Vetpol Announces Streamlined SQP Integration Course for RVNs

Vetpol has unveiled a new, streamlined SQP Integration course designed exclusively for Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs), marking a significant development in career progression opportunities within the veterinary medicines sector.

The course recognises the extensive training RVNs already undertake and offers a fast-track route to becoming a Suitably Qualified Person (SQP), a role central to the safe and responsible supply of certain categories of veterinary medicines. From start to finish, RVNs will be able to complete the course and exam to achieve SQP status in just four weeks.

The new course aligns directly with the one‑day competencies set by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and maps against the current SQP syllabus. By identifying the areas where RVNs already meet or exceed existing SQP requirements, Vetpol has been able to reduce the online, self‑learning component to just nine hours.

This is followed by a one‑hour exam administered by Lantra, an Ofqual‑regulated awarding body known for its excellent service delivery across land‑based and animal‑related industries. Lantra accredits the assessment (only) and learners will receive Lantra certificates upon passing. The training is accredited by Vetpol and counts as 9 hours CPD.

Vetpol says the reduced training time reflects both the depth of RVN education and the organisation’s commitment to removing unnecessary barriers for qualified professionals seeking to expand their scope of practice. “RVNs bring a wealth of knowledge and clinical experience,” says Caroline Johnson, Director of Vetpol. “This integration course acknowledges that expertise and provides a robust, efficient pathway to SQP status. Streamlining the process to deliver exam results quickly has been a key focus”.

Similar to Vetpol’s existing SQP course, RVN students enrolling in the Integration programme will be offered a one‑week window in which to sit their exam. This flexible approach allows candidates to choose a time and place that suits their schedule, a feature that has proven popular among working professionals balancing clinical duties with ongoing training. Results turnaround is speedy too, so students do not have to spend weeks anxiously waiting to find out if they have passed.

The course is available now at a price of £485 + VAT, should RVNs want to start studying immediately. Vetpol confirms that exams will be available in around a months’ time.

Successful candidates will earn the right to join Vetpol’s SQP register and adopt the post‑nominals SQP, a designation that signals they are qualified to prescribe and supply certain veterinary medicines under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.

The launch is expected to attract strong interest from RVNs seeking to broaden their professional remit, enhance their career prospects, and play a more active role in client education, nurse consultations and responsible medicine use.

At a time when there is much discussion around the formal recognition of the Veterinary Nurse Prescriber, Vetpol’s SQP Integration course option offers an opportunity for nurses to step into a regulated medicines‑advisory role without duplicating training they have already completed. In the light of the CMA enquiry and current RCVS guidance, this development also boosts opportunities for vet practices to provide contextualised care to the clients they serve, while opening new revenue streams for the practices employing RVN SQPs.