RCVS congratulates international veterinary nurses on exam success

We have congratulated eight international veterinary nurses after they passed examinations allowing them to join the Register.

Most veterinary nurses who qualify from outside of the UK are required to sit our pre-registration examination prior to joining the Register. In June this year 11 candidates sat the examination of whom eight (73%) passed, which is the highest pass rate yet.

The current pre-registration examination involves the veterinary nurses having to undertake 12 practical tasks within a fixed period of time covering topics such as diagnostic imaging, laboratory diagnostics, nursing care, supporting anaesthesia and theatre practice.

On average, the pass rate for the practical examinations is around 50 per cent.

Julie Dugmore, our Head of Veterinary Nursing, said: “I would like to congratulate those who have passed as this is by no means an easy examination and involves a lot of preparation and forethought beforehand.

"We look forward to welcoming them to the Register of Veterinary Nurses and taking them through their professional declarations.”

Those who passed came from Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America in addition to a veterinary nurse who had graduated from the Royal Veterinary College’s veterinary nursing degree course at Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Sarah Millar, who is a British citizen, is the first graduate from this course to pass the pre-registration examination and now intends to join the Register. She said: “As part of my degree I was required to complete OSCEs so I knew what to expect with regards to examination, although I had to do them in an unfamiliar environment.

“I was excited and relieved to hear that I had passed. Being a registered veterinary nurse means that I will be responsible and accountable for my actions, as well as continuing with evidence-based practice."

The full results of the June 2015 pre-registration practical examinations are available to download.