The Verifera Encyclopaedia — Careers edition

RCVS Statutory Membership Examination

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The route to RCVS registration for vets whose degree is not on a recognised list — a written stage (MCQ plus open-book Code paper across three clinical areas) followed by a multi-station OSCE, on a roughly 15-month end-to-end cycle.

Veterinary surgeons whose degree is not recognised by the RCVS sit the statutory membership examination. The fee structure is £1,400 entry (£1,100 exam + £300 admin) plus £1,100 for the OSCE. The written stage is an MCQ plus an open-book Code paper, across three clinical areas (companion animal / production + veterinary public health / equine) — candidates must pass all three — followed by a multi-station OSCE. The cycle runs December (notice of intention) → January (application) → March (written) → autumn (OSCE): roughly 15 months end-to-end. Its importance grows from January 2029, when the EAEVE European-degree route closes and non-listed-degree vets all route through this exam.

Sources & verification

  • Statutory membership exam fees: £1,400 entry (£1,100 exam + £300 admin) plus £1,100 OSCE; written MCQ plus open-book Code paper across three clinical areas (companion / production+VPH / equine), pass all three, then a multi-station OSCE — source, verified 2026-06-12 🔶
  • Exam cycle: December intention → January application → March written → autumn OSCE; roughly 15 months end-to-end — source, verified 2026-06-12

Verified reference information — not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.

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