in which case VetGDP may not be compulsory, but it will need to be completed before the vet starts work in clinical practice.
How long does it take to complete the VetGDP?
New graduate vets have 18 months to complete the VetGDP, although most complete it sooner. It depends on the role they’re in and how much time they can spend filling out the portfolio.
Can you fail the VetGDP?
The VetGDP is not an exam, but your e-portfolio is reviewed by a VetGDP Advisor. They might disagree that the porfolio is complete and ask you to continue adding examples that show your learning and development. Take their feedback on board and try again.
How to become a VetGDP Advisor?
If you’ve been on the RCVS register as practicing in the UK for at least three years, you can register for the training to become a VetGDP Advisor.
Conclusion
As a newly graduated veterinary surgeon, it’s compulsory to complete the RCVS Veterinary Graduate Development Phase (VetGDP) if you’re practicing in the UK. This workplace-based, structured programme helps you to reflect on your first 12-18 months and record your professional development. It also counts towards your veterinary CPD requirements.
Once you’ve completed your VetGDP and it’s been signed off, you’ll have to complete vet CPD like everyone else. Our Content Hub is full of resources to help you plan your CPD and succeed in your veterinary career, whatever your goals!
