New regulatory body authorised to maintain a register of SQPs

A new regulatory body has been authorised to maintain a register for Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPS).

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has authorised VetSkill to maintain a register for Suitably Qualified Persons (SQPs) to prescribe and supply POM-VPS and NFA-VPS veterinary medicines.

VetSkill is an Ofqual approved awarding organisation that specialises in qualifications for the veterinary and animal related industries.

Following this approval, those wishing to prescribe and supply POM-VPS and NFA-VPS medicines will now be able to register with VetSkill.

Greg Warman, VetSkill chairman, said “We are delighted to have received approval from the Secretary of State as a regulatory body to maintain an SQP register.

“Our main focus is to ensure that those prescribing and/or supplying POM-VPS and NFA-VPS veterinary medicines do so in a safe and legal manner, and that the process of registration and ongoing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for SQPs is simple to follow and cost effective”.

Those wishing to train as an SQP and register with VetSkill, will need to undertake the new VetSkill SQP Diploma which will be available from January.

To mark the launch of the VetSkill SQP register, a one day conference for companion animal SQPs will take place on Sunday 20 November 2016 at The College of Animal Welfare in Cambridgeshire.

The conference will provide the companion animal annual CPD requirement and 2017 VetSkill annual registration for just £99.

Further conferences will be available for other categories of SQP in 2017.

More information can be found at www.vetskill.co.uk.