1 B1/2010 Edition

RCVS CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMAS

B1 - GENERAL GUIDANCE NOTES FOR CANDIDATES

EDITION FOR 2010 APPLICABLE FOR DIPLOMA ENROLMENTS IN 2010

FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS IN 2010

( B2 - Specific Guidance Notes for each subject are also available separately.)

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Belgravia House, 62-64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF Tel: 020 7 222 2001 Fax: 020 7 222 2004 E-mail: education@rcvs.org.uk Website: www.rcvs.org.uk

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CONTENTS PREFACE ............................................................................................................... 4 Introduction........................................................................................................... 6 Application Process ............................................................................................... 7 Structure of the Examination .................................................................................. 7 Eligibility for Entry – General Requirements ........................................................... 8 Definitions of Level of the Qualifications ............................................................... 8 Length of Enrolment............................................................................................... 9 Stages Involved Prior to Sitting the Examination ..................................................... 9

Applying for Enrolment ...................................................................................... 9 Applying for Final Approval of Experience ......................................................... 9 Applying to Enter the Examination.................................................................... 10 General Points to Note for All Applications ...................................................... 10 Paying enrolment and entry fees....................................................................... 11

Eligibility for Enrolment and Minimum Experience Requirements......................... 12 Approved Centres and Approved Practice ........................................................ 12 Eligibility for Certificates .................................................................................. 13 Eligibility for Diplomas..................................................................................... 14 Minimum Experience Requirements for Certificates.......................................... 14 Minimum Experience Requirements for Diplomas............................................ 15 Membership of RCVS when taking the clinical/oral/practical examination ........ 16

Advisers............................................................................................................... 17 CPD Record Cards............................................................................................... 18 Courses/Credit Systems........................................................................................ 18 Syllabus............................................................................................................... 19 Reading List ......................................................................................................... 19 RCVS Library and Information Service.................................................................. 19 Exemption ........................................................................................................... 19 Past Examination Papers ...................................................................................... 20 Examination Format ............................................................................................. 20

Section (a) - Submitted work............................................................................. 20 Certificates ....................................................................................................... 21 Diplomas ......................................................................................................... 22

General Points for all Submitted Work ................................................................. 23 Format ............................................................................................................. 23 Illustrations ...................................................................................................... 23 Binding ............................................................................................................ 23 Declaration/Plagiarism.…………………………………………………………………………24

Section (b) - Written Examinations ....................................................................... 24 Section (c) - Clinical, oral and practical examination ............................................ 25 Marking Scheme.................................................................................................. 25 Results of Examinations ....................................................................................... 27

Failure at Section (a) Submitted Work............................................................... 27 Candidates who proceed to the remaining Sections (b) and (c).......................... 27 Issue of Certificate and Diploma parchments .................................................... 27

Further Attempts at the Examination..................................................................... 28 Re-taking the Certificate ................................................................................... 28 Re-taking the Diploma ..................................................................................... 28

Withdrawing from the Examination...................................................................... 28 Ill Health and Withdrawal on Medical or Compassionate Grounds....................... 29 Other Mitigating Circumstances........................................................................... 29 Candidates with Special Requirements................................................................. 30 Appeals ............................................................................................................... 30

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Abbreviations for Certificate and Diploma Holders .............................................. 30 CHECKLIST - Applying for Enrolment................................................................. 31 CHECKLIST - Applying for your Final Approval of Experience ............................. 32 CHECKLIST - Applying to enter the examination .................................................. 33

E1 Form…………………………………………………………………………………….……36 TIMETABLE ......................................................................................................... 40

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PREFACE

1 November 2007 was the last available enrolment date for all subjects for the existing RCVS Certificates.

Candidates who enrolled by that date will be able to attempt the examination during their enrolment period, but the RCVS cannot guarantee that the examination will be available after 2012.

Candidates are therefore advised to ensure that they apply for final approval of their experience and attempt the examination before their enrolment period expires, and allow time for any re-sits before 2012.

RCVS Certificates and Diplomas are designed to be readily accessible to, and attainable by, veterinary surgeons who work either in practice or in institutions. During the examination, candidates must demonstrate levels of experience, technical expertise, academic knowledge and application and communication skills appropriate to either Certificate or Diploma level. To succeed at the Certificate and Diploma examinations requires considerable investment of time, commitment and effort and a well-organised plan of study. The following comments are offered to help candidates. • Make sure that your choice of Certificate/Diploma reflects your interests, previous

experience, and current expertise and working environment. During the examination, you will have to demonstrate your knowledge and expertise across the whole breadth of the syllabus at a sufficient standard to convince the examiners of your competence. You are unlikely to be able to do this unless you have acquired adequate experience and expertise in the chosen field. You may therefore need to supplement your existing experience by spending time at a specialist practice and/or institute.

• Consult your adviser fully, from start to finish, i.e. before you apply, and from

when you start to plan your studies and compile suitable case records, to the time when you sit your examination. Many unsuccessful candidates either consult their advisers too late and inadequately, or fail to take their advice. Make sure you provide your Adviser with copies of all relevant documentation from the most up to date information pack, so that you know you are both working from the same material.

• Certificate Case Reports. Candidates must pass this first stage of the examination

in order to proceed to the written and clinical/oral/practical examinations. Case reports enable the examiners to evaluate your level of experience, academic knowledge and written communication skills. You should select only those cases which, in total, demonstrate your experience across the whole breadth of the subject in which you are being examined. Select cases which demonstrate your observational, diagnostic, therapeutic and reasoning skills. Case reports must be typewritten or word-processed in the approved format, using correct grammar and spelling, to demonstrate your ability to communicate professionally to others. Diagrams, tables, photographs, radiographs, ultrasound pictures and any other

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pictorial features must be of first-class quality in all copies of the case reports. (More guidance is given about case reports in the B2 specific guidance notes.)

• Discuss the plans for your case reports with your adviser from the start, take

his/her advice on changes, amendments and/or corrections and give him/her adequate time to read and comment on them before submission. You should note, however, that Advisers are not expected to proof read or spell check your submitted work.

You are strongly advised not to rush the submission of your case reports. It is preferable to defer your examination for a year in order to make sure that they are prepared carefully and in an acceptable format before submission.

• Written Questions. You must be prepared to answer questions which test your experience, academic knowledge and reasoning across the whole breadth of the syllabus. Write clearly, concisely and legibly, with an adequate standard of grammar and spelling. The long answer questions should be presented in an essay style and the short questions may be answered note style. Answer the specific questions and do not get side-tracked into wasting your time and the examiners’ time with irrelevant material. It is sometimes sensible to tabulate or illustrate the information you wish to convey.

• Clinical/Practical/Oral Examination. Present yourself professionally and

confidently, and be prepared to demonstrate your technical skills and practical knowledge across the whole syllabus for the subject concerned. Be prepared to be questioned about your case reports, and examination questions, particularly where you feel you may have given inadequate answers, and be prepared to defend your clinical judgement, where appropriate.

• The Examiners should return your case reports to you at the conclusion of this

section of the examination, if they do not, please remind them. • Remember that the examiners wish to provide you with the opportunity to

demonstrate your knowledge and understanding, so that they can award your Certificate or Diploma. They will not deliberately be trying to ‘trip you up’.

• Remember that ‘common things occur commonly’.

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GENERAL GUIDANCE NOTES FOR RCVS CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA CANDIDATES (You must also refer to the B2 Specific Guidance Notes for your subject. These are available separately). INTRODUCTION 1. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) offers a broad range of

postgraduate Certificate and Diploma qualifications, which can be achieved by veterinary graduates on a ‘self-study’ basis. Examinations are held annually.

2. The Certificate is the first level of postgraduate qualification. To enter for the

examination, you will need to have been qualified for at least two years, and be working on a day-to-day basis in appropriate veterinary practice, or in an approved centre.

3. Certificate holders are deemed to be competent clinicians who have proved their

experience and expertise in their chosen subject by examination. Possession of a Certificate does not lead directly to Specialist Recognition.

4. The Diploma is the second level qualification and indicates that the holder has

achieved a high standard of academic and professional expertise, as proven by examination, in their chosen subject. Diplomates who are also available for referrals may apply for inclusion on the list of RCVS Recognised Specialists.

5. This document provides information on the general requirements and procedures

for all Certificates and Diplomas. You are advised to read it carefully, keep a copy for reference, and to make a note of all the deadlines that apply. Before you enter for the examination, make sure you have the most up to date version of this document. You can download a copy from the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk

6. You will also need to refer to the B2 Specific Guidance Notes, as well as the

syllabus and reading list for the subject concerned. The B2 notes give more specific information concerning the requirements for submitted work, the format of the particular examination, and any other special guidance issued by the subject Board. Again – you must ensure you have read the most up to date version of these documents before you enter for the examination.

B1

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APPLICATION PROCESS 7. The application process for Certificates and Diplomas is in three stages. Entry fees

are payable at both stages 1 and 3:

Stage 1 Diploma Enrolment ONLY and initial approval of experience (Deadline: 1 November)

Stage 2 Final approval of experience, including the submission of CPD

record cards and evidence of experience gained (Deadline: 1 November preceding entry to examination)

You may apply for final approval of experience at the same time as you first enrol, but this is not advisable. More usually, candidates wait until they have built up sufficient experience and are nearly ready to take the examination before they apply for final approval. For some subjects, you may also need to submit procedures checklists, or case logs at this stage. The subject specific B2 guidance notes will give more details on this.

Stage 3 Examination entry, including submission of work for Section (a)

of the Examination (Deadline: 1 March in year in which you wish to take the examination)

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE DEADLINES MUST BE STRICTLY ADHERED TO BY ALL CANDIDATES. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE REJECTED. Candidates are responsible for ensuring that their applications are collated into sets in the right order (see para. 26). RCVS staff cannot be held responsible for documents going astray where they have had to be re-assembled for submission to the Boards.

STRUCTURE OF THE EXAMINATION 8. Each examination is in three sections:

Section A Submitted work, such as case books, diaries, dissertations/published papers (the requirements vary across subjects and levels)

Section B Written examinations, normally held mid/end of July each year

at a location in London (for exceptional cases see Annex C) Section C Clinical, oral and practical examination. These are normally

held during August and September. The location can vary from year to year.

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ELIGIBILITY FOR ENTRY – GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 9. To be eligible to enter for an examination, you must : a. be a Member of the RCVS, unless a Board has deemed

otherwise as indicated in the document ‘Specific Guidance Notes to Candidates’ (B2)

or b. hold a registrable veterinary qualification that would entitle you

to apply for Membership of the RCVS or

c. hold temporary registration of the RCVS, for the purposes of preparing for and sitting the Certificate or Diploma examination;

and, in the case of Diploma candidates,

d. have passed the Certificate examination in the subject in which a Diploma is now sought, or have been granted exemption from the Certificate examination.

10. It is illegal to practise veterinary surgery in the UK unless you are a Member of the

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) or unless you have been granted temporary registration by the RCVS. You must be a Member of RCVS, or on the temporary register, in order to enter for the clinical, oral and practical sections of the Certificate or Diploma examinations, unless a Subject board advises that this is not necessary. (See para. 55 below for more details.)

11. It is unlikely that temporary registration would be considered until a firm

programme of the proposed studies and/or experience to be gained has been submitted by the candidate and certified by their Adviser where appropriate. Such studies and/or training would have to be undertaken at a university veterinary school or other approved educational establishment in the UK.

12. Any studies and/or experience offered, which have been obtained outside the UK,

must be certified, if so requested, by the Board. 13. It is possible for candidates to work towards their Certificate or Diploma whilst

working outside the UK, but such candidates must ensure that they are fully conversant with the relevant UK legislation and conditions that apply to their subject area.

DEFINITIONS OF LEVEL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS 14. Certificate: Possession of a Certificate indicates that the holder is a competent

clinician who has proved his/her experience and expertise in the subject. 15. Diploma: Possession of a Diploma indicates that the holder is someone who has

achieved a high standard of academic and professional expertise and who would be eligible, with the necessary experience and contributions to the subject as

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defined in the criteria for specialist recognition, for inclusion on the RCVS List of Recognised Specialists.

LENGTH OF ENROLMENT 16. Certificate candidates may be enrolled for a maximum of 5 years. This may be

extended on a year by year basis for a small fee, until 2012 where a candidate has had an attempt at an examination but not yet completed the permitted three attempts.

17. Diploma candidates may be enrolled for a maximum of 7 years. 18. If you do not pass the examination during the enrolment period, your enrolment

will expire. (Please see para.128 onwards for the number of attempts allowed.) You may apply for re-enrolment and re-approval of experience, but would need to pay a further enrolment fee at the then current rate. Such applications would be considered afresh by the subject Board. Under these special circumstances experience may be approved retrospectively, at the discretion of the Board.

19. If you enrol for a Certificate or Diploma but then change your mind and decide to

enrol for a different Certificate or Diploma, you will need to re-apply and, unless this occurs within six months of the original enrolment, will need to pay the full enrolment fee again. An additional administration charge of £64 will be payable for such transfers.

STAGES INVOLVED PRIOR TO SITTING THE EXAMINATION Applying for Enrolment 20. The first step is to submit your completed Form E1 for enrolment and initial

approval of experience by 1 November1. Form E1 should be accompanied by the enrolment fee and by Form E1A outlining the experience being gained. Your form should be countersigned by your Adviser. (See the Checklist for Enrolment on page 31.)

21. You will need to provide the original PLUS 4 copies of all of your completed

application forms and supporting papers (ie. a total of 5 sets). Please ensure that the forms and supporting papers are properly collated into sets.

Applying for Final Approval of Experience 22. The second step is to submit Form E2 to apply for final approval of experience by

1 November (in the same or subsequent year/s). A copy of your completed CPD Record cards for the period you are offering as experience must be submitted with form E2. For some subjects at Certificate level you will also be asked to submit a case log, case exposures, a certified list of techniques and procedures or a note of credits gained. (See B2 Specific Guidance Notes). This material is not assessed as

1 Applications will only be accepted between 1 September and 1 November. Premature applications may be returned.

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part of the examination but is used to ensure that you have gained enough appropriate experience.

23. If you think that you already have sufficient experience and aim to take the next

year’s examination, you may submit your application for final approval of experience at the same time as your enrolment. Most candidates, however, wait until a later year when they feel better prepared to take the examination. (See the Checklist for Final Approval of Experience on page 32.)

Once Final Approval of Experience has been granted by a Board, this remains in force for the duration of the enrolment. It is not necessary to re-apply for subsequent attempts at the examination during a current enrolment.

Applying to Enter the Examination 24. The third step is to submit Form E3, to apply to take the examination. The

deadline for examination entry is 1 March in the year in which you want to take the exam. Form E3 should be accompanied by:

• the fee current for the year in which the examination will be held • the submitted work required for Section (a) of the examination (see the

appropriate B2 subject guidance notes for details) • the declaration countersigned by your Adviser. (See also the Checklist on page 33.)

25. THE SUBMITTED WORK FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS (including an electronic

version) – BOTH CERTIFICATES AND DIPLOMA - MUST BE SENT TO RCVS BY THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRY TO THE EXAMINATION – i.e. BY 1 MARCH. This submitted work constitutes Section (a) of the examination and is sent to the examiners for assessment.

General Points to Note for All Applications 26. Neat presentation of applications is essential and the forms should be collated in

alphabetical order as follows:

Forms E1 + E1A Form E2 + CPD records (DO NOT SEND ORIGINAL CPD RECORDS – copies will suffice) + anything specific [see B2 guidance notes e.g. Equine – techniques and procedures; small animals case logs; welfare – case exposures]

E1 E1A E2 etc, etc

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27. All application forms should be countersigned by your adviser before submission to the RCVS (see paras. 57 onwards for further information on advisers).

28. Where a closing date falls over a weekend or a Bank Holiday, the deadline is

normally taken as 12.00 hours on the next working day. 29. Late applications cannot be accepted. It is the candidate's responsibility to ensure

that their completed application reaches the RCVS by the appropriate closing date. It is always wise to allow some time for any possible postal delays, and you must allow plenty of time to speak to your adviser and to obtain their signature. It is not fair on your adviser to expect them to drop everything in order to consider and sign your application, nor is it fair to expect them to post your application on to RCVS.

Paying enrolment and entry fees 30. Cheques should be made payable to “Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons”. Credit cards cannot be accepted.

For candidates wishing to pay by Wire/Bank Transfers, please contact the Finance Department on finance@rcvs.org.uk

Please note that there may be additional charges levied by the Bank which should be included in the total payment.

31. If someone else is paying on your behalf and sending a cheque or a money

transfer direct to RCVS. Please ask them to include a note with your name and subject area so that we know that you have paid. The College’s finance department receives a very large number of items for processing each day, and if cheques and bank transfers are not clearly identified, it will cause delays in processing your application. This is especially important when applying to enter the examination by 1 March.

32. Post-dated cheques cannot be accepted. All cheques must be payable in £s sterling and any Bankers Charges must be paid by the candidate. 33. Candidates whose applications are incomplete and who fail to provide the

additional material required for the Board’s consideration by the specified deadline will have their application returned together with the enrolment fee minus a £64.00 handling charge which will be retained to cover administration costs.

34. The fees applicable for 2010 are as follows:

Diploma Enrolment Fee: £275.00 Diploma Examination Entry Fee for 2010: £988.00 Certificate Examination Entry Fee for 2010: £769.00 There is no fee payable for applications for Final Approval of Experience.

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ELIGIBILITY FOR ENROLMENT AND MINIMUM EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS Approved Centres and Approved Practice 35. Candidates may gain experience for a Certificate or Diploma at (a) an approved

practice or (b) an approved centre for their subject. If you are working at an approved centre, you may be able to gain the necessary experience over a shorter timescale.

36. There is no separate form for applying for practice approval. Practices are

approved for each individual candidate, and the approval status for the practice is not transferable to other candidates. If you are applying for the ‘approved practice’ route, you will need to give full, relevant information about the practice on your application form.

37. For approved centres, it is the centre’s responsibility to apply for approval, and

enquiries should be made in the first instance to the Board Secretary. 38. An application for a centre to be approved must be made by the appropriate

qualified person at the centre and not by the candidate. 39. An approved practice is defined in the byelaws as follows:

• "approved practice" shall mean general veterinary practice or another branch of the veterinary profession or area of veterinary employment approved by the Board in the case of the candidate…”

40. An approved centre is defined in the byelaws as follows:

• "approved centre" means a centre approved by the Board where the candidate works and is primarily occupied in the subject concerned, where there is one or more appropriately qualified colleagues, such as RCVS Specialists, RCVS Diplomates or those considered by the Board to have equivalent experience or qualifications, through which centre there can be shown to pass a substantial number and variety of relevant cases, where advanced veterinary work in the subject concerned is practised, where there are appropriate ancillary support facilities, and where there is access to adequate library facilities. The Board may, at its discretion, approve a number of centres, each of which may offer experience in different parts of the syllabus.

• Notwithstanding the foregoing, where the needs of the subject so demand and

the concept of an ‘approved centre’ is inappropriate, a training programme approved by the Board may be substituted for a centre, providing such an ‘approved training programme’ is supervised by a ‘Tutor’ approved by the Board who also meets the description of an ‘appropriately qualified colleague’ as defined in the first paragraph of byelaw 5.4.’

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It may be possible for you to combine periods of experience in both practice and approved centres.

41. Form E1, and the accompanying forms outlining experience, seek information on

the approved practice or approved centre where you have gained, or will be gaining the necessary experience, and also on your personal case load.

42. Experience offered must normally have been gained within the previous five

years, or after enrolment. The same period of experience cannot be offered to meet the requirements of more than one Certificate or Diploma.

43. Please note that it is not advisable to try to work towards two qualifications at the

same time. 44. If you are following a residency programme at an Approved Centre and key

personnel e.g. the resident Specialist/Diplomate or equivalent leaves employment, you should contact the Board Secretary in such situations. Boards will try to be flexible as regards the experience requirements and will discuss with you what remedial action might be needed to ensure you can continue with your studies.

Eligibility for Certificates 45. The examination byelaws set out the minimum qualifying periods in terms of

eligibility for enrolment, covering the length of time after becoming a Member of the College or gaining an approved veterinary qualification before you will be permitted to enter for the examination.

46. For the following Certificate examinations, you must have been a Member of the

College, or have held an approved veterinary qualification for at least two years before entering for the examination if you are gaining your experience at an approved centre. If you are gaining your experience at an approved practice, you must have been a Member, or held an approved veterinary qualification for at least three years:

Certificate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Certificate in Cattle Health and Production Certificate in Equine Medicine (Internal Medicine)/(Stud Medicine) Certificate in Equine Surgery (Orthopaedics)/(Soft Tissue) Certificate in Equine Practice Certificate in Fish Health and Production Certificate in Laboratory Animal Science Certificate in Pig Medicine Certificate in Poultry Medicine and Production Certificate in Sheep Health and Production Certificate in Small Animal Medicine Certificate in Small Animal Surgery Certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia Certificate in Veterinary Cardiology Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology Certificate in Veterinary Public Health (Food Hygiene)(Meat Hygiene) Certificate in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging

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Certificate in Veterinary Reproduction Certificate in Zoological Medicine

Eligibility for Diplomas 47. For the following Diploma examinations, you must have been a Member of the

College, or have held an approved veterinary qualification for at least four years before entering for the examination if you are gaining your experience at an approved centre. If you are gaining your experience at an approved practice, you must have been a Member, or held an approved veterinary qualification for at least five years:

Diploma in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Diploma in Cattle Health and Production Diploma in Equine Internal Medicine Diploma in Equine Stud Medicine Diploma in Equine Orthopaedics Diploma in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery Diploma in Fish Health and Production Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science Diploma in Pig Medicine Diploma in Poultry Medicine and Production Diploma in Sheep Health and Production Diploma in Small Animal Medicine Diploma in Small Animal Medicine (Feline) Diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics) Diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue) Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia Diploma in Veterinary Cardiology Diploma in Veterinary Dermatology Diploma in Veterinary Ophthalmology Diploma in Veterinary Public Health (Food Hygiene)(Meat Hygiene) Diploma in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Diploma in Veterinary Reproduction Diploma in Zoological Medicine

Minimum Experience Requirements for Certificates 48. The minimum amount of experience you will need to gain is set out in the

byelaws. For the following Certificate examinations, you will need

• at least one year full-time or two years’ part-time if based at an approved centre,

OR • at least two years’ full-time or four years’ part-time if working at an

approved practice:

Certificate in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Certificate in Equine Medicine (Internal Medicine)/(Stud Medicine) Certificate in Equine Surgery (Orthopaedics)/(Soft Tissue) Certificate in Equine Practice Certificate in Fish Health and Production Certificate in Laboratory Animal Science Certificate in Poultry Medicine and Production Certificate in Sheep Health and Production

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Certificate in Small Animal Medicine Certificate in Small Animal Surgery Certificate in Veterinary Anaesthesia Certificate in Veterinary Cardiology Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology Certificate in Veterinary Ophthalmology Certificate in Veterinary Public Health (Food Hygiene)(Meat Hygiene) Certificate in Veterinary (Diagnostic Imaging) Certificate in Veterinary Reproduction Certificate in Zoological Medicine

49. For the following Certificates, the subject Boards require a minimum of two years’

full-time or four years’ part-time at an Approved Centre and at Approved Practice:

Certificate in Pig Medicine Certificate in Cattle Health and Production 50. Boards have discretion to specify particular, or additional experience for

individual candidates. Minimum Experience Requirements for Diplomas 51. The minimum experience requirements for Diplomas are set out in the table

overleaf. The bye-laws state that “No candidate may enter for examination…unless evidence has been submitted to the satisfaction of the Board that the candidate has spent, or will have spent by the time of the examination, periods of time involving a substantial degree of participation, as defined by the Board, in the subject concerned”

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Diploma Title

No. of Years Experience

via the Approved

Centre Route

No. of Years Experience via the Approved Practice Route

Diploma in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law Diploma in Cattle Health and Production Diploma in Equine Internal Medicine Diploma in Equine Stud Medicine Diploma in Equine Orthopaedics Diploma in Equine Soft Tissue Surgery Diploma in Fish Health and Production Diploma in Laboratory Animal Science Diploma in Pig Medicine Diploma in Poultry Medicine and Production Diploma in Sheep Health and Production Diploma in Veterinary Anaesthesia Diploma in Veterinary Public Health (Food Hygiene)(Meat Hygiene) Diploma in Veterinary Reproduction Diploma in Zoological Medicine

At least 4 years at an approved centre

At least 5 years, of which 200 days should be spent at an approved Centre Or At least 6 years if gaining experience solely at an approved Practice.

Diploma in Small Animal Medicine Diploma in Small Animal Medicine (Feline) Diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics) Diploma in Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue) Diploma in Veterinary Dermatology Diploma in Veterinary Ophthalmology Diploma in Veterinary Cardiology

At least 4 years at an approved centre

At least 5 years, of which 200 days should be spent in an approved centre

Diploma in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging

At least 3 years at an approved centre

At least 5 years, plus 200 days in an approved centre

52. Normally, the time spent gaining experience for a Certificate may be counted

towards the time required for the Diploma if the Board is satisfied that it meets the requirements.

53. Please note that the subject Board has discretion to specify particular, or

additional experience for individual candidates. 54. Some subject Boards have set out more detailed requirements for experience and

these will be detailed in the B2 Specific Guidance Notes for the subject concerned.

Membership of RCVS when taking the clinical/oral/practical examination 55. For the majority of subjects, candidates will need to be current Members of RCVS

(or hold temporary membership) at the point of taking the clinical/oral and practical examinations. This is because the examiners may set tasks during the

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examination that would be deemed to be acts of veterinary surgery under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, for which registration as a Member of RCVS is required. There are a few exceptions to this, and currently these are:

• Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law • Fish Health and Production • Laboratory Animal Science • Small Animal Medicine • Veterinary Cardiology • Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging • Zoological Medicine

56. Candidates who hold an approved or registerable degree, but who do not have MRCVS status (if they are working outside the UK, for example), will need to check the position for their subject and, if necessary, apply for registration with the Membership Department at RCVS in plenty of time before the examination. Information about registration can be obtained from the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk

ADVISERS 57. All candidates working towards Certificates or Diplomas must have an adviser.

Advisers should not be regarded in the same category as postgraduate supervisors, and cannot be held responsible for your performance in the examination, but they can help to guide you through the process. Advisers are usually individuals who have successfully gone through the examination themselves, and in many cases will have achieved the Diploma in the subject concerned.

58. It is the candidate’s responsibility to seek an appropriate Adviser for their studies. 59. You should aim to keep in touch with your adviser throughout the time you are

preparing for the examination. It is your responsibility to take the initiative in this – not the adviser’s. Advisers are not formally appointed by RCVS, and receive no payment from RCVS for their services – they undertake the role in a voluntary capacity for the benefit of the profession and the subject area concerned. Experience shows that those candidates who seek guidance from their advisers benefit significantly in their preparation for and performance in the examination. Conversely, candidates who do not liaise with their advisers well in advance of their entry to the examination, are more likely to be unsuccessful in the examination. This is also the case for those candidates who ignore the guidance they receive from their advisers.

Before you apply for enrolment 60. To find an adviser, you can refer to the lists of Certificate and Diploma holders in

Section 3 of the Register of Members, or the Education Section on the RCVS website. In exceptional cases, the subject Board may be able to advise you on whom to approach.

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61. Before you apply for enrolment, you should approach an adviser to seek their agreement to act in this capacity. You should make sure they have a copy of the latest information pack for the subject concerned. Notes for guidance on the role of advisers are available, and you should ensure that your adviser has an up to date copy.

62. An important part of the adviser’s role is to advise you on the suitability of

material for case reports. The adviser is required to certify on the declaration that they have read at least one of the case reports prior to it being submitted for the examination. At Certificate level, no more than one case report which has received major input from an adviser should be submitted for the examination, and any such report should be counter-signed by the adviser to that effect. Please note that it is not the Adviser’s responsibility to proof-read your work.

63. The E1 application form for enrolment should be signed by the adviser to confirm

that he or she has agreed to act as your adviser. 64. The E2 application form for final approval of experience should also be

countersigned by the adviser. Such signatures should not be taken to imply approval of the details of the candidate’s application, or as an indication that the adviser is necessarily content with the detail of the work being submitted.

65. Please note that correspondence from RCVS to candidates (results and examiners

reports, for example) may be copied to their advisers. CPD RECORD CARDS 66. When you apply for final approval of experience, you will need to submit copies

of your completed RCVS CPD Record Card, so it is advisable to ensure that you keep an ongoing record of how you are continuing your professional development. This will include attendance at courses and seminars, as well as time spent working towards the examination. Ensure you complete your CPD record cards as clearly as possible, as the subject Board will refer to them when considering your application for Final Approval of Experience. The record cards should cover the period of experience being offered. New record cards are sent to all RCVS Members in a general mailing at the beginning of each year. The current and previous editions of the CPD Record Card can be downloaded from the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk).

COURSES/CREDIT SYSTEMS 67. There is provision in the byelaws to make attendance at courses or the acquisition

of credits compulsory for those wishing to take a Certificate examination, but few subject Boards have introduced such specific requirements. Attendance at relevant courses, conferences and seminars is, however, strongly recommended for all subjects, and will be taken into account by the subject Board when considering a candidate’s application for final approval of experience. Please see the B2 specific guidance notes for more information.

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68. Candidates are advised to become members of relevant societies and specialist

associations - see document B2 specific guidance notes. SYLLABUS 69. You must refer to the current syllabus and commentary for your chosen subject.

The contents should form the basis for study in preparation for the examination. Advisers should be consulted if problems arise in understanding concepts or acquiring the necessary information.

READING LIST 70. A reading list is also available for some subjects, although these are being phased

out in many areas. A reading list should serve as a guideline to the extent and scope of reading which is expected of you, but you are also expected to make independent searches of the recent literature for papers of importance in your subject area. You would certainly be expected to be familiar with recent relevant papers published in the appropriate specialist journals for the subject concerned, whether or not they are included on a reading list. Diploma candidates are expected to be familiar with all literature in their subject area and most particularly so in the topic of their dissertation or published papers.

RCVS LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE 71. Candidates are strongly advised to make full use of the RCVS Library which

provides a range of services by internet, post, telephone, fax and e-mail, including access to a wide range of on-line journals. Quarterly current awareness updates are offered for most of the Certificate and Diploma subjects, and the Library catalogue is available for on-line searches for those with a PIN number. For further details contact the Library on 0207 222 2021, e-mail: library@rcvstrust.org.uk, or see the RCVS Library website at www.rcvslibrary.org.uk.

EXEMPTION 72. Exemption from the Certificate examination is rarely granted and when the

qualification has been available for more than five years, exemption is considered only in exceptional circumstances. The Specialisation and Further Education Committee considers that there is merit in taking the Certificate examination en route to the Diploma, especially when a candidate has little recent experience of examinations. Within these bounds, subject Boards have discretion to consider exemption where the applicant can demonstrate appropriate qualifications (e.g. relevant postgraduate qualifications) and experience and has published in the subject in refereed journals.

73. Exemption from the Certificate level is no longer available. 74. For information to those who have previously been granted exemption, a grant of

exemption did not entitle the person concerned to the award of a Certificate and a

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successful candidate was required to apply for enrolment for a Diploma and pay the current Diploma enrolment fee.

75. For those who have previously been granted exemption, this is valid for a period

of three years, and will then lapse unless the candidate sits the Diploma Examination within this period. The applicant would then be deemed to be enrolled for the Certificate level for the remaining 2 years of the Certificate enrolment period.

76. Some subjects have considered and been granted approval to recommend

exemption where an applicant holds an MSc in the relevant subject. All applications are considered on individual merit and are subject to the experience requirements being met - refer to B2 Specific Guidance Notes.

PAST EXAMINATION PAPERS 77. The most recent past examination paper is included free of charge with the hard-

copy edition of this information pack, and past papers are also available on the RCVS website. Candidates are encouraged to practise answering past examination papers and ask their advisers to ‘mark’ them, if they are willing to do so.

EXAMINATION FORMAT 78. There are three sections to the examination:

Section (a) Submitted work Section (b) Written examination, and Section (c) Clinical/oral/practical examination.

[N.B. A Certificate cannot be taken in ‘sections’ in different years

i.e. the written must normally be taken in the same year as the Clinical, Oral and Practical examination. Section (a) - Submitted work 79. You must pass this part of the examination before you can proceed to the

remaining sections. 80. At Certificate level, the submitted work usually consists of case reports or a case

diary. At Diploma level, submitted work normally comprises a dissertation or case reports or published papers.

Word Count 81. All submitted work must state a word count which should not exceed the

maximum specified by the subject Board. If you do exceed the maximum word limit, your work will not be accepted by the RCVS for transmission to the Examiners. The work will be returned to you, unmarked, and you will not be permitted to proceed to the remaining sections of the examination that year. You

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will receive a refund of the examination entry fee MINUS a handling charge. This is likely to be at least £64, plus any direct costs of postage or courier charges. You are also asked to send an electronic copy of your submitted work, from which the word count may be verified.

82. The word count EXCLUDES text in appendices or references. Examiners are NOT obliged to look in detail at appendices, so you are strongly

advised not to put important information into the appendices as there is a danger that this will not be considered. Appendices should be used for the following, for example:

Laboratory results; Diagnostic Images (although NOT the interpretation of these

images); Endoscopic & Ultrasound reports; Histopathology, Cytology & ECG findings.

A summary or interpretation of any findings MUST be in the main body of the

text, and no information that could relate back to the candidate should be included i.e. these documents MUST be anonymised.

Certificates 83. Details of the submitted work requirements for Certificates are provided in the

subject specific B2 guidance notes.

84. If you fail Section (a), you will receive a report from the examiners summarising the main weaknesses, and will need to re-enter for the examination in a later year if you wish to continue. As you will not have proceeded to the subsequent sections of the examination, you will be entitled to a 50% refund of your examination entry fee.

85. Conversely, if you pass Section (a), but fail the subsequent sections of the

examination, you may carry forward your marks from Section (a) to the next year. However, you will need to formally re-enter for the examination by 1 March in the subsequent year and pay the full examination entry fee applicable for that year. Please note that you cannot carry forward your submitted work unaltered for more than two years.

86. A candidate’s submitted work must not include work that has already been

submitted for any other RCVS postgraduate qualification unless that work forms only a minor part of the submitted work, the major part of which must be distinct from any previous submission for any other postgraduate qualification.

87. Published papers may not be submitted as Certificate case reports although work

that has been the subject of publication may form the basis for case reports.

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88. Certificate candidates will be notified whether or not they will be permitted to proceed to Sections (b) and (c) of the examination after 1 June.

Diplomas 89. Details of the submitted work requirements for Diplomas are provided in the

subject specific B2 guidance notes. 90. When Diploma candidates submit principal author published papers these must

be accompanied by an introductory commentary showing the relationships between the published papers submitted and any publications in related areas.

91. If a paper is submitted for a Diploma examination which has not already been

published then it must be accompanied by a letter of unconditional acceptance from the Editor of the refereed journal confirming that the paper is ‘in press’. A paper that is accepted for publication subject to minor changes being made is not acceptable for the Diploma examination. A review article is acceptable as one of the published papers providing at least one of the other published papers is the candidate’s original work.

92. Work that has already been submitted for another postgraduate qualification

cannot be used towards a Diploma, including the Diploma of Fellowship by Thesis. However, publications in peer reviewed journals arising from any postgraduate degree, for example, a PhD or Masters thesis, could be used towards a subsequent Diploma if publications of this type form part of the Diploma requirements and are appropriate to the discipline – this decision to be made by the relevant subject Board.

93. If the examiners think there is potential in the Diploma submitted work but find it

to be inadequate as it stands, you may be allowed to undertake some minor revisions, or be advised to submit different published papers for re-submission in the same year. Therefore, within one month of submission, Diploma candidates will be notified of one of the following four results:

a. passed the dissertation or published papers presented; OR

b. passed the dissertation but requirement for some minimal changes to be

made before the date of the clinical, oral and practical examination, in order to make the work suitable for lodging in the RCVS Library; OR

c. failed, but the candidate will be offered the opportunity to correct/rewrite

sections for re-submission by 1 June, OR in the case of published papers, requirement that different papers are submitted by 1 June for further examination; OR

d. failed the dissertation or published papers completely, with no opportunity

for re-submission in the current year to be offered to the candidate.

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94. In the case of option (c) above, it is possible that the examiners may fail the dissertation or published papers after marking the second submission. If this happens, the candidate would not be given permission to proceed to the remaining sections of the examination.

GENERAL POINTS FOR ALL SUBMITTED WORK 95. Candidates are strongly advised to keep a copy of their case logs and case reports

before submission to the RCVS. The RCVS cannot be held responsible for any submitted work that is lost in the post.

Format 96. Please refer to the B2 Specific Guidance Notes for any particular subject specific

requirements for setting out your submitted work. In general terms, however, submitted work should be word-processed, and presented on A4 paper. Please also take note of the restrictions on word counts (see para. 81 above). You are also required to submit an electronic copy of your work.

Illustrations 97. All illustrations should be in the form of photographic prints (colour or black

and white). The use of colour transparencies is NOT acceptable. Photographs of ultrasound images must be clear and of high quality. You may submit colour photocopies of photographs in your case reports, provided that they are of a sufficiently high quality.

98. As far as the submission of X-rays is concerned, you should refer to the B2

specific guidance notes to see whether photographs or originals are acceptable for your subject. In most cases, photographs of X-rays are acceptable (the exception being Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging) although it is appreciated that they can be costly to produce. If you are submitting X-rays as distinct from photographs, please ensure that they are presented in a separate secure folder. For certain subjects – e.g. Certificate in Small Animal Surgery - the submission of original X-rays may not be acceptable.

Binding 99. Each case book should be spiral bound as one complete set of cases. Declaration 100. You must submit a declaration indicating your personal involvement with the

cases and any assistance received in the preparation of your submitted work. Samples are included as Annexes to these Guidance Notes.

101. On receipt of the declaration, you will be allocated an examination number.

For Certificate examinations, the Board Secretary will retain your original declaration and send a photocopy with the submitted work to the examiners, with your name and the adviser’s name deleted. In this way, your anonymity will be preserved during this part of the examination.

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102. Because published papers cannot preserve anonymity, it is acceptable that

Diploma candidates should be identified on all work submitted in fulfilment of part (a) requirements for Diploma examinations.

Plagiarism 103. It is very important when preparing case books and dissertations that you

reference your sources fully and give due acknowledgement where material is not your own original work. If you do not, you run the risk of committing plagiarism, which RCVS considers to be a very serious offence. You must not use another person’s work or ideas without acknowledgement as though they were your own.

104. RCVS uses software that detects evidence of plagiarism and is routinely putting

a random 10% of work submitted for examinations through this anti plagiarism software. The software is also available for examiners to consult, if they suspect the originality of work that they are marking.

105. In terms of the examination bye laws, any candidate who is found to have

committed plagiarism will be considered to have shown ‘behaviour prejudicial to the proper management and conduct of the examination’ and will run the risk of being debarred from a future examination and referral to the RCVS Preliminary Investigation Committee.

106. All of the following are considered plagiarism:

• Submitting someone else’s work as your own. • Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit. • Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks. • Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation. • Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source

without giving credit. • Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the

majority of your work, whether you give credit or not. 107. Most cases of plagiarism can be avoided, however, by citing sources. SECTION (B) - WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS 108. There are two written papers for each subject. The written examinations are

held at a centre in London, usually in mid to late July. 109. The written papers aim to test your knowledge and understanding, problem-

solving skills and your ability to present arguments clearly and logically. 110. The Certificate examinations have two 2-hour written examinations, using a

combination of short-answer or multiple-choice questions, and longer essay-style questions. The written papers will cover the full syllabus.

111. The Diploma written examinations comprise two 3-hour examinations, using a

combination of short answer and longer essay questions.

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SECTION (C) - CLINICAL, ORAL AND PRACTICAL EXAMINATION 112. More information about the format of the clinical/oral/practical examination is

provided in the B2 specific guidance notes for each subject. You must pass this section of the examination in order to succeed overall, regardless of marks achieved in Sections a) and b). For some subjects, there will also be critical components or tasks within the clinical/oral/practical examination that you must pass, regardless of your marks elsewhere.

113. Clinical/oral/practicals are normally held during the period from early August

until early October, depending on the availability of examiners and venues and the number of candidates to be examined. The date and venue for the examination is determined by the examiners. Although RCVS will notify candidates as soon as dates and venue for their examination have been confirmed, it is occasionally not possible to confirm the date until some time in June when it is known how many candidates are proceeding.

114. For some subjects with a large number of candidates, such as the Certificate in

Small Animal Medicine, the clinical, oral and practical examinations are normally held over a number of days and, candidates are expected to be in attendance for the whole duration of this part of the examination. You will therefore, need to set aside a number of days for this. Unfortunately, it is not possible to confirm the detailed timetable for the C/O/P until June, when the number of candidates is known. The Board Secretary will let you know which dates you are required to attend as soon as the timetable is available.

115. Certificate candidates will have their submitted work returned to them at the

clinical, oral and practical examination. Please ensure that you ask the examiners to return your work to you at that time, otherwise there may be some considerable delay before RCVS is able to return it to you.

MARKING SCHEME 116. You must pass both Section (a) – submitted work, and Section (c), the

clinical/oral/practical, in order to achieve an overall pass for the examination as a whole. You will also normally be required to achieve 50% of the marks available for the written examination, although some compensation is sometimes allowed from Section (c) to Section (b) at the discretion of the examiners. Compensation is not allowed on marks below 45% in Section (b), so if you receive less than 45% on the written papers, you will be deemed to have failed the examination overall.

Section (a) Submitted Work 117. The submitted work will be graded “Good Pass”; “Pass” or “Fail”. 118. Certificate work that achieves a “Good Pass” may be made available as a sample

for future candidates.

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119. Diploma work that achieves a ‘Pass’ will be lodged with the RCVS Library. Sections (b) and (c) 120. The breakdown of marks across the remaining sections is as follows: Section (b) – Written Examination: Paper I 50%) Paper II 50%) Total: 100% 121. Section (c) – Clinical, oral and practical examination: 100% (See also the B2 Specific Guidance Notes for a further breakdown of marks for

Section (c). The allocation of marks to different parts of this section may vary from one subject to another.)

122. If you achieve a ‘good pass’ for your submitted work, and gain 60% or more in

the written examination, but fail at Section (c), the clinical, oral and practical, you will have the option of re-taking Section (c) only at the next examination. You would need to apply to enter the examination again the following year, and will be required to pay two thirds of the examination fee applicable for this subsequent attempt. However, if you were to fail the clinical/oral/practical at this next attempt, you would then be required to sit the whole examination again at any further subsequent attempt. (See also paras. 131 and 132).

The Examiners 123. Examiners are appointed by the subject Board normally for a period of three

years of examinations. There is usually a mix of experienced and new examiners. An examiner is a recognised expert in the subject concerned. Before new examiners are brought onto the panel, they will usually have taken part in a previous examination as an observer at the clinical/oral/practical examination. Observers take no formal part in the examination and are not involved in any decisions relating to the outcome of the examination.

124. One of the examiners will be appointed by the subject Board as chief examiner.

The chief examiner is responsible for compiling the question paper in consultation with his/her co-examiners, collating the marks and producing the report on the examination, as well as acting as moderator on borderline cases.

125. The veterinary profession is a small one and it is often the case that candidates

know one or more of the examiners, either personally or as a colleague or adviser. The RCVS expects all examiners to act objectively, impartially and with due discretion and to conduct the examination in a friendly but formal manner, even if they know the candidate. It is acknowledged, however, that there may be occasions when it would be preferable for an examiner to stand down.

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RESULTS OF EXAMINATIONS Failure at Section (a) Submitted Work 126. If you fail at Section (a) of the examination (submitted work), you will receive a

report from the examiners on your performance as soon as possible after the work has been marked. This will be sent by post from RCVS. The report is intended to be helpful to candidates and to allow those who may wish to re-enter the examination the following year a longer period in which to revise their submitted work.

127. If you fail at this stage, you will be eligible for a refund of 50% of the original

exam entry fee. Candidates who proceed to the remaining Sections (b) and (c) 128. If you proceed to the remaining sections of the examination, you will receive

your result by first class post from RCVS within 10 working days after the end of the clinical/oral/practical examination. If you fail, you will be given a breakdown of your marks for each section of the examination, together with a brief report from the examiners.

129. Results will not be given over the telephone nor will the RCVS enter into any

telephone discussions with you about the results, or with others who claim to be telephoning on your behalf.

130. No correspondence can be entered into concerning your performance, other than

via the examiners’ report.

131. You must not contact the examiners directly about your examination results and must not harass any examiner either directly or indirectly through your adviser or any other person. All requests for information should be put in writing to the RCVS. Failure to comply with this policy may result in your being refused entry to subsequent examinations.

Issue of Certificate and Diploma parchments 132. Certificate: Successful candidates will normally be sent their Certificate together

with their result letter. 133. Diploma: Successful candidates will be invited to the RCVS Annual General

Meeting held in early July in the year following the examination where they will be presented with their Diploma parchment. Please note that one copy of the dissertation of successful candidates will be required for retention in the RCVS Library.

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FURTHER ATTEMPTS AT THE EXAMINATION 134. You may have three attempts at the examination. If you fail at the third

attempt, you will need to apply for special permission from the subject Board before being allowed to take the examination again.

135. If your enrolment period expires in the meantime, you will need to re-enrol.

The number of previous attempts would carry forward to the new enrolment period.

136. Candidates who fail the examination overall but have passed Section (a) -

submitted work - will be notified to this effect.

Re-taking the Certificate 137. If you decide to re-sit the Certificate examination, you may resubmit the same

case reports unchanged up to two consecutive years after the first occasion and the examiners will be advised accordingly. If any part of the case reports is updated then you must make this clear in the index. If you change them, the reports will be remarked by the new panel of examiners. Before taking the examination again, it is advisable to check the most recent edition of the general and specific guidance notes for the subject on the RCVS website, to see whether there have been any changes to the examination since you last took it.

Re-taking the Diploma 138. If you decide to re-sit the Diploma examination, you may resubmit the same

dissertation unchanged2 and the original mark will go forward to the examiners for any future attempt. You must be prepared, however, to be questioned on recent work in the field.

139. If you decide to submit different published papers or to amend your dissertation

when you re-sit the examination, you must make this clear when submitting your examination entry form. You should be aware that remarking by another set of examiners may lead to failure.

WITHDRAWING FROM THE EXAMINATION 140. If you give notice in writing on or before 1 March that you are withdrawing your

entry for the examination, you will be refunded the full amount of the fee paid. If you withdraw your entry after this date but before your work has been sent to the examiners, you may be entitled to a refund of one half of the fee.

141. If you withdraw your entry for any examination after the closing date for entry

and after the work has been submitted to the examiners, or if you fail to appear for any part of the examination without giving prior notice to RCVS of any

2 Footnote: This ruling does not apply to Veterinary Public Health where the subject is

"legislation-led".

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medical or other compassionate grounds, you will not be entitled to the refund of any portion of the fee.

ILL HEALTH AND WITHDRAWAL ON MEDICAL OR COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS 142. If you have to withdraw from the examination on health grounds and want to

claim a refund of your fee, a medical certificate must be sent to the Specialisation at RCVS as soon as possible.

143. Applications for withdrawal for other compassionate reasons should similarly be

accompanied by some documentary evidence where possible. 144. If you have to withdraw from the examination on health or compassionate

grounds after you have paid the examination entry fee but before part of the examination has been attempted, the examination entry fee, or relevant proportion thereof, will be refunded on receipt of the appropriate documentary evidence.

145. In such cases, if part of the examination has been attempted and the work

assessed, the marks may be carried forward to the following year if you so wish. Any balance of fees will be payable by the normal deadline for examination entry, normally at the rate applicable in the later year.

146. Such withdrawals will not count as an attempt towards the examination.

Certified medical/documented compassionate cases will be processed by staff at RCVS in consultation with the Head of Education and/or the Chairman of Certificates and Diplomas sub Committee.

147. Where no independent documentary evidence is provided to support a

withdrawal on medical or compassionate grounds, applications for withdrawal will be considered by the subject Board at its next meeting. The Board will determine whether a refund is applicable, whether marks can be carried forward, and whether it should count as an attempt. Decisions will be ratified by the Chairman of Education, Policy and Specialisation Committee. Circumstances which are avoidable or foreseeable (e.g. holiday arrangements) will not normally be considered for refunds.

OTHER MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES 148. There may be cases where candidates proceed with the examination, but feel

there are serious mitigating circumstances affecting their performance which they wish to bring to the attention of the examiners. Any candidate reporting mitigating circumstances must notify RCVS as soon as they can before they attempt the examination or, failing that, within 6 days of sitting the written examination. Serious mitigating circumstances affecting the candidate’s performance immediately before, or on the day of, the clinical/oral/practical examination should be reported to the Chief Examiner in writing at the time of that examination.

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149. Each case will be dealt with on an individual basis and any special arrangements

will be agreed between the Head of Education and the Chief Examiner.

CANDIDATES WITH SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

150. If you need special provision to be made for you in the examination on account of a disability or other particular need, you should indicate this in the appropriate section on the examination entry form E3 and notify RCVS in writing of your particular needs when the examination entry is made. RCVS will then discuss what arrangements can be made with you, the chief examiner and medical advisers as appropriate.

151. Medical certificates or other documentary evidence of your needs may be

required. If you have any special requirements, you must let RCVS know as soon as possible, or it may not be possible to make the necessary arrangements for you in time. In some exceptional cases, you may be asked to make a contribution towards any additional costs incurred, depending on the circumstances.

APPEALS 152. RCVS has an examinations appeals procedure which applies to all its

examinations. An appeal may be made only against the conduct and conditions of the examination and not against the professional or academic judgement of the examiners. If you think you may have grounds for an appeal, please contact the relevant RCVS Board Secretary as soon as possible after you receive your result. You will be sent the appropriate form and copy of the procedures, and must return the completed Form within 28 calendar days of the date of the result letter.

153. In the event of an appeal, you should note that no additional account can be

taken of ill health or other mitigating factors unless these were notified to RCVS prior to, or at the time of, the written or practical sections of the examination. (See para. 142.) Such circumstances will normally already have been taken into account by the examiners.

ABBREVIATIONS FOR CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA HOLDERS 154. If you are successful in the examination, you will be allowed to use the

appropriate abbreviation for your qualification (see B2 specific guidance notes) after your name in the RCVS Register of Members, and on practice plates and stationery.

GenGuidNotes/Apr96 Revised April 97/June 98 Revised February 1999, Further revised August 1999, November 1999 March 2001, January 2002, January 2003/January 2004/December 2004/March 2006 /March 2007/November 2008/April 2009/Dec 2009

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CHECKLIST - APPLYING FOR ENROLMENT FOR A DIPLOMA 1. Do you have the most recent version of the subject information pack, including general

and subject specific guidelines and the syllabus for your subject? The B1 and B2 guidance documents should have the current year’s date on the front. All the documents are available, together with application forms, on www.rcvs.org.uk

2. Contact someone who is prepared to act as your Adviser; check that they have the most

recent edition of the subject information pack; discuss your case load with your Adviser and seek advice on preparing for the examination. Arrange for future meetings/contact. Your Adviser is NOT responsible for proof reading or spell checking your submitted work.

3. Make sure that you complete ALL the questions on Form E1 - the Enrolment application

form. 4. Make sure that you complete ALL the questions on Form E1A - the Experience form for

the subject concerned. 5. Make sure that your Adviser has countersigned your completed E1 application form. 6. Make your cheque payable to “Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons”. Cheques must

be made out in £Sterling. If you are paying by Bankers Order, make sure you add on an appropriate amount to cover the bank transfer charge.

7. For Diploma enrolments in 2010 - the enrolment fee is £ 275.00 8. If someone else is sending a cheque direct to RCVS on your behalf, make sure they

enclose a note of your name and the examination subject for which you are applying. 9. Make sure that you have collated the required number of sets of documents (Refer to

B2 Guidance Notes) correctly. 7. Send the collated sets of your Form E1 and E1A, (the original plus 4 copies) together

with the enrolment fee – to arrive at RCVS between 1 September and 1 November. 8. If you need an acknowledgement, please provide a stamped addressed reply envelope. 9. DO NOT send your application with that of another colleague.

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CHECKLIST - APPLYING FOR YOUR FINAL APPROVAL OF EXPERIENCE 1. Check that you have the most recent version of the subject information pack –

available on the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk 2. Check you have met all the experience requirements for the subject, as specified in

the B1 guidance notes and the appropriate B2 subject specific guidance notes. 3. Check that you have completed your CPD Record Cards for each of the relevant years

and taken copies for submission. RETAIN the originals for your own records. 4. Make sure that you complete ALL the questions on Form E2 – the application for final

approval of experience, and have prepared any supporting papers as required by your subject (e.g. case logs for small animal medicine, certified list of techniques for equine subjects, etc.)

5. Make sure that your Adviser has countersigned your completed E2 application form

and any other supporting papers. 6. No fee is required at this stage. 7. You will need a number of collated sets of papers – (i.e. the original, plus the required

number of copies. Refer to B2 Guidance Notes), including • The required number of sets of your completed E2 form • The required number of copies of your CPD Record Cards for each of the relevant years [do NOT send the originals] • For most subjects - 4 sets of any required subject specific material (case logs, etc.)

NB. Some subjects may require a different number of copies – see the relevant B2 guidance notes. Ensure that you keep a copy of your submission.]

8. Make sure you arrange for your application to arrive at RCVS between 1 September

and 1 November in the year before you aim to take the examination. 9. If you require an acknowledgement please provide a stamped addressed reply

envelope. 10. DO NOT send your application with that of another colleague.

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CHECKLIST - APPLYING TO ENTER THE EXAMINATION 1. Ask your Adviser to countersign the E3 application form, and sign your

Declaration, which will need to accompany your submitted work. 2. Send your completed Form E3, together with examination entry fee, together with

submitted work and declaration, to arrive at RCVS by 1 March. 3. Make sure that you include an up to date address, telephone number and email

address, so that we can contact you about the details of the examination, including results.

4. Make sure that you state on Form E3 your full name and list of qualifications as

you would wish it to appear on your final certificate/diploma parchment. [Please note that post-nominal qualifications can only be included if the qualification concerned has been approved for listing in the RCVS Register of Members.]

5. Make your cheque payable to “Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons”. Cheques

must be made out in £s Sterling. If you are paying by Bankers Order, make sure you add on an appropriate amount to cover the bank transfer charge. NB. Fees are increased each year with effect from 1 January. You should therefore refer to the RCVS website for the up to date rates.

As a guide, the current examination entry fees for the 2010 are: Certificate = £769; Diploma = £988.

6. If someone else is sending a cheque direct to RCVS on your behalf, make sure

they enclose a note of your name and the examination subject for which you are applying

7. Ensure that your cover sheet and Declaration, signed by your Adviser, is enclosed

with your submitted work. If you have difficulty in obtaining a signature by the deadline, you must contact the RCVS.

8. DO NOT send your application with that of another colleague. 9. If you require an acknowledgement please provide a stamped addressed reply

envelope.

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GENERAL 1. Once you have enrolled, make sure you notify the RCVS Board Secretary of any

change your contact details. If you do not keep the Board Secretary informed, you will miss out on being notified of any changes in the examination requirements.

2. If you want to change your address details as they appear in the RCVS Register of

Members, you must also send a copy of the written notification to the RCVS Membership Department.

3. Make sure you keep your CPD record cards up to date with a summary of your

development activities. This will make it easier when you come to apply for your final approval of experience.

4. Look out for notification of deadlines and other information about examinations in

the RCVS Newsletter. (RCVS News is published three times a year, and sent to all Registered Members of RCVS.)

5. Keep a look out for other news on the RCVS website – www.rcvs.org.uk

35 B1/2010 Edition

THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS SPECIALISATION AND FURTHER EDUCATION

E.1

Application for enrolment and initial approval of experience To be completed and returned to the RCVS, Belgravia House, 62–64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF by 1 November. NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

CERTIFICATE (insert full subject title and elective where applicable)

TITLE (block letters)

SURNAME in full (block letters)

FORENAME(S) in full (block letters)

Your RCVS REGISTER No.

(Non Members refer to Question 1)

DEGREES/DIPLOMAS/CERTIFICATES currently held in abbreviated form

ADDRESS for correspondence relating to this Certificate

RCVS FINANCE USE ONLY

36 B1/2010 Edition

The Royal College is occasionally asked, by course organisers and other such people, for address lists of candidates enrolled for this Subject. If you would prefer your name and address NOT to be sent out in response to such requests, please tick this box. TELEPHONE No.(s) for contact during day

MOBILE No.

FAX No.

e-mail

QUALIFICATION FOR ENTRY 1. Are you a Member of the RCVS?

YES NO Please delete as appropriate

If Yes, please state veterinary degree obtained, name of awarding University, and date of graduation and/or date of obtaining

Membership:

University Date

If No, please give details of the veterinary qualification that you hold which

entitles you to practise veterinary surgery in your home country (i.e. full title, recognised abbreviation, awarding University or other examining body, date obtained, length of the course) and attach a photocopy of the Degree parchment:

EXPERIENCE 2. Please state on Form E1(a) (to be found the B2 specific documents) where and

how you have been/are obtaining the necessary experience. You are asked to describe your experience in such a way that the Board can assess its adequacy in terms of the syllabus.

Please state here the period(s) of experience to be offered for the Certificate

examination (from/to):

37 B1/2010 Edition

If you wish to gain approval for separate periods of experience, or move to other

employment after enrolment an additional copy(ies) of Form E1(a) should be completed.

OTHER POSTGRADUATE STUDIES 3. Please state if you are engaged in studies for any other postgraduate

qualification, and give brief details

YEAR OF EXAMINATION 4. Please state below the year in which you plan to enter for the Certificate

Examination:

APPROVAL OF EXPERIENCE AND PERMISSION TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY TO THE EXAMINATION 5. If you consider that you can meet the requirements of the byelaws insofar as

admission to the examination is concerned, and you wish to seek permission to submit an entry to the next examination, you may also complete and submit, together with this application for enrolment, the form of application E.2 for final approval of experience (to be found the specific documents).

38 B1/2010 Edition

DECLARATION I HEREBY APPLY FOR ENROLMENT for the above named Certificate and I enclose the prescribed fee, which I understand to be non-returnable once enrolment has been granted (Cheque to be made payable to the RCVS). If I am requested to submit further information and I fail to meet the deadline, I understand that my application will be returned, enrolment will not be granted, and that a non-refundable charge of £64.00 will be levied from the refund. SIGNATURE:

DATE:

PLEASE RETURN ORIGINAL FORM PLUS 4 COPIES (Equine AND Small Animal subjects plus 2 copies)

Notes for guidance on the role of advisers are included in the information pack and on the RCVS website and candidates should provide their Adviser with a copy of these and all other relevant documents, e.g. Syllabus, Reading list etc. CERTIFICATION BY CANDIDATE’S ADVISER: I confirm that I have agreed to act as this Candidate’s Adviser. NAME: (in block capitals)

SIGNATURE:

DATE:

IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING YOUR ADVISER’S SIGNATURE BY THE DEADLINE, YOU MUST CONTACT THE RCVS.

39 B1/2010 Edition

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: If you require an acknowledgement, please complete the box below in block capitals AND enclose a stamped addressed envelope: NAME: ADDRESS:

RCVS use only: Date form E1 received: Fee received: Signature:

PLEASE NOW COMPLETE FORM E1A—TO BE FOUND IN THE SPECIFIC

DOCUMENTS

40 B1/2010 Edition

TIMETABLE

1 September – 1 November • Submission of enrolments for Certs & Dips • Submission of applications for final approval of

experience November-December • Subject Boards meet and consider applications for

enrolment, and final approval of experience

1 March • Deadline for receipt of examination entry forms at RCVS

• Deadline for receipt of submitted work for both Certificates and Diplomas.

March – April • Examiners assess submitted work for Diplomas

From 1 April • Results for Diploma section (a) submitted work notified to candidates

From 1 April • Updated information packs on Certificates and Diplomas published on RCVS website for following year’s examinations.

March – June • Examiners assess submitted work for Certificate examinations

By 1 June • Deadline for ‘failed’ Diploma submitted work to be resubmitted

By 1 July • Certificate candidates notified of results of Section (a) submitted work

• Diploma candidates re-submitting work for Section (a) notified of results.

WEDNESDAY 30 JUNE 2010 • Diploma written examinations at RCVS in London TUESDAY 20 JULY 2010 OR WEDNESDAY 21 JULY 2010

• Certificate written examinations held at a Centre in London

August – October • Clinical/Oral/Practical Exams held in various locations

10 days after Section (c) clinical/oral/practicals completed (at the latest)

• Candidates notified of their examination results • Successful candidates receive Certificates.

28 Days after results issued • Deadline for receipt of any Appeals July (in the year following the examination)

Diplomas awarded to successful Diplomates at the RCVS Annual General Meeting

41 B1/2010 Edition

WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS OVERSEAS - PROCEDURES

• Candidates based outside Europe may sit written exams abroad under strict supervision of a senior member of staff at a local veterinary school accredited by RCVS, AVBC or AVMA.

• The Local Co-ordinator (who may also act as the invigilator) should be MRCVS,

and/or approved by RCVS, and must sign an appropriate declaration regarding security of the papers.

• Papers are to be taken at the same time GMT as in the UK.

• These arrangements will be limited to 3 centres per year.

• Candidates must apply by 1 March at the latest, although those notifying RCVS

of their requirements will be treated on a first-come-first served basis. An application form is available from the Specialisation Manager, Education Department at the RCVS.

• The candidate will be responsible through the invigilator for courier delivery of

scripts to RCVS within 48 hours of the examination completion.

• Any additional costs for invigilation and room hire/courier costs etc. must be met by the candidate.

• RCVS cannot to be held responsible for the fitness of the local facilities.

• An additional fee of 50% of the normal examination fee over and above the

usual examination entry fee will be payable by the candidate to cover RCVS’s additional administration costs.

• A further change of £70 will be payable to cover RCVS courier costs for

delivering papers to the overseas centre, plus other possible costs of faxes/phone calls.

December 2009

42 B1/2010 Edition

THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS SPECIALISATION AND FURTHER EDUCATION E.1

Application for enrolment and initial approval of experience To be completed and returned to the RCVS, Belgravia House, 62–64 Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AF by 1 November. NO LATE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

DIPLOMA (insert full subject title and elective where applicable)

TITLE

SURNAME in full (block letters)

FORENAME(S) in full (block letters)

Your RCVS REGISTER No.

(Non Members refer to Question 1)

DEGREES/DIPLOMAS/CERTIFICATES currently held in abbreviated form

ADDRESS for correspondence relating to this Diploma

The Royal College is occasionally asked, by course organisers and other such people, for address lists of candidates enrolled for this Subject. If you would prefer your name and address NOT to be sent out in response to such requests, please tick this box.

RCVS FINANCE USE ONLY

43 B1/2010 Edition

TELEPHONE No.(s) for contact during day

MOBILE No.

FAX No.

e-mail

QUALIFICATION FOR ENTRY 1. Are you a Member of the RCVS?

YES NO Please delete as appropriate

If Yes, please state veterinary degree obtained, name of awarding University, and date of graduation and/or date of obtaining Membership:

University Date

If No, please give details of the veterinary qualification that you hold which

entitles you to practise veterinary surgery in your home country (i.e. full title, recognised abbreviation, awarding University or other examining body, date obtained, length of the course) and attach a photocopy of the Degree parchment:

EXEMPTION FROM CERTIFICATE LEVEL 2. Have you previously been granted exemption from the Certificate level?

YES/NO/NOT APPLICABLE (please delete as appropriate) If YES, please state date exemption was granted:

(Entry to the examination must be within three years of exemption being granted)

44 B1/2010 Edition

EXPERIENCE 3. Please state on Form E1(a) (to be found the specific documents) where and how

you have been/are obtaining the necessary experience. You are asked to describe your experience in such a way that the Board can assess its adequacy in terms of the syllabus.

Please state here the period(s) of experience to be offered for the Diploma

examination (from/to):

If you wish to gain approval for separate periods of experience, or move to other

employment after enrolment an additional copy(ies) of Form El(a) should be completed.

OTHER POSTGRADUATE STUDIES 4. Please state if you are engaged in studies for any other postgraduate qualification,

and give brief details

YEAR OF EXAMINATION 5. Please state below the year in which you plan to enter for the Diploma

Examination:

45 B1/2010 Edition

APPROVAL OF EXPERIENCE AND PERMISSION TO SUBMIT AN ENTRY TO THE EXAMINATION 6. If you consider that you can meet the requirements of the byelaws insofar as

admission to the examination is concerned, and you wish to seek permission to submit an entry to the next examination, you may also complete and submit, together with this application for enrolment, the form of application E.2 for final approval of experience (to be found the specific documents).

DECLARATION I HEREBY APPLY FOR ENROLMENT for the above named Diploma and I enclose the prescribed fee, which I understand to be non-returnable once enrolment has been granted. (Cheque to be made payable to the RCVS). If I am requested to submit further information and I fail to meet the deadline, I understand that my application will be returned, enrolment will not be granted, and that a non-refundable charge of £64.00 will be levied from the refund. SIGNATURE:

DATE:

PLEASE RETURN ORIGINAL FORM PLUS 4 COPIES (Equine Subjects plus 2 copies; Small Animal, State Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary

Public Health subjects plus 6 copies) CERTIFICATION BY CANDIDATE’S ADVISER: I confirm that I have agreed to act as this Candidate’s Adviser. IF YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING YOUR ADVISER’S SIGNATURE BY

THE DEADLINE, YOU MUST CONTACT THE RCVS. NAME: (in block capitals)

SIGNATURE:

46 B1/2010 Edition

DATE:

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: If you require an acknowledgement, please complete the box below in block capitals AND enclose a stamped addressed envelope: NAME: ADDRESS:

RCVS use only: Date form E1 received: Fee received: Signature:

PLEASE NOW COMPLETE FORM E1A – TO BE FOUND IN THE SUBJECT SPECIFIC

DOCUMENTS

47 B1/2010 Edition

Cand No/2010/ No. for Office use only

DECLARATION CERTIFICATE IN _________________________________________________

This Declaration to be completed and SIGNED by the Candidate AND by their Adviser. It MUST be submitted WITH the case reports for the relevant Certificate examination by the Submitted work CLOSING DATE OF 1 MARCH 2010.

I declare that I have been personally responsible for all the cases described in my reports and certify that they have not been used towards any other recognised qualification.

I wish, however, to acknowledge the following assistance: a. From my Adviser (name) ....................................................................................., particularly in relation to case report No..... which contains some rewriting by my Adviser (Delete this statement, if appropriate) b. From colleagues, as follows: It is not necessary to acknowledge the assistance of veterinary laboratories, or

veterinary investigation centres, etc., where relevant papers - with names deleted - are included as part of a case report.

Name................................................ in relation to (description of assistance): Name................................................ in relation to (description of assistance): ADVISER I confirm that I have advised this candidate on the suitability of material for the case reports being submitted and have read and given detailed advice on one case report prior to submission for the examination. Adviser's Signature:

• Word counts* (SEE OVERLEAF) for EACH case MUST be stated on the cover of EACH case

• The TOTAL text word count for my full submission is:______________________________ and is stated on the front of the submission. This figure excludes appendices and references which I understand the Examiners are NOT obliged to read.

• ALL Case Reports MUST be anonymous. CANDIDATE'S NAME: (IN BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE) Candidate's Signature: Date: I agree that, if I am successful in the examination as a whole and I gain 60% or more for my submitted work that this may be lodged in the RCVS Library.

48 B1/2010 Edition

Cand No/2010/ No. for Office use only

DECLARATION DIPLOMA IN _________________________________________________ The following statement to be completed and SIGNED by the Candidate AND by their Adviser. It MUST be submitted WITH the Dissertation for the relevant Diploma examination by the CLOSING DATE OF 1 March 2010 and should be included at the front of each copy of the dissertation: Title “............................................…………………………………………………………" Dissertation submitted in part fulfilment of the requirements for the RCVS

Diploma in…………………...………………………………………………………….. by (name of candidate).

Year:……………. Acknowledgements are due to: Name………………………………………………………....for (description of assistance

given). Name………………………………………………………....for (description of assistance

given). (The Dissertations of successful candidates will be retained in the RCVS Library) The Dissertation must be of high standard, with good literary and scientific presentation. Candidates may submit laser colour photocopies of photographs in their submitted work, provided that they are of a sufficiently high quality.

N.B. Also, please refer to Para. 90 of the B1 General Guidance Notes re: work that has

already been submitted for another postgraduate qualification. ADVISER I confirm that I have advised this candidate on the suitability of material for the work being submitted and have read and given detailed advice on it prior to submission for the examination. Adviser's Signature: The TOTAL text word count for full submission, shown on the front cover, is:_________ This excludes appendices and references which I understand the Examiners are NOT obliged to read. CANDIDATE'S NAME: (IN BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE) Candidate's Signature: Date:

49 B1/2010 Edition

H

2010 Edition The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Specialisation and Further Education GUIDANCE NOTES FOR ADVISERS INTRODUCTION 1. RCVS has traditionally published lists of advisers for each subject, and these are

still available for some areas. Some Boards, however, decided at their annual meetings in Autumn 2002 that there was no longer a need to publish a recommended list, but instead to refer candidates to the lists of Certificate and Diploma holders, and list of RCVS Recognised Specialists published in Section 3 of the RCVS Register of Members.

2. These guidance notes are intended to help those who have not previously acted as

advisers to candidates, and should also serve as a reminder of the key points for those who are already experienced in the role.

THE ROLE OF ADVISERS FOR RCVS CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA CANDIDATES 3. The decision to become an adviser for a candidate working towards a Royal

College Certificate or Diploma qualification is an important one. It is recommended that an adviser should not normally take on responsibility for more than five candidates at Certificate level, or two candidates at Diploma level, especially if, in addition, they are advising candidates at Certificate level.

4. All advice for RCVS Certificate and Diploma candidates is given on a ‘goodwill’

basis by advisers and there is no provision for payment of a fee/honoraria by RCVS to advisers. Any payment for such advice is entirely a matter between the prospective adviser and the candidate.

5. It is the candidate's responsibility to make contact with you and to travel to meet

you if this is necessary. It is also the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that they submit their applications and submitted work to RCVS in good time. This is made quite clear to candidates, and you should not have to chase people, or feel rushed when signing off documents before they are submitted to RCVS. RCVS is very strict in applying deadlines for applications, and you may need to remind your candidate(s) that it is their responsibility to get the paperwork through to you in good time for signature.

6. Advisers are asked to countersign all application forms and declarations submitted

by their candidate(s) to the Royal College. The adviser’s signature is purely an indication that they have agreed to be the candidate's adviser, it is not a verification that the content of the application is accurate, or that you necessarily endorse the

50 B1/2010 Edition

standard of material being submitted. Advisers are not accountable for their candidate’s performance in the examination.

7. Some advisers for Certificate candidates have found it useful to arrange joint

meetings with their candidates with the aim of giving guidance on answering questions in written papers, and on the preparation of case reports, while drawing attention to any useful recent articles or published papers. The exchange of views at such meetings has been found to be very helpful.

8. While this general advice is offered, each individual subject board may have more

detailed requirements of advisers. Such information where provided is included in the information pack for that subject.

9. If advisers find they need additional advice, they should consult the Subject Board

Secretary or a member of the Subject Board. A list of contact names is provided at the end of this document.

10. As mentioned above, the RCVS applies its deadlines policy strictly and candidates

must not approach their advisers to lobby RCVS staff on their behalf. FIRST STEPS 11. Find out what the main requirements and potential difficulties are for the subject

concerned: —

by becoming familiar with the guidance notes to candidates, the syllabus, the reading list and the various application forms;

by speaking to one or more members of the Subject Board; by reading past examination papers (the 5 most recent examination papers are

now available on the RCVS website, www. rcvs.org.uk]. 12. Find out from your candidates what their strengths and weaknesses are, and the

ways in which they plan to fill in the gaps in their practical skills, as well as finding the time to study.

EXPERIENCE/ATTENDANCE AT COURSES AND MEETINGS 13. Encourage candidates to spend time in another practice, a veterinary school,

laboratory, or relevant institute, where this is appropriate to the subject, in order to acquire particular skills and generally broaden their experience.

14. Attendance at relevant courses and scientific/professional meetings is vital for

candidates, as is becoming active members of relevant societies/associations. 15. A Calendar of Continuing Professional Development events is published in "In-

practice", and on the web at http://www.BVApublications.com called ‘Events Calendar’. Candidates will need to send in their completed CPD Record Cards when they apply for Final Approval of Experience, and should be encouraged to keep their record of attendance at courses up to date. In addition to attending

51 B1/2010 Edition

courses, they may also record on their CPD Record Card other time spent working towards the qualification, such as time spent in other practices, or clinics.

READING 16. Candidates should be encouraged to keep up-to-date with the current literature on

the subject and should be given guidance on use of the reading list (if there is one) for the subject concerned. A number of Boards have decided to freeze the reading lists and to advise candidates that they are expected to research the literature for themselves, via the web and with the help of the RCVS Library and Information Service. (http://www.rcvslibrary.org.uk, e-mail library@rcvs.org.uk or telephone 020 7222 2021). Candidates should be encouraged to join the RCVS Library in order to benefit from reduced rate charges for Library Members.

EXAMINATION PREPARATION 17. Encourage candidates to plan their time by making a timetable for gaining

experience and study, noting that they are likely to be too optimistic initially, but will benefit from encouragement and deadlines later.

18. Encourage candidates to sit mock examinations using past question papers within

rigid time limits in order to help reduce the effects of bad examination technique. Remind candidates that, if it is some years since they last sat an examination, they would benefit from some practice, particularly in writing for a long period. Even if they may have passed the relevant Certificate examination in recent years, Diploma candidates should be aware that Diploma questions can be more demanding.

19. Emphasise the importance of reading the whole question paper through first, and

reading the questions carefully. Then, bearing in mind the time available for each answer, they should ensure that the contents of their answers are directly relevant to the questions posed. They should avoid simply writing all they know about a topic mentioned in a question. Stress the importance of legible handwriting.

SUBMITTED WORK FOR A CERTIFICATE Case Reports 20. It is clear that the majority of candidates need extensive advice in preparing their case

reports, for example, on the suitability of cases and on the format and layout of the reports.

21. All candidates have been issued with guidance notes on the preparation of case

reports. Sample case reports are available for some subjects and are held in the RCVS Library or are available from the Board Secretary.

22. Advisers should encourage candidates to adhere to the case report guidelines issued

by the Board. It is particularly important that the guidance on word count limits is followed. A maximum word limit is clearly specified in the subject guidelines and work that exceeds the word limit may be returned unmarked to the candidate, who

52 B1/2010 Edition

will then not be able to continue with the examination in the year concerned. Their exam entry fee will be refunded, minus a £64 administration handling charge.

21. It is advisable that the first case report should be presented to the adviser in draft form

no later than 1 December preceding entry to an examination, so that you have an opportunity to give advice, and the candidate has time to make modifications if necessary. You may want to specify an earlier deadline, depending on your own time availability.

22. Please remember that no more than one of the case reports should receive major

attention in the form of rewriting by the adviser. It is important that the remainder of the case reports should be the sole work of the candidate. Candidates are asked to sign a declaration to this effect, which must accompany the submitted work. All other help received from others must also be declared.

23. It must be stressed that case reports must be of a high standard of presentation and

detail and must include sufficient references. If a candidate fails to satisfy the examiners in the case report section of the examination, he/she will not be permitted to proceed to the remaining sections of the examination.

24. Candidates may need to be reminded that their case reports must be submitted

anonymously for the examination—i.e. their name should not appear on or in the reports other than in a form which can be easily identified and removed by the Board Secretary.

25. It must be stressed that where clinical, radiographic, ultrasound, scintigraphic or

other photographs, print-outs or results are included in case reports, they must be high quality duplicates of the originals, sufficient to clearly demonstrate their content to a standard which would be necessary if submitting for publication in a professional refereed journal. (Some subjects may not permit copies; eg. the Certificate in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (formerly Veterinary Radiology) requires the original radiographs to be submitted.)

26. All candidates are now required to submit a declaration signed by the adviser,

with their submitted work. They will need to acknowledge any assistance received, and also confirm that they have not exceeded the word count limit.

27. Candidates are also required to state a word count (excluding appendices and

references) at the end of their submitted as prescribed in the Specific B2 Guidance Notes.

28. For ALL subjects, with effect from 2007, work must be submitted in electronic

format on disk or CD, in addition to the hard copy. Although this is not yet a requirement for all subjects, candidates are told in the guidance notes that they may be required to submit an electronic copy of their submitted work, so should be reminded to keep a copy in this format.

Re-submission of case reports

53 B1/2010 Edition

29. When a candidate achieves 50% or more in the submitted work (case reports, dissertation or papers but fails the examination as a whole, he/she will be given the option of updating the work and resubmitting it, but should be aware that he/she might still fail the submitted work section on the second occasion. It should be noted that, as the pass mark will be carried forward, there might be no benefit in amending the work simply in order to achieve a higher mark/grade. However, case reports that are more than two years old will need to be updated before they are re-submitted. When resubmitting case reports a candidate should indicate which cases have been modified, if any.

SUBMITTED WORK FOR A DIPLOMA Planning a Project and Writing the Dissertation 30. It is important that the candidate should consult the adviser at the earliest possible

stage to assist in the planning of the work that will be submitted in the dissertation. In some cases, retrospective data will be included. Under some circumstances the adviser may not feel competent to provide expert guidance in a particular area, for example, a technique or statistical methods, in which case, another opinion should be sought. The candidate must always inform the adviser of the source of such advice.

31. The adviser should ensure that the study is of a quality that would merit

publication, after peer review, in a veterinary or other scientific journal. 32. The adviser should ensure that: (a) the dissertation is presented in the approved

format and that it does not exceed the maximum word limit; (b) the data are presented clearly and concisely with high quality illustrations; (c) appropriate statistical analyses are performed.

33. Candidates should be encouraged to start the first draft of the dissertation as soon

as possible, particularly the critical review of the literature. Candidates often underestimate the time required to complete the writing and preparation of graph and tables, thereby having difficulty in meeting the deadline for submission.

34. The adviser should read and correct one draft of the dissertation in full, giving

advice on its broad content and layout. They should not correct grammatical errors. Where possible, word-processing programmes, such as spell checking, should be used in the compilation of the dissertation. In addition, candidates should be encouraged to ask a third party to proof-read the text.

35. It must be stressed that where clinical, radiographic, ultrasound, scintigraphic or

other photographs, print-outs, or results are included; they must be high quality duplicates of the originals, sufficient to clearly demonstrate their content to a standard which would be necessary if submitting for publication in a professional refereed journal.

36. Candidates are now required to state a word count (excluding appendices and

references) at the end of their submitted work as prescribed in the Specific B2 Guidance Notes.

54 B1/2010 Edition

Submission of published work in lieu of a dissertation 37. Some Diploma examinations accept the submission of quality, peer-reviewed

publications, of which the candidate is the principal author. Advisers may advise candidates in the selection of appropriate publications to be submitted, and their titles will be approved by the relevant Subject Board.

38. Candidates should be reminded of the importance of allowing sufficient time for

the process of acceptance of papers by a refereed journal to take place. The letter of acceptance from the Editor and the final amended papers that have been accepted for publication must be submitted to the RCVS by the closing date for such submissions.

39. Unless otherwise specified by the subject Board, published papers should be

accompanied by an introductory commentary showing the relationship between the published papers submitted and with publications in related areas, and a concluding chapter.

Re-submission of dissertation or published papers 40. There is an opportunity for Diploma submitted work to be rewritten and

resubmitted for the same examination in the same year if the examiners find the work originally submitted to be inadequate. Therefore, within one month of submission, candidates will be notified of one of the following results:

a) passed the dissertation or published papers presented; OR b) passed the dissertation but with a requirement for some minimal changes

to be made before the date of the clinical, oral and practical examination, in order to make the work suitable for lodging in the RCVS Library; OR

c) failed, but the candidate will be offered the opportunity to correct/rewrite

sections for re-submission by 1 June, OR in the case of published papers, requirement that different papers are submitted by 1 June for further examination; OR

d) failed the dissertation or published papers completely, with no

opportunity for re-submission in the current year to be offered to the candidate.

41. In the case of option (c) above, it is possible that the examiners may fail the

dissertation or published papers after marking the second submission. If this happens, the candidate would not be given permission to proceed to the remaining sections of the examination in the year concerned.

42. Candidates who pass the submitted work section, but fail the examination as a

whole, may resubmit the same dissertation or published papers to a future examination but should expect to be questioned on recent work in the subject. Veterinary Public Health and Veterinary Cardiology candidates are exceptions to this

55 B1/2010 Edition

ruling. If candidates update their dissertation or submit different published papers on re-sitting the examination, they must make this clear when submitting their examination entry and must also have gained prior approval from the Board of the titles in the case of published papers.

PASSING THE EXAMINATION 43. Advisers should stress to candidates the importance of reading carefully all

information sent to them from the RCVS. Even if the information may seem repetitive, it will only be sent to candidates if there has been some change and this normally will be drawn to candidates' attention in the covering letter.

44. Candidates must pass Section (a) submitted work before being allowed to proceed

to take the remaining sections of the examination. Candidates must also obtain 50% of the overall marks for Section (c)—the clinical, oral and practical examination—without any compensation from Sections (a) and (b). The weightings within the clinical/oral/practical examination can vary between subjects, but the detail is set out in the B2 specific guidance notes for the subject concerned. Candidates are normally required to obtain 50% of the marks in the written papers (Section (b)) but compensation from Sections (a) and (c) to Section (b) may be made at the discretion of the examiners. Compensation is not permissible on marks in Section (b) below 45%. Advisers should refer to the section on the marking scheme contained in the specific guidance notes for this subject.

45. The submitted work will be graded “Good Pass”, “Pass” or “Fail”. Certificate

work that is graded as a “Good Pass” may be held in the RCVS Library and used as an example of suitable work for future candidates.

FAILING THE EXAMINATION 46. Candidates who fail the examination, either at the first stage with their submitted

work, or following the conclusion of the whole examination, will receive a report from the examiners with their marks. All requests for further information should be put in writing to the RCVS, although in most cases it may not be possible to expand much more on the examiners’ report. Candidates or their advisers must not harass any examiner, either directly or indirectly through any other person, for further information about the candidate’s performance in the examination.

47. Candidates who wish to appeal have 28 days to submit their appeal application

following receipt of the result and examiners report. Appeals can only be heard against the conduct of the examination, and not about the academic or professional judgement of the examiners.

ACADEMIC STANDARD REQUIRED FOR A CERTIFICATE CANDIDATE 48. Examiners expect candidates to have a detailed up-to-date knowledge of their

subject, normally at a level at least commensurate with two years of further study and practical experience over the knowledge of the new graduate, predominantly in the subject concerned.

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OVERALL ENCOURAGEMENT FOR A CERTIFICATE CANDIDATE 49. Many candidates work in isolation, without contact with fellow candidates due to

the self-study nature of the qualification, and frequently become dispirited, even at Diploma level when they have already passed the relevant Certificate. One of the most important roles of an adviser, therefore, is to encourage their candidates at all times. In certain circumstances with the permission of the candidates, an adviser may be able to put candidates in touch with each other, which may lead to a "self-help" group.

ACADEMIC STANDARD REQUIRED FOR A DIPLOMA CANDIDATE 50. Examiners expect candidates to have the highest standard of academic and

professional expertise that would be expected from a veterinary surgeon specialising in the subject being examined. Possession of the RCVS Diploma entitles the holder to apply for recognition as a RCVS Specialist.

IMPORTANT REFERENCE DOCUMENTS 51. Candidates are asked to ensure that their advisers have the most up to date

versions of the various guidance notes, and if you have not already got a set, the candidate should make a copy of these for you. They may also be downloaded from the RCVS website at www.rcvs.org.uk.

Documentation pack for the subject concerned, which includes:

- B1 general guidance notes for candidates (applicable for all subjects) - B2 specific guidance notes for the subject concerned - Lists of techniques and procedures (for some subjects only, e.g. equine

subjects) - List of advisers (not available for all subjects) - Syllabus - Reading List (not available for all subjects) - Various application forms – for enrolment and final approval of

experience.

Past examination papers Sample case reports for Certificates (where available; for some subjects copies may

be obtained from the RCVS Library)

Dissertations submitted by previously successful Diploma candidates and for some subjects, case reports (where available; for some subjects copies may be obtained from the RCVS Library)

For your reference, names of current Board members are included towards the

front of the current edition of the RCVS Register.

57 B1/2010 Edition

RCVS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT STAFF: Freda Andrews—Head of Education E-mail: f.andrews@rcvs.org.uk Telephone (direct line): 020 7202 0702 Janet Etheridge—Specialisation Manager, and Secretary to Certificates and Diplomas

sub-committee, Secretary to the Equine Board, Fellowship sub committee, and Specialist Recognition sub-committee

E-mail: j.etheridge@rcvs.org.uk Telephone (direct line): 0207 202 0701 Duncan Ash—Administration Officer and Secretary to the following Boards: Animal Welfare Science, Ethics & Law; Cattle Health & Production; Fish Health

& Production; Laboratory Animal Science; Pig Medicine; Poultry Medicine & Production; Veterinary Anaesthesia; Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging; Veterinary Ophthalmology and Zoological Medicine. Sheep Health & Production; Small Animal Surgery; Veterinary Dermatology; Veterinary Public Health & State Veterinary Medicine; and Veterinary Reproduction.

E-mail: d.ash@rcvs.org.uk Telephone (direct line): 0207 202 0703 Anne Jermey—Education Manager, and Secretary to Education, Policy and Specialisation Committee, Secretary to the Statutory Membership Examination sub-committee E-mail : a.jermey@rcvs.org.uk Telephone (direct line) 0207 202 0705 Britta Crawford—Education Officer Secretary to the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice sub-committee (Modular Certificates and CPD) E-mail: b.crawford@rcvs.org.uk Telephone (direct line): 0207 202 0778 Jordan Nicholls—Administration Officer and Secretary to the Small Animal Medicine

Boards E-mail: j.nicholls@rcvs.org.uk Telephone (direct line): 0207 202 0704

Cert and Dip Notes combined Feb 1999/ amended Jan 2002/Feb 2003/ Ma 2004/Ma 2006/Mar2007/April 2009/Jan 2010