The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IfATE), with RCVS support, have clarified that the review by the Veterinary Nursing Trailblazer group, which is made up of representatives from employers, training providers, end-point assessment organisations, the RCVS and IfATE, is working on replacing the current Level 3 Veterinary Nurse Apprenticeship Standard with a new Standard that will move the new apprenticeship to being a statutory integrated end-point assessment (EPA) wholly regulated by the RCVS.
The assessment prescribed by a statutory regulator will constitute the apprenticeship’s EPA. Thus, achieving the apprenticeship leads to attainment of the regulator’s requirements. The apprenticeship is then referred to as being a statutory integrated apprenticeship.
This approach simplifies and strengthens how EPAs work for statutory integrated apprenticeships. This ensures parity for apprentices in assessment terms by aligning with people on other training routes.
As no formal submission has yet been made to IfATE, changes are still possible, but the revised apprenticeship will have a new standard reference number, with integrated qualifications mapped to the apprenticeship, RCVS day one competences, skills, and professional behaviours. The new apprenticeship standard will continue to include an RCVS accredited ‘licence to practise’ qualification in Veterinary Nursing in compliance with the requirements as stated in the RCVS Standards Framework for Veterinary Nurse Education and Training.
In practical terms, apprentices will not require any additional assessment beyond the regulator requirements. Under this structure, if approved, the assessment requirements will be those of the regulator approved mandated qualification. As the RCVS accredited VetSkill qualification does not have a professional discussion currently, this means it is likely that there will no longer be a professional discussion requirement for apprentices who are registered with The College of Animal Welfare on the new Standard.
The OSCE will still be required to be passed within an RCVS accredited ‘license to practise’ qualification. Thus, all qualification assessment requirements will be achieved before the Apprentice passes through the gateway.
Apprentices in training under the new standard will achieve the VN qualification (including OSCEs) and then will apply to pass through the gateway, and if successful, will be awarded the Apprenticeship Standard achievement certificate as well as their VN qualification certificate. The criteria for passing through the gateway will be that all of the requirements of the new apprenticeship will have been achieved. The details of what this entails has not yet been determined and is work in progress within the trailblazer group and subject to final approval.
Once the new Apprenticeship Standard becomes available the current standard will be phased out to new apprentices. Where an apprentice is already engaged on a standard which has been replaced with a new apprenticeship standard (that is with a new ST code), this would be treated as a change of programme. It is envisaged therefore that apprentices who have already commenced their training under the current apprenticeship standard will not be permitted to transfer to the new apprenticeship standard to avoid taking the professional discussion.
It is envisaged that the current standard (ST0343) will remain available for new starts until at least April 2026, and those starting it will complete under this existing standard. The new statutory integrated apprenticeship standard is expected to launch sometime after April 2026.
The funding value of the new apprenticeship will also be reviewed and a formal submission made to IfATE alongside the revised apprenticeship standard and EPA. The trailblazer group has commenced the process of collating information to support their submission.
Thus, in summary:
- The current VN Apprenticeship standard will remain in place until a new Standard replaces it. This approach for apprentices will ensure parity with people on other training routes in assessment terms. There will be not requirement for additional assessment.
- Apprentices already in training under the current standard will NOT be able to transfer to the new standard.
- VN Apprentices will have to finish their apprenticeship under the ST number that that started on.
- The new VN standard is not expected to become available until after April 2026.
- The assessment requirements will be those required by the qualification – it is likely there will not be a professional discussion requirement.
- OSCEs will remain but will take place before the gateway and within their VN qualification.
- The VN qualification has to be achieved before passing through the gateway.
- The funding value of the new apprenticeship is still to be determined.
The trailblazer review is ongoing, and a formal submission not yet made to IfATE so may still be subject to change.
We will continue to keep you updated on developments.