VCI News
Jul 9, 2025
The Veterinary Council of Ireland is undertaking a periodic review of Standards of Accreditation for Programmes of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Nursing in Ireland, and we welcome your feedback on the proposed standards of accreditation. As the statutory regulator for veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in Ireland, the Veterinary Council (‘the Council’) is entrusted in law as the competent authority to set and periodically review standards for accreditation programmes of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing.
Accreditation standards ensure best practice and professionalism in the programmes of education for our students, to ground and support high standards in the practise of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in Ireland, to the benefit of animal health and welfare, public health, and food safety in the public interest. Veterinary Council accredited programmes of education enable eligibility to access the registers of veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses in Ireland.
In anticipation of growth in veterinary education, and the prospect of new education providers, programmes, and delivery models, the Council is reviewing its current standards for accreditation to ensure these reflect best practice and align with the One Health approach, recognising the important interconnectivity between animal, human and environmental health. The Council considers stakeholder input essential to ensure VCI standards meet evolving professional needs and societal expectations of the veterinary professions into the future.
Consultation on the revised standards (available via the links below) runs from 1 July to 11 September 2025.
2025 Draft Accreditation Standards for Veterinary Medicine
The Council welcomes written submissions to info@vci.ie from any party on the proposed revised accreditation standards for programmes of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing. All feedback and submissions received as part of this public consultation will be collated and used to inform further revisions for these revised standards of accreditation.
