Revalidation
APHA Briefing Note 15/19
Flowchart to illustrate the possible options described in the Briefing Note
APHA Briefing Note 19/18.
Summary of New Requirements for OVs
For OVs with Grandfather Rights your dates have changed and are as below:
| OCQ(V) | New Enrolment Deadline | New Completion Deadline | New Window for Completion |
| TT | 28 Feb 2020 | 31 March 2020 | 1 Feb 2019 - 31 March 2020 |
| CA | 31 March 2019 | 30 April 2019 | 1 Feb 2019 – 30 April 2019 |
| SX | 31 March 2019 | 30 April 2019 | 1 Feb 2019 – 30 April 2019 |
| EX | 31 May 2019 | 30 June 2019 | 1 Feb 2019 – 30 June 2019 |
| ES | 31 May 2019 | 30 June 2019 | 1 Feb 2019 – 30 June 2019 |
Why is revalidation important?
It is no longer appropriate for vets authorised to perform official functions to be trained once and then given minimal support for the rest of their careers. Procedures change, skills can be lost, and it is important that vets are confident that their knowledge is up to date when they carry out an official function, not least to have a defence should something go wrong. Other professions have introduced revalidation and, while it may not be a requirement for many aspects of veterinary practice, it is considered essential for duties discharged on behalf of the Government in order to meet international standards. For this reason APHA has introduced a revalidation requirement for OCQ(V)s to provide assurance that OVs are maintaining and continuously improving their competence and applying the same to their work.
For more information please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below.
How does it work?
The validation period for each OCQ(V) is shown in the table below. To retain the qualification, it is necessary to successfully complete revalidation training before the end of the revalidation period appropriate to the specific OCQ(V).
If an OV does not revalidate an OCQ(V) by its expiry date, their status for this qualification will be expired by APHA and they will be unable to continue to carry out OV work that requires this OCQ(V). The expiry date of each OCQ(V) is determined from one of the following:
- the date on which an OV passed the original OCQ(V)
- the 1st April 2015, if the OCQ(V) was granted by grandfather rights
- the date of completing previous revalidation training.
How will the recent changes to revalidation intervals affect me?
Following a review of OCQ(V) training, APHA have now made the decision to standardise revalidation intervals to 4 years. This was a staged process. More information on the revalidation intervals can be found in the table here. The Briefing Note outlining the review and feedback can be seen here.
If you already hold a qualification, either through taking the OCQ(V) previously or inheriting the qualification through grandfather rights, you will keep your current revalidation date for this cycle.
For example:
…for OCQ(V) - TT awarded by grandfather rights in 2015:
- Registered before April 2015
- First revalidation 2017
- Second revalidation 2020
- Third revalidation 2024
…for OCQ(V) - TT passed on or before 31st January 2019 (the date the revalidation cycle changed from 3 to 4 years on completion of the full course or a revalidation):
- Keep latest revalidation cycle and complete revalidation by the due date
- Subsequent revalidations at 4-yearly intervals
…for OCQ(V) - TT passed after 31st January 2019:
- First revalidation 4 years from passing online exam
- Second revalidation 4 years from passing first revalidation exam and completing declarations
Improve International will send reminders to OVs prior to the expiry date of each OCQ(V). If you do not complete the revalidation and your OV authorisation for the qualification is expired, you will either have to contact APHA in order for your status to be changed to 'suspended' and enable you to complete the revalidation course within 6 months of the missed deadline, or complete the full OCQ(V) course before your OV status can be reinstated. If you hold multiple OCQ(V)s, this will only apply to the relevant OCQ(V).
The following table shows revalidation intervals from 1st February 2019 onwards, after APHA completed their recent review of OCQ(V) training – please see the Briefing Note here for more detailed information about this.
OCQ(V) Follow the links in this
column for further
information about each
qualification
|
Frequency of revalidation | Number of Case Logs or Scenario Exercises required to revalidate this OCQ(V) | CPD in the revalidation cycle | Audit required |
| ES (Essential Skills) | 4 years |
None | 10 hrs | No |
| TT (Tuberculin Testing) | 4 years | 3 minimum | 10 hrs | Yes |
| CA (Companion Animal) | 4 years |
3 | 10 hrs | No |
| SS (Statutory Surveillance) | 4 years | 5 | 10 hrs | No |
| EX (Exports General) | 4 years |
None unless this is the only export panel held |
10 hrs | No |
| UX (Ungulate Exports) | 4 years | 3 | 10 hrs | No |
| EQ (Equine Exports) | 4 years | 3 | 10 hrs | No |
| SX (Small Animal Exports) | 4 years |
3 | 10 hrs | No |
| PX (Product Exports) | 4 years | 3 | 10 hrs | No |
| AX (Avian Exports) | 4 years | 3 | 10 hrs | No |
| GX (Germinal Products Exports) | 4 years | 3 | 10 hrs | No |
What if I fail to revalidate a prerequisite OCQ(V)?
As OCQ(V) - ES is an essential requirement to act as an OV, the failure to revalidate this qualification will result in you losing all OV status, irrespective of what other OCQ(V)s you hold. The exception to this is vets holding only the OCQ(V) - CA qualification, as this is a self-contained qualification that does not require an OV to also hold the separate OCQ(V) - ES.
The same applies to OCQ(V)s requiring the OCQ(V) - EX qualification. Failure to revalidate this qualification will result in a vet losing OV status in any of the following qualifications: OCQ(V) - SX, OCQ(V) - UX, OCQ(V) - EQ, OCQ(V) - GX, OCQ(V) - AX and OCQ(V) - PX.
When can I enrol to revalidate?
You may enrol to revalidate at any time. You can complete the revalidation of OCQ(V) courses up to 6 months before the expiry date without changing your future revalidation date. For example, if your OCQ(V) - PX expires on the 31st March 2023 and you complete your revalidation at any time between the 1st October 2022 and the 31st March 2023 your next revalidation for this OCQ(V) will be reset to the 31st March 2027. However, if you complete the revalidation on the 30th September 2022, your next revalidation date will be set for the 30th September 2026.
The revalidation date is reset when you sign the revalidation declarations. This is the final step in the revalidation process. You can enrol on a revalidation course early and complete the course at a time to suit you. If you do not wish to bring forward your next revalidation date you can return to the course and complete the declarations in the 6-month window before the qualification expires.
Current OVs with ‘Grandfather Rights’ had their revalidation dates set from 1st April 2015, regardless of when they registered.
OCQ(V) revalidation requirements
Revalidation requires OVs to undertake a short online course. As a minimum, the process will incorporate the following elements relevant to the appropriate OCQ(V) work area:
- Maintenance of key skills: to ensure the ability to meet APHA, legal and professional requirements relevant to the role as a vet, OV and specific to the relevant OV work area. This includes reinforcement of health and safety, biosecurity, and certification principles, avoidance of conflicts of interest, and protection of animal welfare. It also includes the requirement for OVs to understand their responsibility to update/refresh their knowledge on a regular basis and as needed in response to legislative and procedural changes. Any current issues with OV performance will be addressed.
- Information sources: the requirement for accessing and ensuring familiarity with the location and content of Defra, GOV.UK, APHA, RCVS, legislation and other relevant websites as a source of documents, information and guidance directly related to OV work.
- Updating of knowledge and key skills crucial to role as an OV within the relevant OCQ(V)s being revalidated.
- Awareness of own performance: an element of self-reflection to provide evidence of ability to learn from adverse incidents, peer review of performance, customer feedback, etc.
- Assessment: to provide evidence of both knowledge and the ability to apply knowledge in order to meet the responsibilities and high standards of work expected of an OV within the relevant work area. This includes scenario-based aspects, incorporating problem solving and the opportunity for the OV to access OV Instructions and other information sources for its completion, reflecting APHA requirements for training outcomes.
It is important to note that much of your CPD will be relevant and can be counted towards more than one OCQ(V). Each revalidation course equates to 3 hours of CPD, and this should also be counted towards your total. Time spent on case logs and certification exercises completed for revalidation can also be counted as part of your CPD (no more than 1 hour per exercise).
The revalidation process does not contain a great deal of taught information compared to the full OCQ(V) but you are expected to complete case logs or scenario/certification exercises and to record relevant CPD undertaken. It is important that you are aware of this requirement and are able to access your own case log and CPD online folder, once registered. If you are unsuccessful with your revalidation, you will have an opportunity for two retakes before taking the full qualification again.
The price of each revalidation course is £99 plus VAT. It is important that you understand the minimum revalidation requirements to avoid unnecessarily paying a revalidation fee and then having to take the full OCQ(V) if you are unsuccessful.
OCQ(V) - TT Revalidation
In order to revalidate your OCQ(V) - TT you will be asked to declare that you have tested a minimum of 30 animals in the 4-year revalidation cycle.
You are no longer required to write case logs for the OCQ(V) - TT revalidation. Instead, you may choose to complete 3 scenario exercises. Information about these is in the revalidation course.
You will also be asked to confirm you have had a successful VDP or APHA audit (please see FAQs below for special arrangements in Scotland). This confirmation is part of the declarations you complete to finalise your revalidation. You are not required to provide evidence of an audit to Improve International but you should retain the relevant information for APHA, who may request it at any time. If you have not had an audit in the 4-year revalidation cycle, you may request a Peer Review from a colleague. The report of your Peer Review must be uploaded with your case logs/scenario exercises.
To arrange a Peer Review you should follow the process described below:
- ask a colleague to conduct a Peer Review of your testing
- nominate your Peer Reviewer through your OV Personal Training Dashboard
- conduct a TB test in the presence of your nominated Peer Reviewer
- upload your Peer Review pro forma with your scenario exercises/case logs
All the actions above must be completed before your revalidation due date to make it possible to sign the the revalidation declarations. Failure to achieve this will result in the automatic expiry of the OCQ(V) - TT qualification.
If you do not carry out sufficient testing of cattle to meet these requirements but need to maintain your OCQ(V) - TT, because of the geographic location of your practice or your specialisation in other species (e.g. zoo animals or pigs), please email CSC One Health OV Team (APHA). APHA will consider your special circumstances and decide if an exception to the minimum criteria can be made for you. This must be agreed before enrolling for revalidation. You can find further information by clicking here.
OCQ(V) - TTr (Tuberculin Testing revalidation) rules 2020 The revalidation interval for the OCQ(V) - TT is currently 3 years for those who last passed an OCQ(V) - TT exam before 31st January 2019, but will be set at 4 years following this round of revalidations. Requirements for revalidation: To comply with the testing requirements, the OV must:
To comply with the online course requirements, the OV must:
If you can’t comply with the testing requirements as specified above, you can apply to APHA as described below. This must be done at least one month before your revalidation due date. 1. Exemption (England and Wales) For OVs who haven’t tested 30 animals in the last 4 years. This exemption must be agreed with APHA (CSCOneHealthOVTeam@apha.gov.uk) in advance and a copy of the exemption agreement email must be uploaded to the case log section on the OV’s OCQ(V) - TTr training details page. This situation may also be handled with an extension if it will be possible for the OV to fulfil the requirements within an additional 6 months. To find out more about extensions, click here. In the case of this exemption, to comply with the revalidation requirements, the OV must:
2. Exemption (Scotland) For OVs working in Scotland and unable to test 30 animals in the last 4 years. This exemption must be agreed with APHA (CSCOneHealthOVTeam@apha.gov.uk) in advance and a copy of the exemption agreement email must be uploaded to the case log section on the OV’s OCQ(V) - TTr training details page. In the case of this exemption, to comply with the revalidation requirements, the OV must:
3. Exemption (Assessors/Auditors) For Assessors/Auditors who do not TB test. This exemption must be agreed with APHA (CSCOneHealthOVTeam@apha.gov.uk) in advance and a copy of the exemption agreement email must be uploaded to the case log section on the OV’s OCQ(V) - TTr training details page. The application must include a declaration that the Assessor/Auditor will not undertake any TB tests. In the case of this exemption, to comply with the revalidation requirements, the Assessor/Auditor must:
Any of the above who miss the revalidation date can apply to APHA to be suspended for up to 6 months after their revalidation deadline whilst they complete their revalidation. Extensions (England and Wales only) Granted at the discretion of APHA. Extensions must be agreed with APHA (CSCOneHealthOVTeam@apha.gov.uk) in advance and a copy of the extension agreement email must be uploaded to the case log section on the OV’s OCQ(V) - TTr training details page. Up to 6 months of additional time will be given. During this time the OV remains authorised (i.e. the revalidation date is moved forward). APHA may choose to grant an extension in the following cases:
|
If you are unsuccessful with your revalidation, you will have an opportunity for two retakes before having to take the full OCQ(V) again.
In addition, there will be spot check audits (Internal Verification) to ensure that the information being submitted at revalidation is correct and compliant. This will occur on an ongoing basis so it won’t delay the revalidation process, but if an OV or Peer Reviewer is found to have breached RCVS code it could have serious repercussions. In addition, if appropriate, APHA could withdraw your OV status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on the questions below to be taken to the corresponding answer. Alternatively, you can type your question or a key term into the box that appears when you click on the blue 'Help' button at the bottom right of the screen.
For more general questions that are not related to revalidation, please click here.
How will the recent changes to revalidation intervals affect me?
I have not received any information about revalidation; how do you let me know?
Will Improve send me reminders so I know when my revalidation is due?
Why do I have to pay? OV training used to be free.
I don’t use a computer. Is there another way to complete my revalidation?
What is the earliest date I can start the training?
Do I need to book time off work to do my revalidation?
How long is the revalidation training?
What happens if I do not revalidate?
I have decided not to revalidate. How do I stop the reminders?
I have enrolled on the wrong course. What should I do?
I have failed my revalidation exam. What happens now?
I was on my maternity leave/outside the UK during my revalidation due date. What do I do now?
When does the next revalidation date begin?
What if I’m late revalidating?
What if my qualification is expired and is also a prerequisite for other qualifications?
I use my TB testing qualification to test other species, not cattle. How do I revalidate this?
I have been told that photographs are required for the case logs. Is this true?
Do I need to upload a certificate to confirm an APHA or VDP audit?
Which species are covered by the OCQ(V) - UX course?
Do I need to be covering all species in my practice to be able to revalidate?
General:
How will the recent changes to revalidation intervals affect me?
Following a review of OCQ(V) training, APHA made the decision to standardise revalidation intervals to 4 years. This was a staged process. More information on the revalidation intervals can be found in the table here. The Briefing Note outlining the review and feedback can be seen here.
If you already hold a qualification, either through taking the OCQ(V) previously or inheriting the qualification through grandfather rights, you will keep your current revalidation date for this cycle.
For example:
…for OCQ(V) - TT awarded by grandfather rights in 2015:
- Registered before April 2015
- First revalidation 2017
- Second revalidation 2020
- Third revalidation 2024
…for OCQ(V) - TT passed on or before 31st January 2019 (the date the revalidation cycle changed from 3 to 4 years on completion of the full course or a revalidation):
- Keep latest revalidation cycle and complete revalidation by the due date
- Subsequent revalidations at 4-yearly intervals
…for OCQ(V) - TT passed after 31st January 2019:
- First revalidation 4 years from passing online exam
- Second revalidation 4 years from passing first revalidation exam and completing declarations
I have not received any information about revalidation; how do you let me know?
We will send you a number of emails as your revalidation date approaches, starting 6 months before the expiry date. It is your responsibility to ensure that all your registered information is kept up to date, including your unique personal email address, in order to receive the reminders. Please check that emails from Improve International are not being diverted to your spam folder.
Will Improve send me reminders so I know when my revalidation is due?
Yes, Improve will send all OVs regular reminders in the lead up to their revalidation dates. These will be sent to the email address registered on the database, so it is important that this address is one that is monitored and that it recognises the Improve International enquiries email address as a trusted address rather than diverting the reminders to your spam file. The first reminder will be sent 6 months before the expiry date of each qualification. All reminders go to the unique personal email address registered.
Please go to the main OV website at www.improve-ov.com and then log in to your Personal Training Dashboard. Click on the details of the relevant OCQ(V) and then click on ‘How do I revalidate?’. Once you pay you will gain access to course materials.
Each OCQ(V) costs £99 plus VAT to revalidate.
Why do I have to pay? OV training used to be free.
The training has never been free but it used to be subsidised by APHA. The training is no longer underwritten by Defra/APHA, hence there is a cost to cover the management of the database and the training and accreditation as well as telephone and email support.
I don’t use a computer. Is there another way to complete my revalidation?
Not at the moment. Government policy is ‘digital by default’. However, please do get in touch via our helpline (0330 202 0380) and our customer services team will endeavour to help you.
What is the earliest date I can start the training?
You may enrol to revalidate at any time. You can complete the revalidation of OCQ(V) courses up to 6 months before the expiry date without changing your future revalidation date.
For example, if your OCQ(V) - PX expires on the 31st March 2023 and you complete your revalidation at any time between the 1st October 2022 and the 31st March 2023, your next revalidation for this OCQ(V) will be reset to the 31st March 2027. However, if you complete the revalidation on the 30th September 2022, your next revalidation date will be set for the 30th September 2026.
The revalidation date is reset when you sign the revalidation declarations. This is the final step in the revalidation process. You can enrol on a revalidation course early and complete the course at a time to suit you. If you do not wish to bring forward your next revalidation date you can return to the course and complete the declarations in the 6-month window before the qualification expires.
You will need to ensure you have enough time to complete ALL the requirements before your expiry date.
I am worried that I might forget to return to the course to complete the declarations. Will I still get reminders?
Yes. Revalidation reminders will continue until you have completed the declarations.
Do I need to book time off work to do my revalidation?
Not necessarily. The training will all be online and can be accessed and studied at any time from anywhere; all you need is a computer with internet access.
How long is the revalidation training?
Whilst everyone studies at their own pace, the revalidation training is equivalent to 3 hours of CPD. Additional time spent completing case logs and certification exercises for a revalidation course can also be counted as part of your CPD (no more than 1 hour per exercise).
It is no longer appropriate for vets authorised to perform official functions to be trained once and then given minimal support for the rest of their careers. Procedures change, skills can be lost and it is important that vets are confident that their knowledge is up to date when they carry out an official function, not least to have a defence should something go wrong. Other professions have introduced revalidation and, while it may not be a requirement for many aspects of veterinary practice, it is considered essential for duties discharged on behalf of the Government in order to meet international standards. For this reason APHA has introduced a revalidation requirement for OCQ(V)s to provide assurance that OVs are maintaining and continuously improving their competence and applying the same to their work.
What happens if I do not revalidate?
If you do not complete revalidation within the permitted timeframe, your status will be expired by APHA. If this happens, you will be informed by email from APHA and you will not be allowed to use the OCQ(V). Once your status has expired, you will either have to apply to APHA for your status to be changed from 'expired' to 'suspended', and then complete the revalidation course within 6 months of the missed deadline, OR enrol on and pass the full OCQ(V) course to regain it. If you wish to appeal against your status being expired, you should contact CSC One Health OV Team (APHA), as the final decision rests with them. If you are aware of any exceptional or mitigating circumstances, it is worth contacting APHA as soon as possible to avoid the necessity to retrain.
I have decided not to revalidate. How do I stop the reminders?
If you have decided not to revalidate, please follow the below instructions:
- Log in to your Personal Training Dashboard
- Find the relevant course on the 'Overview' page and click 'Details'
- On the 'Training details' page, locate the 'Revalidation' section
- Tick the box that is labelled ‘If you DO NOT intend to revalidate this OCQ(V) when your revalidation is due, please check the box and click 'Update'
- Click the 'Update' button
This will stop the reminder emails and your OV status for this qualification will be expired on your revalidation due date.
I have enrolled on the wrong course. What should I do?
If you have enrolled on the wrong course, please contact Improve International by calling 0330 202 0380 or emailing enquiries@improve-ov.com.
I have failed my revalidation exam. What happens now?
You have two further attempts to pass the exam. There is an enforced 1-week study period between each retake. If during this time your revalidation date has passed you will be suspended by APHA until you pass the exam. Whilst suspended you can’t use this OCQ(V). If you fail on the third attempt your status for this qualification will be revoked and you will be required to take and pass the full course to regain your OV authorisation. If you would like feedback from ISVPS before you retake the exam, please contact them via email: enquiries@isvps.org.
I was on my maternity leave/outside the UK during my revalidation due date. What do I do now?
Please contact the APHA OV Team on 0208 026 1094 or via email at CSC One Health OV Team (APHA) to discuss further actions.
I am going on maternity leave/will be working outside Great Britain over my revalidation due date. What do I do now?
There is nothing to stop you from doing your revalidation from outside the country or from home. Courses are easy to access; all you need is internet connection to complete your online learning. Provided you can fulfil all the requirements you can also enrol and revalidate early.
When does the next revalidation date begin?
That depends on the qualification you are revalidating and when you took your last exam. Please see the information in the table above for the length of each revalidation cycle.
What if I’m late revalidating?
If you do not complete your revalidation by the due date, APHA will expire your OV status for the relevant qualification(s). You must then contact APHA to apply for your status to be changed from 'expired' to 'suspended', so that you can complete the revalidation course within 6 months of the missed deadline.
What if my qualification is expired and is also a prerequisite for other qualifications?
Until you regain your OCQ(V) status then you cannot use any of the other OCQ(V)s for which the expired qualification is a prerequisite, even if the other OCQ(V)s are still current.
Will the content of the revalidation courses change in light of EU Exit? If so, will I need to pay to get the new information?
The content of the courses is under constant review by the APHA and will be updated when required. In the interim, OVs will be notified of all updates through OV Briefing Notes and technical notices. This information will be added to the courses as it is published.
Once you are enrolled on a revalidation course you will continue to have access to the course material even when you have completed your revalidation. You will be able to return to the course to view any updates at no extra cost. New content will be highlighted and dated.
OCQ(V) - TT revalidation
My OCQ(V) - TT revalidation will be due soon but I will be away on maternity leave. What will happen?
If you can fulfil all the requirements of the revalidation it is possible for you to revalidate before or during your maternity leave. If you are not able to do this you should contact the APHA OV Team by emailing CSC One Health OV Team (APHA). The full details of how APHA will manage exceptional/varied circumstances are on APHA's Vet Gateway – to view these, please click here.
I live in a very low TB testing area but need to retain my TB testing qualification. What can I do about this?
If you have not tested 30 animals in the 4 year revalidation cycle due to the region in which you work, you should contact the APHA OV Team by emailing CSC One Health OV Team (APHA). The full details of how APHA will manage exceptional/varied circumstances are on APHA's Vet Gateway – to view these, please click here.
I use my TB testing qualification to test other species, not cattle. How do I revalidate this?
You should contact the APHA OV Team by emailing CSC One Health OV Team (APHA), and provide them with details of the TB work that you undertake. They will then consider the information provided and if your case is accepted you will be asked to provide alternative case logs that are relevant to your work. The full details of how APHA will manage exceptional/varied circumstances are on APHA's Vet Gateway – to view these, please click here.
I have heard that there is the option to complete set scenario exercises instead of writing case logs for TT revalidation. Is this true?
Yes. You will find a selection of scenario exercises and the guidance notes in the revalidation course.
I have been told that photographs are required for the case logs. Is this true?
No, you do not have to provide photographs. Photographs are one form of evidence but screenshots from Sam, scans of farm worklists or a table providing all the relevant details are also acceptable and often provide better evidence.
Do I need to upload a certificate to confirm an APHA or VDP audit?
No, you are not required to upload a certificate. You will be asked for a declaration that is supported by your MRCVS number. However, you should retain any relevant information as it may be requested by APHA at any time.
Other OCQ(V)s
I have the CA, ES, EX and SX qualifications awarded by grandfather rights. I only work with companion animals. Do I need to revalidate all these qualifications?
If you do not do any commercial small animal export work – such as the export of small zoo or laboratory animals – you only need the stand-alone OCQ(V) - CA qualification, so this is the only one that you need to revalidate.
Alternatively, if you do undertake export of zoo or laboratory animals or similar, you should revalidate OCQ(V) - ES, OCQ(V) - EX and OCQ(V) - SX. These also cover the work of OCQ(V) - CA, so you do not need this as well. Please see the FAQs page of this website for more information on the CA and SX qualifications.
I currently hold the ES, EX and SX qualifications but I would like to revalidate CA instead. Is this possible?
If you currently hold the OCQ(V) - SX (Small Animal Exports) and relevant prerequisite courses – OCQ(V) - ES and OCQ(V) - EX – and you wish to complete the OCQ(V) - CA (Companion Animals) revalidation instead, you may do this if it meets the requirements of the work you carry out. Please email enquiries@improve-ov.com or phone 0330 202 0380 to request this transfer. Please note that should you complete the OCQ(V) - CAr and then wish to hold the OCQ(V) - SX qualification again in the future, you will have to complete the full OCQ(V) - SX course, along with any prerequisites that are not already held.
I have failed my revalidation exam for OCQ(V) - ES and I have now passed my revalidation date. How will this affect my OV status?
You cannot do any OV work until you have regained your OCQ(V) - ES, as OCQ(V) - ES is a prerequisite for all the other OCQ(V)s.
(Please note: this does not apply to OCQ(V) - CA, which is a stand-alone qualification and does not require OCQ(V) - ES)
I have failed my revalidation exam for OCQ(V) - EX and I have now passed my revalidation date. How does this affect my OV work?
You will not be able to do any OV work for which OCQ(V) - EX is a prerequisite, until you have regained your OCQ(V) - EX status. This includes the SX, UX, EQ, AX, PX and GX qualifications.
Equine
I have grandfather rights to OCQ(V) - UX but only do equine work. Can I revalidate the OCQ(V) - EQ instead of OCQ(V) - UX?
Yes. You can choose the EQ course instead of the UX course at revalidation. You will still require OCQ(V) - ES and OCQ(V) - EX as prerequisites. Please call the office on 0330 202 0380 or email enquiries@improve-ov.com with your request.
Which species are covered by the OCQ(V) - UX course?
The OCQ(V) - UX course covers all ungulate species (farm animals, horses and zoo ungulates).
Do I need to be covering all species in my practice to be able to revalidate?
No, you can revalidate the OCQ(V) - UX even if you work with only one of the species covered by the qualification.
APHA's OV Instructions have moved and are now hosted by Improve International. They can be accessed using the links below:
Counts of OVs Authorised by APHA in GB
START A NEW OCQ(V)
REVALIDATE
ONLINE LEARNING SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE
Registered users:
