The Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) has confirmed a change to its longstanding accreditation relationship with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
The previous agreement between AVBC and RCVS came to an end in 2024, with an extension in place until March 2025. Since that time, both organisations have engaged in extensive discussions about potential arrangements for future accreditation cooperation.
Despite constructive engagement and considerable effort by both organisations, it has not been possible to reach agreement on a future model for joint accreditation activities. As a result, AVBC and RCVS will no longer undertake joint veterinary programme accreditation activities.
Veterinary schools seeking accreditation or recognition from both organisations will now engage separately with AVBC and RCVS. Each organisation will provide affected schools with information about its respective processes, requirements and next steps.
AVBC CEO Kate Simkovic said the change represented an evolution in the longstanding relationship between the two organisations.
“AVBC and RCVS have worked together over many decades, and we have enormous respect for the contribution RCVS has made to veterinary education, accreditation and regulation internationally.
“While we have not been able to agree on a model that would allow joint programme accreditation activities to continue, this represents a change in one aspect of our relationship rather than an end to our broader relationship.
“AVBC remains committed to constructive engagement with RCVS. We see significant opportunities for future collaboration in veterinary education, standards development, international benchmarking and workforce mobility, and we remain open to future discussions about mutual recognition of accreditation outcomes.”
AVBC’s longer-term vision is for international accreditation relationships between trusted accreditation authorities to increasingly be based on mutual recognition of accreditation outcomes, maintaining robust standards and quality assurance while reducing unnecessary duplication for veterinary schools.
Importantly, the change relates specifically to veterinary programme accreditation and does not affect the longstanding reciprocal recognition arrangements between AVBC and RCVS in relation to veterinary registration examinations.
AVBC continues to recognise the RCVS Statutory Membership Examination, and RCVS continues to recognise the Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE). These reciprocal examination arrangements remain highly valued and are separate from the changes to veterinary programme accreditation.
AVBC looks forward to maintaining a constructive relationship with RCVS and exploring opportunities for future cooperation in areas of mutual interest and shared commitment to excellence in veterinary education.