Our vision is to be recognised as a trusted, compassionate and proactive regulator, and a supportive and ambitious Royal College, underpinning confident veterinary professionals of whom the UK can be proud.

The role of the RCVS
Our role is to safeguard the health and welfare of animals committed to veterinary care. We seek to achieve this by regulating the educational, ethical and clinical standards of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, thereby protecting the interests of those dependent on animals, and assuring public health.

Activities
As a statutory regulator we are responsible under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 for maintaining the Register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK, setting standards for veterinary education, and for regulating the professional conduct of veterinary surgeons. In addition, our Royal Charter allows us to award Fellowships, Diplomas and Certificates to veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.

RCVS Knowledge is a separate charity established to promote and advance the study and practice of the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine, by providing the RCVS Library and Information Service and a range of grants largely to support educational and research activities. RCVS Knowledge has a strong focus on facilitating Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM), in order to make veterinary decisions easier, quicker, and less prone to bias or interference from poor quality studies.

RCVS Council
Current RCVS Council

There are currently 24 members on RCVS Council: 13 elected members (all veterinary surgeons), three appointed members for the eight Universities with a veterinary school (Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Nottingham, and Surrey), two appointed veterinary nurses and six appointed lay members.

In addition the Chief Veterinary Officer is an ex-officio observer.

Operational Board
The President, two Vice-Presidents and Treasurer are elected by Council from its number. Together with the CEO (Chair), the Registrar/Head of Legal Services, the Chair of the Education Committee, the Chair of the Standards Committee, and the Chair of Veterinary Nurses Council, they make up the Operational Board which oversees the management of all College business, matters of governance and the management of resources. The Operational Board reports to RCVS Council.

Full list of current Operational Board members
Full list of current Council members
Full list of current Committee members
The Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966)
The Royal Charter (1967)
RCVS History
For more information, visit RCVS

Back to members home page