RCVS directly accredits Bristol University veterinary nursing degree

The RCVS VN Council has agreed that Bristol University's BSc Hons in Veterinary Nursing should be directly accredited. This means its graduates will be eligible to join the RCVS List of Veterinary Nurses without achieving VN National Vocational Qualifications (levels 2 and 3).

The decision was made at the VN Council meeting on October 17 2006, following a recommendation from the VN Awarding Body Management Board, which is recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as the Awarding Body for VN National Vocational Qualifications and also quality-assures veterinary nursing higher education courses on behalf of the VN Council.

A number of monitoring visits to Bristol University have been carried out during 2006, covering the management and support of students, course assessment and evaluation and clinical activities. It was felt that the University now had sufficient quality assurance mechanisms in place to allow direct accreditation. Annual monitoring will continue.

"Nearly one in four student veterinary nurses now enter training through higher education, with 11 course providers offering degrees - it is an increasingly popular route to qualification," according to Lt Col Neil Smith MRCVS, Vice-chairman of VN Council.

"It is important that graduate VNs meet the criteria for practical skills laid down by the VN Occupational Standards. However, we have no desire to impose excessive burdens on either students or academic staff through duplication of effort.

"It is the long-term aim that all degree students will be able to join the VN List without also having to undertake the vocational qualifications. We are pleased that Bristol University's degree course now joins those of the Royal Veterinary College and Middlesex University and the College of Animal Welfare in achieving direct accreditation."