The UK veterinary pathway runs from an RCVS-accredited degree (five years standard; six at Cambridge; four-year graduate entry where offered) at one of the nine currently accepted schools, to RCVS registration — conferring MRCVS, the licence to practise. New graduates then complete VetGDP (the Veterinary Graduate Development Programme — structured first-job support, which replaced the old PDP), followed by ongoing CPD recorded in 1CPD. Note that today’s CPD duty sits under the RCVS Code, not the Act — mandatory CPD with statutory force is an item in the live VSA reform consultation.
What it costs to qualify
Sources & verification
- The UK pathway is an RCVS-accredited degree (5 years standard; 6 at Cambridge; 4-year graduate entry where offered) followed by RCVS registration, which confers MRCVS — the licence to practise, source, Last verified 2026-09-10
- New graduates complete VetGDP (Veterinary Graduate Development Programme), the RCVS structured first-job support programme, source, Last verified 2026-09-11
- Today's CPD duty sits under the RCVS Code, not the Act; mandatory CPD with statutory force is a reform-consultation item, source, Last verified 2026-09-11 🔶
- RCVS registration fee, new graduates: £214, source, Last verified 2026-10-15 🔶 source re-checked
- RCVS registration fee, applicants registering 1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2027: £214 (£431 for those registering 1 Apr - 30 Sep 2026), source, Last verified 2026-10-15 🔶 source re-checked
- Letter of Good Standing fee (includes 20% VAT): £19 standard; £39 urgent, source, Last verified 2026-10-15 🔶 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.