RCVS specialised courses.

Re: RCVS specialised courses.

Susanna Taylor — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 17:41:58 GMT

Hi All

I have gained both the VTS and the NCert, and have worked as head anaesthesia nurse at the RVC (there is a team of 5). I left in April due to becoming a mum...

Im happy to answer anyone's questions about either course, but everything people have said above is spot on.

The VTS is VERY head work, and you need to be working somewhere where you are doing high end anaesthesia cases, so really a university or big referral practice with Vet Anaesthetists. At the moment it is pretty much the highest anaesthesia qualification available to nurses

The NCert is a good course as they lectures are fab as given by anaesthesia diplomats. As a qualification, it definitely shows a genuine interest in anaesthesia, but I'm afraid I don't think the examination progress is robust enough for it to stand as high as the anaesthesia module of the RCVS diploma for example.

Also to note, the VASTA qualification is coming to the UK and is highly regarded in Europe http://www.vas-int.com/en-gb/vasta/

The reason the VTS is so much cheaper then the CPD based qualifications is that the VTS has no formal teaching provided. You do however have to demonstrate you have been to a lot of anaesthesia CPD, so some people use the VASTA (or NCert) to achieve that. You also have to go to the USA for the exam (thus the costs add up)

Also, for anyone interested in anaesthesia, please look to joining the AVA!

Re: RCVS specialised courses.

zara — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 14:04:53 GMT

I done the esvps / improve international ncert in anaesthesia and critical care - it was very good , informative, the lecturers are very good.

Re: RCVS specialised courses.

Fuzzyduck — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 17:50:36 GMT

The advanced diploma is no longer surgical or medical, you choose modules that you want to do. The VTS is more specialised in that it's just in 1 area. You could do both but not at the same time, they are both tough and time consuming courses the DipAVN takes about 2 years and the VTS about the same. The VTS you may need to work in a more specialist referral environment in order to be able to complete the required cases, but you'd have to look in to what's required. The DipAVN too would need a varied caseload, not necessarily referral but I think more than you'd maybe get in a small practice.

Re: RCVS specialised courses.

Jade.Simmons — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 17:13:19 GMT

Can you do both? Like adv dip in surgery and certificate in anaesthesia?

Re: RCVS specialised courses.

Laura Moss — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 15:41:03 GMT

what would you say was better? the vts? or diploma? i am undercided too but dont work with an anaesthestist o do some of the procedures eg epidurals do you think this matters ?

Re: RCVS specialised courses.

Fuzzyduck — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 21:52:20 GMT

I know a couple of people who have done the VTS anaesthesia, It's a well recognised qualification over here dispite being American and much cheaper than the diploma!

Re: RCVS specialised courses.

Amy Homer. RVN. NCert A&CC — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 15:31:53 GMT

there are several courses out there. there is the one which i did which is run by Improve international and esvps, there is one i believe run by revs which is a module course, but i belive that if you want to 'be a specialist' you would need to do the veterinary technition specialist (VTS) specifications. if you google this is will bring up the criteria, although it does look quite tough and not everyone that does it will get accepted. x hope this helps x