RCVS registration confers MRCVS, the licence to practise as a veterinary surgeon in the UK (titles protected by the VSA 1966). Nine UK schools’ degrees are currently accepted for registration: Bristol BVSc, Cambridge VetMB, Edinburgh BVM&S, Glasgow BVMS, Harper & Keele BVetMS, Liverpool BVSc, Nottingham BVM BVS, RVC London BVetMed and Surrey BVMSci. Three new schools are mid-accreditation: Aberystwyth (BVSc jointly with the RVC — full-accreditation decision due 2026 as the first cohort graduates), SRUC (Aberdeen — the first in Scotland for 150+ years) and UCLan (first cohort September 2023); new schools cannot get full accreditation until the RCVS inspects the complete course. Registration itself processes in about four weeks or less — apply up to six months ahead, with a video ID appointment and a letter of good standing no more than three months old.
What it costs to qualify
- Vet surgeon registration fee, applicants registering 1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027
- £214 · 1 Oct 2026 to 31 Mar 2027[4]
- Letter of Good Standing fee (RCVS-issued, incl. VAT)
- £19 standard; £39 urgent[5]
- Annual renewal fee, UK-practising vet (due 1 April; £468 if paid 1-31 May; removal if unpaid by 31 May)
- £431 · £431 (2026 renewal year)[6]
Sources & verification
- Nine UK schools' degrees are currently accepted for RCVS registration: Bristol BVSc, Cambridge VetMB, Edinburgh BVM&S, Glasgow BVMS, Harper & Keele BVetMS, Liverpool BVSc, Nottingham BVM BVS, RVC London BVetMed, Surrey BVMSci, source, Last verified 2026-10-14
- Aberystwyth (BVSc jointly with the RVC), SRUC and UCLan do not yet appear in the RCVS 'Accreditation status of UK vet schools' table — as of 2026-09-10 it lists nine accredited schools (Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Harper & Keele, Liverpool, Nottingham, RVC, Surrey), so a graduate of a newer school cannot yet rely on that route to registration, source, Last verified 2026-09-10 🔶
- RCVS aims to process registration applications within four calendar weeks of receiving the application, payment and all supporting documents, rising to six calendar weeks in busy periods; apply up to 6 months ahead, with a video ID appointment and a letter of good standing no more than 3 months old, source, Last verified 2026-10-14
- Vet surgeon registration fee, applicants registering 1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027: £214, source, Last verified 2026-10-14 🔶 source re-checked
- Letter of Good Standing fee (RCVS-issued, incl. VAT): £19 standard; £39 urgent, source, Last verified 2026-10-14 🔶 source re-checked
- Annual renewal fee, UK-practising vet (due 1 April; £468 if paid 1-31 May; removal if unpaid by 31 May): £431 (2026 renewal year), source, Last verified 2026-10-14 🔶 source re-checked
Verified reference information, not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.