Vet attendance courses
Vet Nurse attendance courses
Vet Support Staff courses
All attendance courses
Certificate Programmes
Academies
On-Demand
Do you dread seeing rabbits in practice? If so, you’re not alone. Despite rabbits being the third most common pet in the UK, we don’t tend to see them as much as dogs and cats, so gaining familiarity with their treatment is more challenging. And as a prey species, they often hide symptoms, so by the time we see them they can be seriously unwell making diagnosis and treatment complicated.
Rabbit Awareness Week falls later on in June, so this month we’ve put together some resources to help you overcome your fears and treat your rabbit patients with confidence! Our ‘how-to’ guides with exotics expert Sonya Miles below cover everything from how to correctly tape in an IV cannula to a step-by-step approach to a difficult rabbit ovariohysterectomy, and our On-Demand portal has a huge range of rabbit related learning series. Or why not join our Rabbit Dentistry course in Swindon in September, or our Advanced Care for Rabbits in Practice in‑person course in London in October to expand your expertise in rabbit medicine and tackle more challenging cases with confidence?
Rabbit ‘how-to’ guides
How to Give a Subcutaneous Injection in a Rabbit
How to Give Oral Medications to a Rabbit
How to Place an Intravenous Cannula in a Rabbit
How to use an Inhaler with a Rabbit
How to Correctly Apply Rearguard to a Rabbit
How to Use the “Bunny Burrito” Technique to Restrain a Rabbit
How to Trim Rabbits’ Nails
How to Intubate a Rabbit
How to Perform Gentle Physiotherapy in a Rabbit with a Head Tilt
The Post Operative Care of a Partial Ear Canal Ablation and Lateral Bulla Osteotomy in a Rabbit
How to Take a Saphenous Blood Sample in a Rabbit
How to Syringe Feed Rabbits
How to Sex Rabbits
How to Flush Tear Ducts in Rabbits
The Post Operative Care of a Lateral Ear Canal Resection
A Complicated Rabbit Spay
We’re delighted to announce that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has approved the new ISVPS General Practitioner Certificate Advanced Practitioner Route (GPCert (APR)) in Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery under its updated postgraduate accreditation framework. This means the certificate is now officially recognised as an eligible route for vets applying for RCVS Advanced Practitioner status.
This marks a significant milestone for ISVPS and Improve Veterinary Education, as it is the first time one of its certificate programmes has been accredited directly by the RCVS without the need for a university‑awarded Postgraduate Certificate (PgC). The change introduces a more streamlined and accessible pathway for clinicians working towards Advanced Practitioner recognition.
To learn more, visit Improve Veterinary Education
Many vets reach a point where general practice feels both rewarding and demanding, and some begin exploring postgraduate training as a way to deepen their skills or shift their caseload. A certificate won’t make you an RCVS Specialist, but it can support routes such as Advanced Practitioner status, referral work, or simply focusing more on the areas you enjoy. Before committing, it’s worth taking a step back to consider whether further qualifications genuinely fit your goals, capacity, and career stage.
Postgraduate study is a significant undertaking, and it isn’t the right next step for everyone. Remaining a GP is a perfectly valid long‑term path, and many vets thrive without additional letters after their name. It can help to think about how a qualification might influence your career direction, job satisfaction, and work-life balance. If you’re unsure, a conversation with a CPD advisor or mentor can help clarify whether a certificate aligns with what you want professionally and personally.
Looking for a new challenge?
You may be ready to take on further study if you’ve reached a point where day‑to-day practice feels comfortable and you’re looking for something that stretches you again. Many vets find that once the steep early learning curve settles, they start wanting more challenge and structure in their development.
Imposter syndrome can also play a role. Many vets experience persistent self‑doubt despite being highly capable. While a qualification isn’t a cure‑all, the process of studying, receiving feedback, and achieving a recognised milestone can help reinforce confidence and quieten that internal voice.
Another sign is a growing desire to shift your caseload. If routine consults feel repetitive and you’re increasingly drawn to more complex cases, postgraduate training can help you build the skills and confidence to take on the work you find most engaging.
Finding yourself browsing job ads?
Some vets notice the feeling when they start browsing job adverts without a clear reason. Often, this isn’t about wanting to leave a practice – it’s about wanting progression, direction, or a new sense of purpose. Structured study can sometimes provide that next step without needing to change workplace.
Finally, timing matters. Certificates require consistent study over many months, and it’s important to be realistic about whether you can commit the hours needed for teaching, revision, and any practical components. If you can carve out regular time – and maintain it – you’re likely in a good position to begin.
Postgraduate training isn’t essential for every vet, but for many it becomes a valuable and motivating part of their career journey. If you feel the signs resonate with you, why not take a look at our veterinary postgraduate certificates delivered by Improve Veterinary Education? Or if you feel you’d like to talk it through more, schedule a free call with our friendly trained CPD advisors, to help you decide if now is the right time to take the next step.
In January, we delivered a bespoke practical OSCE revision workshop for 26 student veterinary nurses at the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) in Northern Ireland.
Led by an experienced examiner, the session was carefully designed to demonstrate VetSkill tasks while giving delegates the opportunity to practise the areas where they needed the most support.
Through a combination of hands-on demonstrations, personalised guidance, and open discussion, students were able to build both confidence and competence across key topics, including anaesthesia, theatre practice, and pharmacy and dispensing.
We were delighted to hear that, of the 17 students who have already sat their exams, 16 have successfully passed – a fantastic result that reflects both the students’ hard work and the value of targeted, practical training.
Claire Morris, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Nursing at CAFRE, said:
“This event was delivered to a high standard. Our students found it informative and a huge help at the final stage of preparing for their OSCE examinations. We hope to continue this support as a yearly event.”
The feedback from delegates was equally positive:
“Enjoyed the session – relaxed but informative lecturers who made the tasks seem easy. They were willing to cover and explain anything. A really helpful and useful day.”
“Very good day – it put my mind at ease before exams.”
This workshop is just one example of the many bespoke CPD and training days we deliver for practices and organisations, including the British Army and the Blue Cross. Each session is tailored to meet the specific needs of the team, ensuring relevant, practical learning that makes a real difference.
If your organisation is looking for a bespoke CPD package, or you’d prefer to host training at your own premises, we can help. We offer flexible options, including on-site delivery or sessions at our dedicated training venues.
Find out more and get in touch to discuss your requirements and discover how tailored CPD can support your team.
The number of imported dogs testing positive for Brucella canis continues to rise – and increasingly, cases are being reported in dogs with no travel history. What was once considered an exotic concern is now firmly on the UK radar.
Our timely learning series with Ian Wright explores ways to approach Brucella canis testing and case management in a measured, practical and proportionate way. Rather than fuelling unnecessary alarm, this series will help you develop a calm, evidence-based strategy to protect both canine and human health.
As surveillance becomes increasingly important for this emerging pathogen, practices are faced with difficult decisions:
-
Which dogs genuinely warrant testing?
-
How should we interpret results responsibly?
-
What is the most appropriate way to manage positive cases?
-
How do we communicate zoonotic risk without creating panic?
The series will equip you with the confidence to answer these questions clearly and consistently.
A broader perspective on imported dogs
The videos also place Brucella canis into the wider context of screening imported dogs for exotic parasites and pathogens. By refining your approach to risk assessment, testing protocols and client communication, you can build robust systems that are proportionate, defensible and practical.
Topics covered
-
Identifying risk factors and selecting dogs for testing
-
Interpreting test results and understanding their limitations
-
Practical case management and infection control
-
Zoonotic risk and communicating effectively with owners
-
Broader screening considerations in imported dogs
Whether you are seeing increasing numbers of imported dogs in practice or simply want to ensure your protocols are up to date, this two-hour CPD series offers practical guidance you can implement immediately.
Watch now to stay ahead of this emerging exotic threat with clarity, confidence and calm.
We’re delighted to be attending the 2026 BDVA Congress on 27th and 28th February with Improve Veterinary Education.
The congress spans two days and features two streams – ‘essential’ and ‘advanced’ – catering to vet professionals at every level.
Some of the highlights include:
- Electrochemotherapy for oral tumours with Luca Schiavo
- Mission (Not) Impossible: Tackling Mandibular Canine Extractions and Their Complications with Joanna Pakula
- Feline Vital Pulp Therapy with Ingrid Tundo
- How to do safe and effective intra-oral nerve blocks with Morten Skanse Hinge
The Friday afternoon keynote, “Anaesthesia Considerations for Brachycephalics” by Fran Downing, completes the programme, and there is also an ethics panel, a live recording of the podcast ‘Pulp (non)Fiction’, and the BVDA AGM.
Visit our stand to discover the full range of dentistry short courses, certificates and online learning series on offer – and take advantage of exclusive discounts available only at the congress!
Registration is now available, with non-member rates set at £200 per day. You can find the complete congress programme here and register here.
We’ve all got areas we feel less comfortable with – the cases we dread, which always seem to come in at the worst possible time. Emergency and critical care is just one example – most of us aren’t ECC specialists, and when emergency cases arrive they often need immediate care. There usually isn’t much time to calculate fluid rates, so we default to something familiar, like 2x maintenance. But did you know that IV fluids should be prescribed as a dose and continually reassessed?
When planning CPD, it can be tempting to avoid these topics. However, CPD is far more effective when it’s built around genuine learning needs. By choosing an area you feel less confident in, you’re far better prepared when that 5pm Friday night emergency comes through the door.
We’ve recently launched our Deep Dive learning series, which fits this approach perfectly. Bringing together curated content from multiple expert speakers, each series is structured to take you from core concepts through to practical application and advanced insight within a single discipline. They’re also ideal for those who are simply curious about a topic, or who want to test the waters before committing to a full certificate programme.
This depth makes post-CPD reflection more meaningful. Instead of asking “what did I watch?”, you can ask “what will I do differently?” – whether that’s refining diagnostics, adjusting treatment plans or approaching cases with greater confidence.
Find out more about our range of Deep Dive learning series.
If you’re an independent veterinary practice, you’ll no doubt be very aware of the increasingly stiff competition facing the sector from corporate veterinary providers, with their buying power, centralised support services, career development programmes, and ever-expanding service offering, leaving independent practices feeling outmatched and unable to compete.
This disparity is highlighted, especially in the current recruitment climate, by the growing challenge of competing with corporate veterinary practices when recruiting graduate vets. With corporate groups offering welcome bonuses, structured graduate programmes and more defined career paths, independent practices may often be left feeling at a significant disadvantage.
However, with the right approach, independent practices can still be well positioned within the graduate recruitment market.
One way to compete is by highlighting the advantages of working at an independent practice and showcasing their unique benefits. Independent practices can often be more nurturing of new graduates, with less pressure to meet financial targets and more emphasis on clinical skills, confidence and support.
They are also more likely to be able to offer a flexible working schedule, which may be appealing to young graduates who are looking for more balance between their career and personal life.
There may be a lower staff turnover at independent clinics, leading to a more cohesive team culture, the opportunity to develop closer relationships with clients and their patients and the increased likelihood of the practice playing an active part in the local community. This can really help new graduates feel connected and fulfilled, with positive impacts on both their professional and social life.
Increasingly, veterinary graduates may be attracted to the idea of working in an environment where they will have more autonomy, and the shorter chain of command found within independent practices can help with implementing changes quickly.
If possible, building relationships with veterinary schools to offer EMS opportunities can also allow independent practices to create an environment of collaboration and foster a long-term pipeline of talent.
And finally, although independent practices may not be able to offer centrally managed new graduate support, they can develop attractive benefits packages which can really stack up against the corporate graduate programmes. Our comprehensive one-year Vet Graduate Academy is designed to equip new vets with not only solid clinical knowledge, but also help a successful transition to the practice environment, increase business awareness, team working skills and professional confidence.
With four full days of hands-on practical training in dentistry, ultrasound and surgery, regular specialist-led case discussions, a structured EPA-based 50-hour online training programme and unlimited access to our On-Demand portal of over 2,000 CPD videos, we’re your ideal partner for recruiting and fully supporting graduates in their first year in practice. And with a choice of online and in-person packages, and completely flexible start dates, there’s an academy to suit every graduate and practice. Find out more
Vet Graduate Academy Gold Package
We are delighted to announce the merger of Improve International and Central CPD, two of the UK’s foremost providers of veterinary post graduate education.
This partnership marks an exciting new chapter for veterinary education, bringing together Improve International’s global reach and postgraduate qualification programmes with Central CPD’s flexible, practitioner-led Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training and strong digital learning infrastructure.
Across the UK and beyond, the business will be able to offer a range of industry leading CPD courses: from hands-on practical training to flexible online learning, all tailored to meet the evolving needs of veterinary professionals at every stage of their career. The combined faculty of leading veterinary specialists, experienced educators, and dedicated support staff will ensure the highest quality learning experience across all formats.
Improve International and Central CPD share the same commitment to advancing veterinary education and this merger will allow the business to accelerate innovation, ensuring it stays at the cutting edge of clinical education, technology, and professional development methodologies.
“This merger represents a significant step forward in our mission to support veterinary professionals at every stage of their careers,” said Heber Alves, CEO of Improve International, speaking on behalf of the new partnership. “Together, we are better positioned to meet the growing and evolving CPD needs of practices and individuals across the UK.”
Jo Hillard, Managing Director of Central CPD added “I started Central CPD after I developed a passion for CPD whilst completing a GPCert with Improve, so it is great to come full circle over 15 years later and be able to combine the strengths of both businesses to deliver more comprehensive, flexible learning opportunities for veterinary professionals across the UK and beyond.”
Many of us struggle with confidence in echocardiography, often because there’s limited opportunity for hands-on practise until we’re faced with a real patient. And as we all know, pets can be unpredictable – they don’t understand the need to stay still during a scan, and they can easily get distressed, adding to the complexity of the echocardiogram procedure. Different species and breeds bring additional challenges, with variations in heart size, shape, and position requiring us to have a broad, adaptable understanding of cardiac anatomy to get the images we need.
Thankfully, advances in virtual reality training are creating safer, more effective ways for us to learn, benefiting both vets and our patients. VR helps us build motor skills, refine techniques, and master probe orientation for accurate views using real echo images, including those with clinical pathologies, all in a low-pressure, stress-free setting. This kind of immersive practice builds muscle memory, giving us the precision and skill we need to feel confident handling real patients.
VR platforms often provide instant feedback as well, showing the effects of each movement, angle, and probe position. This feedback loop speeds up learning, allowing us to correct mistakes in the moment and build confidence through repetition – without any risk to an animal.
At Central CPD, we’re excited to launch our new Virtual Echocardiography Training Programme, available to hire for use within your practice. The package includes the VR kit for a week, along with tutorials, over five hours of online training, and 20% off our Practical Echocardiography attendance course in Central London. Find out more and book on our website.