Veterinary Education

CPD route to Advanced Practitioner status reaches landmark

vetreportNovember 12, 2015

Since its launch at the start of this year, more than 300 members have registered to work through the Professional Key Skills programme, BSAVA’s latest web-based free CPD that can be used to support applications for Advanced Practitioner status.

Ruth Carroll was the 300^th person to put her name down.  “I’ve recently completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Medicine through Harper Adams and this didn’t include a professional key skills module, so on completion of the BSAVA Professional Key Skills online CPD I will not only have 120 hours of CPD to bank, but will also be able use this to provide evidence of Professional Key Skills Development required to apply for Advanced Practitioner status.”

It’s the flexibility that is appealing, as Ruth describes, “being able to do this online and with no time limit means I can fit this in with full time work, and as it’s free I still have my CPD budget available to use for more clinical based learning.”

Recent BSAVA Certificate graduate Andrew Nelson was the tenth person to complete the Professional Key Skills programme, and also valued the ability to fit the course in with his busy schedule. “I started in January and have just finished but I had a nice long break over summer and have been working through it slowly. It lends itself to dipping in and out of, which helps when working full time.

“It’s a very good bonus for BSAVA members (and 120 hours of free CPD which you can do at any time) and would recommend doing it. Some of the online resources used in the course were new to me and has helped change a few things we do in my practice, and stimulated good discussions among the vets at practice meetings.”

Qualified vet or VN BSAVA members can enrol on the PKS programme. Email courses@bsava.com; include your full name, BSAVA membership number. You will be assigned a login for the BSAVA Education website where you will be able to sign in and complete your studies.