Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 24, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
News & Reports official veterinarians
New OV training arrangements: progress so far Earlier this year, the AHVLA awarded a three-year contract to veterinary CPD provider Improve International to carry out the training and revalidation of Official Veterinarians (OVs). Last week, the two organisations held a press briefing to explain the logistics of the new system and give an update on how things are going. Georgina Mills reports. Having been awarded the contract for training and revalidating OVs in June (VR, June 28, 2014, vol 174, p 643), Improve International launched its new training modules, known as Official Controls Qualifications (Veterinary) (OCQ[V]s), in August, together with a new registration database. To date, it was reported at the press briefing, which was held at Improve International’s headquarters in Swindon on September 26, over 1500 existing and new OVs have signed up to the database. Both new and existing OVs must register on the new database, which allows the transfer of old OV panels to the new system. At the press briefing, it was explained that the database would help give the AHVLA a clear picture of how many OVs are currently active. It would also help with administration, by allowing all OVs to be contacted easily if training requirements change, and allow reminders to be sent when an OV must begin the revalidation process. According to Simon Hall, veterinary director at the AHVLA, who spoke the press briefing, ‘By next year, we’ll know that the OVs that are on the system actually need the qualification, are active and are keeping their skills up.’ Under the old system, there were about 11,500 OVs, Mr Hall said, but it was thought that an ‘enormous number’ of these were ‘completely inactive’. There were also concerns that some of these OVs had not practised in years. By introducing the new system, there would be a much greater certainty that OVs were maintaining their skills. It was hoped that the new system would eventually host around 7500 to 8000 OVs, and both the AHVLA and Improve International said they were pleased with how things had been going since the launch. Existing OVs will have ‘grandfather rights’, meaning that they will not have to undertake initial training in the OCQ(V) equivalents of the OV panels that they already possess. However, they must register on the new system by March 31, 2015 to stay on as an OV. David Babington, managing director of Improve International, reported that most of the 1500 OVs already registered on the new system were existing OVs. 314 | Veterinary Record | October 4, 2014
Qualifications and revalidation
Currently, three OCQ(V)s are available, and, by February 1, 2015, Improve says that there will be 10. The new qualifications will count towards CPD and will give OVs the option of acquiring higher education credits. The modules include topics such as essential skills, tuberculin testing, small animal exports and statutory surveillance and will replace the existing OV panels. In a further change, although vets will have to be an MRCVS to be an OV, they will not have to be one to undertake Simon Hall (left), veterinary director of the AHVLA, the training. This means that final-year students and graduates can take part in the and David Babington, managing director of Improve International, at the press briefing to discuss progress training without needing to be linked to with the new OV training requirements an employer, as under the previous system. For people in this situation, Mr Hall said, website and not having to take time away the new qualifications might improve their from their practice to carry out such training. employability, and would certainly improve The modules themselves will be the portability of their skills. priced from £99 (+VAT) to £299 (+VAT), Another key change is the requirement depending on the module chosen. A one-off for periodic revalidation. This would require payment of £59 (+VAT) is required for some commitment from the OVs, said Mr registration on the new database; however, Hall, but would keep their skills to a high existing OVs who register before January level and make sure that OVs were serious 9, 2015 will be charged £39. Mr Hall also about their work. explained that existing OVs will be given the ‘essential skills’ OCQ(V) training for Fees free before January 9. The ‘essential skills’ One of the biggest differences between the OCQ(V) provides core level training, old training and the new is the introduction including content such as how to report of fees. Unlike the old training, which was a notifiable disease and what happens in delivered for free by the AHVLA, there are a disease outbreak. Mr Hall said it was costs to the individual involved with the ‘very pleasing that this level of knowledge new system. However, Mr Hall believed that will be refreshed out there across the OV this was good value for money, as there were community’. many benefits, including vets being able to doi: 10.1136/vr.g5943 access the training content 24/7 on the new
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 24, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
New OV training arrangements: progress so far Veterinary Record 2014 175: 314
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5943 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/13/314.1
These include:
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Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
News & Reports official veterinarians
New OV training arrangements: progress so far Earlier this year, the AHVLA awarded a three-year contract to veterinary CPD provider Improve International to carry out the training and revalidation of Official Veterinarians (OVs). Last week, the two organisations held a press briefing to explain the logistics of the new system and give an update on how things are going. Georgina Mills reports. Having been awarded the contract for training and revalidating OVs in June (VR, June 28, 2014, vol 174, p 643), Improve International launched its new training modules, known as Official Controls Qualifications (Veterinary) (OCQ[V]s), in August, together with a new registration database. To date, it was reported at the press briefing, which was held at Improve International’s headquarters in Swindon on September 26, over 1500 existing and new OVs have signed up to the database. Both new and existing OVs must register on the new database, which allows the transfer of old OV panels to the new system. At the press briefing, it was explained that the database would help give the AHVLA a clear picture of how many OVs are currently active. It would also help with administration, by allowing all OVs to be contacted easily if training requirements change, and allow reminders to be sent when an OV must begin the revalidation process. According to Simon Hall, veterinary director at the AHVLA, who spoke the press briefing, ‘By next year, we’ll know that the OVs that are on the system actually need the qualification, are active and are keeping their skills up.’ Under the old system, there were about 11,500 OVs, Mr Hall said, but it was thought that an ‘enormous number’ of these were ‘completely inactive’. There were also concerns that some of these OVs had not practised in years. By introducing the new system, there would be a much greater certainty that OVs were maintaining their skills. It was hoped that the new system would eventually host around 7500 to 8000 OVs, and both the AHVLA and Improve International said they were pleased with how things had been going since the launch. Existing OVs will have ‘grandfather rights’, meaning that they will not have to undertake initial training in the OCQ(V) equivalents of the OV panels that they already possess. However, they must register on the new system by March 31, 2015 to stay on as an OV. David Babington, managing director of Improve International, reported that most of the 1500 OVs already registered on the new system were existing OVs. 314 | Veterinary Record | October 4, 2014
Qualifications and revalidation
Currently, three OCQ(V)s are available, and, by February 1, 2015, Improve says that there will be 10. The new qualifications will count towards CPD and will give OVs the option of acquiring higher education credits. The modules include topics such as essential skills, tuberculin testing, small animal exports and statutory surveillance and will replace the existing OV panels. In a further change, although vets will have to be an MRCVS to be an OV, they will not have to be one to undertake Simon Hall (left), veterinary director of the AHVLA, the training. This means that final-year students and graduates can take part in the and David Babington, managing director of Improve International, at the press briefing to discuss progress training without needing to be linked to with the new OV training requirements an employer, as under the previous system. For people in this situation, Mr Hall said, website and not having to take time away the new qualifications might improve their from their practice to carry out such training. employability, and would certainly improve The modules themselves will be the portability of their skills. priced from £99 (+VAT) to £299 (+VAT), Another key change is the requirement depending on the module chosen. A one-off for periodic revalidation. This would require payment of £59 (+VAT) is required for some commitment from the OVs, said Mr registration on the new database; however, Hall, but would keep their skills to a high existing OVs who register before January level and make sure that OVs were serious 9, 2015 will be charged £39. Mr Hall also about their work. explained that existing OVs will be given the ‘essential skills’ OCQ(V) training for Fees free before January 9. The ‘essential skills’ One of the biggest differences between the OCQ(V) provides core level training, old training and the new is the introduction including content such as how to report of fees. Unlike the old training, which was a notifiable disease and what happens in delivered for free by the AHVLA, there are a disease outbreak. Mr Hall said it was costs to the individual involved with the ‘very pleasing that this level of knowledge new system. However, Mr Hall believed that will be refreshed out there across the OV this was good value for money, as there were community’. many benefits, including vets being able to doi: 10.1136/vr.g5943 access the training content 24/7 on the new
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on May 24, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
New OV training arrangements: progress so far Veterinary Record 2014 175: 314
doi: 10.1136/vr.g5943 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/13/314.1
These include:
Email alerting service
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
