Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons: 180 Years of Safeguarding Animal and Public Health

For nearly two centuries, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has stood as the cornerstone of veterinary professionalism in the United Kingdom. Established by Royal Charter on 8 March 1844, the RCVS was created to distinguish veterinary surgeons as a profession and to administer examinations for students from the two existing veterinary colleges in London and Edinburgh. Today, it is the sole statutory regulatory body for the veterinary profession in the United Kingdom, responsible for setting and upholding the highest standards of veterinary care.

A Heritage of Purpose

The RCVS’s founding was the culmination of a goal first defined in 1790. At that time, the veterinary profession was fractured: London graduates received certificates accepted by the Army and the East India Company, while Edinburgh graduates were recognised by the Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland—a distinction that London refused to acknowledge. In 1840, a deputation of veterinary surgeons presented a memorial demanding that the profession apply for a Charter to control unqualified practitioners and introduce regulations. Their efforts succeeded when the Royal Charter was granted, establishing the RCVS as a corporate body and legal entity. Thomas Turner became the first President of the RCVS, serving from 1844 to 1851. Buy fake certificate online.

The College’s statutory duties were later laid out in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, which consolidated and updated all previous legislation. A Supplemental Charter in 1967 restated provisions not covered by the Act. The RCVS also received the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II upon her accession to the throne in 1952.

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Mission and Regulatory Functions

The RCVS’s mission is to protect the public interest by ensuring animal health and welfare, and public health, are advanced through thriving, world-class veterinary professionals. As the UK’s independent regulator of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, its core functions include setting professional standards, overseeing veterinary education and training, and protecting both public and animal welfare through careful governance. Only RCVS-registered veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can practise in the UK. The College accredits veterinary qualifications, administers the Practice Standards Scheme to promote high-quality care, and oversees fitness-to-practise procedures.

The 2015 Royal Charter: A Transformative Moment

February 2025 marked the tenth anniversary of the introduction of the 2015 Royal Charter, which represented a watershed moment for the profession. The Charter established that the objects of the College are “to set, uphold and advance veterinary standards, and to promote, encourage and advance the study and practice of the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine, in the interests of the health and welfare of animals and in the wider public interest”. Crucially, it established veterinary nursing as a fully regulated profession, replacing the previous list of veterinary nurses with a formal register. Today, almost 25,000 Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) carry the postnominals ‘RVN’ with pride. The Charter also strengthened initiatives such as the Practice Standards Scheme and provided a foundation for the Mind Matters Initiative and the Vet Futures and VN Futures projects.

A Forward-Looking Strategy

In May 2025, the RCVS published its new five-year Strategic Plan for 2025 to 2029, titled *Stronger together, with animal health and welfare at our heart*. The plan is built around four updated values—compassion, collaboration, clarity, and courage—and four strategic ambitions focused on stakeholder groups: veterinary professionals, animal owners and keepers, society at large, and the College’s own staff and governance. The plan emphasises reviewing the Code of Professional Conduct, achieving new veterinary legislation, and championing the role of veterinary professionals in One Health and public health. The RCVS has also welcomed government commitment to consulting on reforms to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, including mandatory veterinary practice regulation and an enhanced role for veterinary nurses.

From its foundation in 1844 to its 180-year legacy of safeguarding animal and public health, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons remains a trusted, compassionate, and proactive regulator—ensuring that veterinary professionals thrive and that animals receive the highest standard of care.