Introductory Certificate in Veterinary Medicines

The Introductory Certificate in veterinary medicines (updated in 2025) is a general introduction providing essential knowledge about veterinary medicines. It consists of two must do! modules for anyone in the practice who has any dealings with medicines. Invaluable for anyone who is working with medicines for the first time or is new to UK practice. It is made up of one unit:

What do the modules cover?

• Module 1 Making sense of medicines, includes:

  • Medicines regulation - why is it needed?

  • What is a veterinary medicine?

  • Medicines used for food-production animals

  • Medicines use in horses

  • Products that appear to be medicines but are not

  • Brands and generics

  • Know the functions of the VMD and NOAH

• Module 2 Roles and responsibilities, includes

  • Who can prescribe/supply veterinary medicines

  • Medicine reclassifications

  • Controlled Drugs

  • What is prescribing?

  • The prescribing cascade

  • What is dispensing?

  • Qualifications and knowledge resources

How long does it take? The Introductory Certificate takes around 90 minutes (1.5 hours) to complete.

What will the practice and individual gain? The Introductory Certificate ensures everyone in the team knows how to handle medicines legally. On completion of the Unit (consisting of two modules) the participant will receive a printed certificate and the associated badge to identify the achievement. The Certificate can contribute to the individual’s CPD. There is a charge of £10 (+ vat) for each participant pursuing the Introductory Certificate in Veterinary Medicines. A practice subscription to Veterinary Prescriber is required.