Accreditation and Standards

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) is responsible for accrediting higher education programmes in veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing within Ireland. The VCI not only establishes the standards for these education and training programmes but also accredits and regularly reviews them to ensure that they consistently meet the highest levels of quality. Annual reporting for currently accredited training programmes is also carried out against the accreditation standards. Education and training standards set by the VCI are designed to align with both national and European requirements, supporting the development of highly qualified veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses in the State, and enhancing the standard of veterinary care and education across Ireland, in the interest of animal health and welfare, and public health.

Consultation on Draft Accreditation Standards 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

2025 Draft Accreditation Standards for Veterinary Nursing

 

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.

Accreditation Standards for Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Nursing Programmes

Accreditation standards are specific criteria used to assess the quality and effectiveness of veterinary education and training. These standards evaluate key areas of a training programme such as curriculum content, clinical training opportunities, faculty expertise, facility resources, and graduate outcomes (“Day One Competencies”). By setting these benchmarks, accreditation ensures that accredited programmes provide the skills and knowledge required for the delivery of high-quality veterinary care in the State. This process helps maintain consistency in veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing education, ensuring programmes align with both national and European standards and instilling confidence in students, employers, and the public regarding the qualifications of veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses practising in the State.

Accreditation standards are regularly reviewed by the VCI to ensure they stay relevant and responsive to changes in professional practices, technological advancements, and educational approaches.

The accreditation standards for higher education programmes in veterinary medicine were last reviewed by the VCI in 2020.  (Accreditation Standards)

The accreditation standards for higher education programmes in veterinary nursing were last reviewed by the VCI in 2022. (Accreditation Standards)

Accreditation of Undergraduate Programmes of Education

Professional accreditation is distinct from academic accreditation

Professional accreditation for any profession is a judgment as to whether a programme prepares one for entry into that profession. It is distinct from academic accreditation, which is based on the suitability of a programme for award of a degree/diploma by the awarding academic institution. Professional accreditation is distinguished by the existence of standards that are specific to the profession, these standards and day one competencies having been defined in consultation with stakeholders.

Graduates of accredited programmes eligible to join the VCI Register

Professional accreditation by the Veterinary Council affords an opportunity for Higher Education institutions to demonstrate that they are providing quality programmes of veterinary education which are designed and delivered in line with the Veterinary Council’s professional accreditation standards.

Programmes of education in veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing accredited by the Veterinary Council afford eligibility to the graduates of such programmes, to join the register of Veterinary Practitioners and Veterinary Nurses. Accreditation ensures that students are undergoing programmes of study that fulfil the essential knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to begin their professional careers competently.

A panel of experts, national and international, across disciplines such as public health, food safety, veterinary practice, research and education, will be appointed by the Veterinary Council to undertake accreditation visitations to programmes of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing education.

Accreditation of new programmes determined only once first cohort of students complete the programme

Accreditation is a thorough process that involves reviewing the entire education programme—from start to finish. The Council must assess the programme’s learning outcomes and assessments in full in the cycle of the programme. Accordingly, full accreditation may only be granted once the first cohort of students have completed the cycle of the programme, allowing the Council to assess the programme’s learning outcomes and assessments in full throughout the cycle of the programme.

New programmes of education may obtain determination of accreditation status once the first cohort of students complete and graduate the programme. Thus, accreditation status for any new programme of education of veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing cannot guarantee accreditation status for the early cohorts of students.

New programmes of veterinary medicine will be subject to an preliminary accreditation visit in year one, three and five of the programme. The full accreditation visit in year five of a new programme of veterinary medicine will determine the status of the programme, and whether it is suitable to be accredited for the graduates of the programme to gain eligibility to the Veterinary Council register.

The Veterinary Council will engage with any new applicant programmes of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing following application by the applicant programme for Veterinary Council accreditation to seek reasonable assurance prior to enrolment of any students, however, potential students must appreciate that such programmes bear an inherent risk in relation to accreditation status which can only be determined as the first cohort of students graduate the programme.

Accreditation Reports

In accordance with the Veterinary Council of Ireland’s (VCI) accreditation procedures, we are required to review veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing programmes of education and training at intervals not exceeding five years. Following each review, the accreditation team produces a report. Once the recommendations in the report are approved by the Veterinary Council, the reports are published online.

You can view the published accreditation reports below.

The VCI has accredited veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing programmes provided by the following institutions: ( Accredited Reports)

Accredited Veterinary Medicine Programmes:

Accredited Veterinary Nursing Programmes: