The RCVS has formally affiliated with the Accreditation Committee for Veterinary Nurse Education (ACOVENE), the quality assurance organisation for veterinary nurse education programmes in Europe. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed at the Board meeting in Barcelona at the end of November.

ACOVENE was established to allow greater movement of trained veterinary nurses within Europe by quality- assuring veterinary nursing training programmes and their delivery across the continent. Accredited schools map their programmes against an agreed set of competences for veterinary nurses (similar to the UK Occupational Standards) and operate according to a comprehensive set of accreditation criteria.

ACOVENE's quality assurance systems were adapted from those used by the American Veterinary Medical Association in relation to veterinary technician programmes in the USA, which adds a further international dimension.

Seven schools are currently accredited, located in Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland, Italy and Sweden, and an additional application is currently in progress. ACOVENE was developed in conjunction with the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA), which retains a supervisory role and seats on the Board.

Under the terms of the new arrangement, any establishment approved by the RCVS to offer veterinary nursing qualifications will be considered an affiliate member of ACOVENE – which is a tribute to the high standards maintained by the College and its Awarding Body. Practically, the affiliation means that RCVS-approved centres are now able to use the ACOVENE logo on their stationery, promotional materials and certificates. The RCVS will also take a permanent seat on the ACOVENE Board.

Quality-assurance audit visits will be undertaken by ACOVENE visitors to at least one of the RCVS’s 46 centres each year. The aim of these visits will be to audit the RCVS s compliance with ACOVENE criteria; there will be no fee to the centre for this.

Libby Earle, RCVS head of veterinary nursing, said; "This regular quality check of our standards adds a welcome oversight of the College's quality assurance systems.

Whilst VN qualifications are subject to the usual national regulatory systems, ACOVENE is specific to veterinary nursing programmes. We hope it will foster closer links with Europe for our schools of veterinary nursing and open up opportunities for both teachers and students to widen their professional horizons."

For more information, contact vetnursing@rcvs.org.uk

Veterinary Nursing Journal• Vol 26 • January 2011 •