Accreditation
Bristol Veterinary School holds accreditation from several UK and international professional bodies. Accreditation is a mark of the high quality of our educational experience, providing assurance that our programmes meet rigorous international standards and equipping graduates with the knowledge, skills and professional recognition needed to pursue their chosen careers.
Professional body accreditations
Bristol Veterinary School holds accreditations from the following professional bodies:
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
The European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE)
The Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB)
The Accreditation Committee for Veterinary Nursing Education (ACOVENE)
What this means for our Veterinary Science graduates
Graduates of Bristol Veterinary School’s Veterinary Science programmes can practice in the United Kingdom, as well as multiple countries around the world.
Those wishing to enter the veterinary profession in a country not mentioned below, following graduation from Bristol Veterinary School, are recommended to check the relevant regulatory authority for the country of proposed employment prior to application.
The RCVS have a mutual agreement with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council
(AVBC), the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) and the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC), which means graduates of Bristol Veterinary School’s Veterinary Science programmes are also able to practise in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and South Africa.
Bristol Veterinary School’s Veterinary Science programmes are fully RCVS and EAEVE accredited through to our next visits in 2028 and 2031 respectively.
Our Veterinary Science programmes are also accredited by the AVMA Council on Education. Following our most recent accreditation visit in 2026, we hold the accreditation classification of 'Accredited with a Minor Deficiency in Standard 3, Physical Facilities and Equipment'.
Our Veterinary Science graduates can also practice in the USA and Canada, subject to completion of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) exam. The Council on Education standard for Outcomes Assessment pass mark is currently 80%. More information from the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA).
Previous NAVLE results for Bristol Veterinary School students
| Academic Year | Students taking NAVLE | Students passing NAVLE | (%) Passing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | 4 | 4 | 100 |
| 2020/21 | 3 | 3 | 100 |
| 2021/22 | 6 | 3 | 50 |
| 2022/23 | 16 | 10 | 63 |
| 2023/24 | 22 | 14 | 64 |
| 2024/25 | 38 | 27 | 71 |
| 2025/26 | 34 | 28 | 82 |
Those wanting to pursue careers within the European Union (EU), are recommended to check the relevant regulatory authority for the country of employment following the UK’s departure from the EU. Find a list of EU regulators and professional associations for veterinarians: Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE).
What this means for our Veterinary Nursing graduates
Bristol Veterinary School’s Veterinary Nursing programme, BSc Veterinary Nursing with
Companion Animal Behaviour, is fully RCVS accredited through to our next visit in 2028, it is also accredited by CCAB and ACOVENE.
Accreditation by the RCVS ensures Bristol Veterinary School is also an affiliated member of ACOVENE which is a voluntary organisation which aims to facilitate qualified veterinary nurses being able to practise in different European states through standardisation of veterinary nurse education and training.
The programme is an Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) Recognised Programme and has been formally recognised by the ABTC Programme Recognition Committee as delivering the academic elements necessary for an individual to achieve ABTC recognition as an Animal Behaviour Technician and Clinical Animal Behaviourist. This course has also been formally validated by CCAB Certification Ltd as delivering the academic elements necessary for an individual to apply for recognition as a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB).