Code change protects 'specialist' title
Richard Stephenson cautioned that "somebody might inadvertently fall foul of the college".
Veterinary surgeons will no longer be able to refer to themselves as specialists unless they are registered as such with the RCVS. This follows a change in the Code of Professional Conduct which was agreed at last week's council meeting.
Unless this change is properly communicated with the profession, however, council member Richard Stephenson cautioned that "somebody might inadvertently fall foul of the college".
In the past, vets have technically been able to say in a generalised way that they specialise in 'horse work' or 'diagnostic imaging' for example. Under the changes to the code this will no longer be allowed.
Stephen May also sought reassurance that this would be given "a good deal of publicity" to ensure members of the profession conform to the requirements and raised concerns about the feasibility of informing the profession by January 2016, from when the change is expected to be enforced.
Mr Stephenson also raised a point on behalf of Mark Elliott, who was absent from the meeting. Mr Elliott works in the fields of homeopathy and game bird management and conservancy, for which there are not yet specialist structures. He feels that not being able to refer to himself as a specialist in these areas disadvantages his business and that of other vets working in a number other fields without specialist structures.
The code changes also offer protection for the advanced practitioner and veterinary nurse titles, although legal protection is still being sought for the latter.
New wording approved by the council is as follows:
Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Surgeons
"3.5 Veterinary surgeons must not hold out themselves or others as specialists or advanced practitioners unless appropriately listed with the RCVS, or as veterinary nurses unless appropriately listed with the RCVS."
Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses
"3.5 Veterinary nurses must not hold out themselves or others as having expertise they cannot substantiate, or hold out others as specialists or advanced practitioners unless appropriately listed with the RCVS, or veterinary nurses unless appropriately registered with the RCVS."
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
