The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations Order of Council 2014
S.I. 2014/3493 · Made 17 December 2014 · Extends to United Kingdom
Veterinary Surgeons
Made 17th December 2014
Coming into force 14th January 2015
At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 17th day of December 2014
By the Lords of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council,
The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 11 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966f1, have made the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014 (“the Regulations”) set out in the Schedule to this Order.
By virtue of section 25(1) of that Act, the Regulations do not have effect unless approved by order of the Privy Council.
In exercise of the power conferred by section 25(1) and (2) of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, their Lordships make the following Order:
Annotations to the whole text
Footnotes
- f1
Contents
- 1Title and commencement
- 2Approval
- 3Revocation
- Signature
- Schedule The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014
- Part 1: General
- 1Citation
- 2Interpretation
- Part 2: The Keeping of the Register
- 3Registration and restoration
- 4Changes to particulars
- 5Removal
- 6Regulation 6
- 7Regulation 7
- Part 3: Fees
- 8Saving for visiting practitioners and certain persons within the Republic of Ireland
- 9Registration fees
- 10Regulation 10
- 11Regulation 11
- 12Regulation 12
- 13Retention fees
- 14Regulation 14
- 15Regulation 15
- 16Regulation 16
- 17Regulation 17
- 18Regulation 18
- 19Restoration fees
- 20Refunds on voluntary removal
- 21Method of payment
- 4Fees payable
- Part 5: Revocation of Previous Regulations
- 22Revocation
- Explanatory note
1Title and commencementI1
This Order may be cited as the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations Order of Council 2014 and comes into force on 14th January 2015.
2ApprovalI1
The Regulations set out in the Schedule are approved.
3RevocationI1
The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations Order of Council 2010f1 is revoked.
Signature
Richard Tilbrook
Clerk of the Privy Council
The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014
The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in exercise of its powers under section 11 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, makes the following Regulations.
1CitationI1
These Regulations may be cited as the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014.
2InterpretationI1
In these Regulations—
“the Act” means the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966;
“Disciplinary Committee” means the disciplinary committee of the Council;
“inform” and “notify” include making a communication by electronic means;
“non-practising registrant” means a registrant who has declared in writing to the registrar that they will not practise, either in the British Islands or anywhere else;
“overseas practising registrant” means a registrant who has declared in writing to the registrar that they will not practise in the British Islands;
“practise” or “practising” means practising veterinary surgeryf1 or engaging in any professional activity as a veterinary surgeon, whether or not for remuneration;
“registrant” means a person whose name has been entered in either of the veterinary registers, and shall include a person who has applied for their name to be entered in the registerf2;
“registrar” means the registrar of the Collegef3;
“registration” means the entry of a person’s name in either of the veterinary registers for the first time, and the verb “register” shall be construed accordingly;
“registration fee” means a fee charged to a registrant on registration;
“restoration” means the restoration of a name which has been removed from either of the veterinary registers, and “restore” shall be construed accordingly;
“restoration fee” means a fee charged on the restoration of a name to either of the veterinary registers;
“retention” means the retention of an existing registrant’s name in either of the veterinary registers;
“retention fee” means a fee charged in respect of the retention of a registrant’s name in either of the veterinary registers for each retention fee year;
“retention fee year” means, for a temporary registrant, each period of twelve calendar months beginning with the first anniversary of the date of registration; and for all other registrants, the period running from 1st April following the date of registration until the following 31st March, and each period of 12 months thereafter;
“standard registrant” means a registrant other than a non-practising registrant or an overseas practising registrant;
“supplementary veterinary register” means the register of veterinary practitioners maintained under section 8 of the Act;
“temporary registrant” means a registrant entered into the register under section 7 of the Act;
“veterinary registers” means the register and the supplementary veterinary register;
“visiting practitioner” means a person to whom Schedule 1B to the Act applies;
“voluntary removal” means removal from the register under section 13(2) of the Act F1;
F2“year of registration” means the period beginning with 1st April preceding the date of registration (or if registration takes place on 1st April, beginning with the date of registration) and ending with the following 31st March (or if registration takes place on 31st March, ending with the date of registration).
In these Regulations, a reference to a table is a reference to a table in Part 4 of these Regulations.
3Registration and restorationI1
The registrar may refuse to make any entry into either of the veterinary registers until any fee required by Part 3 of these Regulations for registration or restoration has been paid.
4Changes to particularsI1
A registrant must notify the registrar within 28 days of any change to the particulars entered in either of the veterinary registers.
5RemovalI1
A request by a registrant for their name to be removed from either of the veterinary registers must state the ground upon which the request is made, and be accompanied by a declaration that they are not aware of any reason for the institution of proceedings which may lead to a direction of the Disciplinary Committee under section 16 of the Act.
6I1
The registrar may remove a registrant’s name from either of the veterinary registers where—
the full retention fee for the registrant has not been received by 31st May of the relevant retention fee year; or
in the case of a temporary registrant, the full retention fee has not been received by the date eight weeks after the beginning of the retention fee year.
7I1
The registrar—
must notify a registrant at least four weeks before removing the registrant’s name from either of the veterinary registers by reason of non-payment of the retention fee; and
may proceed to remove the registrant’s name even if a notification given in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) has not been received.
8Saving for visiting practitioners and certain persons within the Republic of IrelandI1
No fee is payable for registration, retention or restoration by a visiting practitioner or by a person to whom article 3(1) or (2) of the agreement given effect by the Veterinary Surgeons (Agreement with the Republic of Ireland) Order 1988f1 applies.
9Registration feesI1
A person applying for registration in the general, Commonwealth or foreign list of the register must pay the fee specified in Table 1.
10F1
Subject to regulation 11, a person applying for registration in the temporary list of the register must pay the following—
for registration on or before 31st March 2027, the relevant fee specified in column A of Table 2;
for registration after 31st March 2027, the relevant fee specified in column B of Table 2.
11I1
The normal registration fee specified in Table 2 is payable by a person applying for registration in the temporary list of the register unless the registration is subject to the restriction that the registrant may only practise for a period of six months or less F1, in which case the registration fee for practice restricted to a period of six months or less is payable.
12I1
If an application for registration is refused, or is withdrawn before registration takes place, the registration fee paid shall be refunded to the applicant.
13Retention feesI1
No retention fee is payable by a registrant in the general, Commonwealth or foreign list of the register or the supplementary veterinary register—
who does not practise in the British Islands or elsewhere; and
who is over the age of 70 on 1st April in that retention fee year.
14F1
A temporary registrant must pay the following—
for retention in a retention fee year beginning on or before 31st March 2027, the retention fee specified in column A of Table 2 at the beginning of the retention fee year;
for retention in a retention fee year beginning after 31st March 2027, the retention fee specified in column B of Table 2 at the beginning of the retention fee year.
15F1
All other registrants must—
for retention in the retention fee year beginning on 1st April 2026, pay the following retention fee at the beginning of the retention fee year—
if payment is received on or before 30th April 2026, the relevant fee specified in column A of Table 3, or
if payment is received after 30th April 2026, the relevant fee specified in column B of Table 3;
for retention in a retention fee year beginning on or after 1st April 2027, pay the following retention fee at the beginning of the retention fee year—
if payment is received on or before 30th April of the retention fee year in question, the relevant fee specified in column C of Table 3, or
if payment is received after 30th April of the retention fee year in question, the relevant fee specified in column D of Table 3.
16I1
Where during the course of a retention fee year a non-practising registrant who has already paid the relevant retention fee begins to practise either in or outside the British Islands, the registrant must—
notify the registrar; and
pay the extra fee specified in Table 4.
17I1
Where during the course of a retention fee year an overseas practising registrant, who has already paid the relevant retention fee, begins to practise within the British Islands, the registrant must—
notify the registrar; and
pay the extra fee specified in Table 4.
18I1
A standard registrant who has paid a retention fee in accordance with Table 3 and who becomes either an overseas practising registrant or a non-practising registrant before 1st October in the same retention fee year shall be credited a sum as specified in Table 5.
A registrant to whom paragraph (1) applies who during the same retention fee year—
becomes an overseas practising registrant but then resumes practising within the British Islands; or
becomes a non-practising registrant but then resumes practising either in or outside the British Islands,
must notify the registrar and the credit referred to in paragraph (1) shall be cancelled.
An overseas practising registrant who has paid a retention fee in accordance with Table 3 and who becomes a non-practising registrant before 1st October in the same retention fee year shall be credited a sum as specified in Table 5.
If during the same retention fee year the registrant in paragraph (3) resumes practising either in or outside the British Islands, the registrant must make the appropriate declaration in writing to the registrar, and the credit referred to in paragraph (3) shall be cancelled.
A sum credited under paragraph (1) or (3) shall be—
deducted from future fees payable by the registrant; or
refunded if the registrant’s name is removed from the register under section 13(2) of the Act.
19Restoration feesI1
A registrant whose name has been removed (whether for non-payment of a retention fee or otherwise), and who seeks restoration must pay—
the restoration fee specified in Table 6; and
subject to paragraph (2) below, the retention fee specified in Table 3 for the retention fee year in which restoration takes place.
The retention fee to be paid under sub-paragraph (b) above shall be as set out in F1column A of Table 3 (in the case of restoration in the retention fee year beginning on 1st April 2026) or column C of Table 3 (in the case of restoration in a retention fee year beginning on or after 1st April 2027) , except that where—
the registrant was removed for reasons other than the non-payment of a retention fee; and
restoration takes place on or after 1st October F2of the retention fee year in question,
50% of the retention fee shall be payable.
20Refunds on voluntary removalF1
A registrant in the general, Commonwealth or foreign list of the register or the supplemental veterinary register, who is removed by voluntary removal before 1st October in any year, shall be refunded 50% of the following—
in the case of voluntary removal in the year of registration beginning on 1st April 2026, the relevant registration fee set out in column A of Table 1;
in the case of voluntary removal in the retention fee year beginning on 1st April 2026, the relevant retention fee set out in column A of Table 3;
in the case of voluntary removal in a year of registration beginning on or after 1st April 2027, the relevant registration fee set out in column B of Table 1;
in the case of voluntary removal in a retention fee year beginning on or after 1st April 2027, the relevant retention fee set out in column C of Table 3.
21Method of paymentI1
Payment of any fee due under these Regulations may be made by any method acceptable to the Council, including payment by electronic means.
4Fees payableF1
Table 1
Registration fees payable under regulation 9
| Column A | Column B | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of registrant | Fee payable for registration on or before 31st March 2027 (£) | Fee payable for registration after 31st March 2027 (£) |
| New graduates registered by 31st December following graduation | 214 | 221 |
| Other persons registered in the period beginning with 1st April in the year of registration and ending with 30th September in the year of registration | 431 | 443 |
| Other persons registered in the period beginning with 1st October in the year of registration and ending with 31st March in the year of registration | 214 | 221 |
Table 2
Fees for temporary registrants payable under regulations 10, 11 and 14
| Type of fee | Column A | Column B |
|---|---|---|
| Fee payable for registration on or before 31st March 2027 or for retention in a retention fee year beginning on or before 31st March 2027 (£) | Fee payable for registration after 31st March 2027 or for retention in a retention fee year beginning after 31st March 2027 (£) | |
| Normal registration fee | 431 | 443 |
| Registration fee for practice restricted to a period of six months or less | 214 | 221 |
| Retention fee | 431 | 443 |
Table 3
Retention fees payable under regulation 15
| Circumstances | Column A | Column B | Column C | Column D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fee payable under regulation 15(a)(i) (£) | Fee payable under regulation 15(a)(ii) (£) | Fee payable under regulation 15(b)(i) (£) | Fee payable under regulation 15(b)(ii) (£) | |
| Standard registrant | 431 | 468 | 443 | 482 |
| Overseas practising registrant | 214 | 251 | 221 | 259 |
| Non-practising registrant | 71 | 108 | 73 | 111 |
Table 4
Additional fees payable under regulations 16 and 17
| Fee paid (£) | New circumstance | Extra sum payable if change takes place before 1st October of the retention fee year in question (£) | Extra sum payable if change takes place on or after 1st October of the retention fee year in question (£) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71 or 108 | Practising, but not in the British Islands | 143 | 72 |
| 73 or 111 | Practising, but not in the British Islands | 147 | 74 |
| 71 or 108 | Practising in the British Islands | 359 | 180 |
| 73 or 111 | Practising in the British Islands | 370 | 186 |
| 214 or 251 | Practising in the British Islands | 216 | 108 |
| 221 or 259 | Practising in the British Islands | 223 | 111 |
Table 5
Credits payable under regulation 18
| Fee paid (£) | New circumstance | Sum to be credited (£) |
|---|---|---|
| 431 or 468 | Non-practising registrant | 180 |
| 443 or 482 | Non-practising registrant | 186 |
| 431 or 468 | Overseas practising registrant | 108 |
| 443 or 482 | Overseas practising registrant | 111 |
| 214 or 251 | Non-practising registrant | 72 |
| 221 or 259 | Non-practising registrant | 74 |
Table 6
Restoration fees payable under regulation 19
| Type of restoration | Fee payable for restoration on or before 31st March 2027 (£) | Fee payable for restoration after 31st March 2027 (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Restoration under section 11(3) of the Act following removal for non-receipt of retention fee | 431 | 443 |
| Restoration in other circumstances | 133 | 137 |
22RevocationI1
The Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2010 are revoked.
Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order approves the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2014 (“the 2014 Regulations”) made by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (“the RCVS”) under section 11 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 (“the Act”) and which replace the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations 2010 (“the 2010 Regulations”). This Order also revokes the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Practitioners (Registration) Regulations Order of Council 2010 which approved the 2010 Regulations.
Part 2 of the 2014 Regulations makes provision about the keeping of the register of veterinary surgeons and the supplementary register of veterinary practitioners (maintained under section 8 of the Act.) Regulation 3 provides that the registrar may refuse to make an entry into the registers until the appropriate fees are paid, and sets out the circumstances in which a person’s name can be removed from a register for non-payment of fees.
The requirements to pay various fees are set out in Part 3, and the exact fees are set out in tables in Part 4. The fees are the same as in the 2010 Regulations but there is a change in the circumstances in which a registration fee of £150, rather than £299, is payable on temporary registration under section 7 of the Act. Under the 2010 Regulations that fee is applicable to nationals of developing countries undergoing certain courses of study lasting six months or less. The 2014 Regulations provide for that fee to be payable if practice by the registrant is restricted to a period of six months or less, regardless of the circumstances.
Regulation 8 continues to provide that no retention fee is payable by certain veterinary surgeons resident in the Republic of Ireland. The circumstances in which this applies are, however, now specified by reference to the Veterinary Surgeons (Agreement with the Republic of Ireland) Order 1988, SI 1988/784, rather than being set out in the Regulations.
Regulation 18 provides that where the circumstances of registrants change during the retention fee year, so that lower fees become payable, they may qualify for a credit (rather than a refund, as under the 2010 Regulations). The rules on adjustment of retention fees during the course of the year are also changed so as to provide that a lower fee is only payable if the relevant conditions are satisfied for the whole of a six-month period (1st April to 30th September or 1st October to 31st March) (see regulations 16 and 17.).
Under regulation 19, fees payable on restoration to the register are set at £299 or £75, as under the 2010 Regulations, but the higher rate is no longer applicable on the restoration of a name which was removed at the direction of the Disciplinary Committee. Regulation 20 provides for 50% of any registration or retention fee paid to be refunded to a registrant (other than a temporary registrant) whose name is removed voluntarily from the register before 1st October.
No impact assessment has been produced for this Instrument.