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Originally posted by Jeremy
I note from reading VN Times that practice training hours are to be reduced from typically 80 weeks in practice, 14 in college for the NVQ course, and 70 weeks in practice for those undertaking a degree. This is apparently dropping to 22 weeks in college and 60 weeks in practice. At the end of this time you still can't prescribe NFA-VPS or POM-VPS medicines, even though you are probably already handling e.g. routine worm and flea treatment products in practice.
It's a significant amount of effort then to become a RVN. Interesting to contrast the situation with that of a SQP (suitably qualified person) registered with AMTRA. According to the AMTRA website:
Quote: An SQP is an animal health advisor, known by the legally defined term "Suitably Qualified Person". An SQP must pass a set of exams to demonstrate animal health knowledge and an understanding of the legal system, and then register with AMTRA. SQPs are allowed to prescribe and/or supply certain medicines (those classified POM-VPS and NFA-VPS) for farm animals, horses, and pets.
SQPs may only supply veterinary medicines for which they are qualified from registered premises – that is, a Veterinary Practice Premises (VPP) registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS); a retail pharmacy registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI); or premises approved as SQP Retailers’ premises by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) .
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So, if you are a VN, even if you're not a RVN, you can upgrade your qualification by registering with AMTRA e.g. as a c-SQP (c standing for 'companion animal') and this allows you to p-r-e-s-c-r-i-b-e many NFA-VPS medicines from a much wider variety of outlets. So this would seem to open up more career possibilities than being for example a RVN. Becoming a SQP does take both money and effort but anybody capable of becoming a LVN or RVN would be capable of doing it and it would probably take less time and money.
How do you feel about this?
It's a significant amount of effort then to become a RVN. Interesting to contrast the situation with that of a SQP (suitably qualified person) registered with AMTRA. According to the AMTRA website:
Quote: An SQP is an animal health advisor, known by the legally defined term "Suitably Qualified Person". An SQP must pass a set of exams to demonstrate animal health knowledge and an understanding of the legal system, and then register with AMTRA. SQPs are allowed to prescribe and/or supply certain medicines (those classified POM-VPS and NFA-VPS) for farm animals, horses, and pets.
SQPs may only supply veterinary medicines for which they are qualified from registered premises – that is, a Veterinary Practice Premises (VPP) registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS); a retail pharmacy registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) or the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland (PSNI); or premises approved as SQP Retailers’ premises by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) .
End Quote
So, if you are a VN, even if you're not a RVN, you can upgrade your qualification by registering with AMTRA e.g. as a c-SQP (c standing for 'companion animal') and this allows you to p-r-e-s-c-r-i-b-e many NFA-VPS medicines from a much wider variety of outlets. So this would seem to open up more career possibilities than being for example a RVN. Becoming a SQP does take both money and effort but anybody capable of becoming a LVN or RVN would be capable of doing it and it would probably take less time and money.
How do you feel about this?
So, an SQP can prescribe medicines.
A qualified, registered VN on the other hand, that is a VN who has undergone challenging written and practical examinations and spent years in further education, cannot prescribe medicines.
Does that not beggar belief?