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Changes made to Stat Exam process
Changes have been made following feedback from candidates.
RCVS says the changes will make the exam “more accessible”.

Changes to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Statutory Examination for Membership (Stat Exam) are set to come into effect from 1 January 2025 after a Statutory Instrument to make the changes was approved by the Privy Council.

The Stat Exam is taken by veterinary surgeons who want to practise in the UK but hold a degree that is not recognised by the RCVS. Most of the changes have been made following feedback from candidates.

The changes allow candidates to take resits of the written exam papers for each of the three clinical subjects in the same year, rather than waiting a year, and make it possible for candidates to pay for the written exam stage and the objective structured clinical exam (OSCE) separately.

Candidates who fail one or more of the clinical domains of the OSCE, but have passed the written exam, will be able to proceed directly the next year to the clinical domains they failed instead of needing to resit all the written papers and clinical domains. The RCVS will also be able to update the cost of the exam in line with inflation.

This year saw a record number of candidates pass the Stat Exam, including two candidates with refugee status.

Dr Linda Prescott-Clements, RCVS director of education, said: “We have been listening to the concerns of various stakeholders, including those who have undertaken the Stat Exam previously and veterinary employers, and we used this feedback to work with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to come up with a set of practical, deliverable changes that improve the experience of Stat Exam for all candidates, and hopefully alleviate some of the stress involved around timescales, opportunity and finance.

“These changes will make the exam more accessible, as it will allow candidates to have two attempts at the written papers within the same diet, which need to be passed before being allowed to proceed to the practical exam and it will also help improve accessibility to the exam from the perspective of candidate finances.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.