Info about Cert AVP please

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

sarah mason — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:26:07 GMT

I bought some of the books 2nd hand on amazon and sold them on again once I'd done it. Also used articles from the free vet papers, in practice etc. It does take a lot of time 150 hours is a good estimate. I managed to get through about 5 essays on a week off and squeezed the rest in on weekends/evenings. Good luck

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

elizabethellison — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 12:46:54 GMT

Thank you so much for all your replies, really helpful.

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

Rob Reid — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 10:20:05 GMT

I have done Module A with the RVC and am doing Module B at present.

The reading list is a guide really, I didn't buy any of the texts and I found some of them in my local council library. I did use the Shilcock and Stutchfield book as suggested in previous post - my practice has this, I think you can get it for about £30 . ATHENS access however was invaluable - I would definitley recommend you pay the extra to get this, couldn't have done Module A without it.

Time-wise, it took my about 8 months to complete the 10 essays for Module A, though probably could have done it quicker if I'd knuckled down a bit more. Have taken 3 months off it and am just starting back on Module B now.

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

Camilla Edwards — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 09:33:08 GMT

Hi,

I have a two year old and am due to have my second baby in May. I work part time too at the moment. I'm doing my CertAVP with RVC, I do most of my reading online - in practice, vet record, jsap, being invaluable and using athens. My husband is a doctor doing research so he can often access the odd article I need but I can't access! I have also bought the odd book on amazon, and then resold it when I'm done with it, but have kept hold of Veterinary Practice Management M. Shilcock and G. Stutchfield, as that has been useful for most essays in Module A. I've nearly finished Module A, but am concentrating a bit more on Module B while I am still at work because you need cases for them! And I will finish Module A when on maternity leave. I put aside a morning a week where my daughter is in nursery but I'm not at work. It is expensive (I am funding myself) and time consuming, but I find it very rewarding too. (Don't forget you can claim tax back on it though even if you're PAYE, I'm trying to figure this out myself at the moment).

It is possible I hope!

Camilla

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

Mark Hedberg — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 07:39:06 GMT

BSAVA's doing a PGCert SAS and PGCert SAM (small animal surgery and medicine, respectively) from January 2012, for instance. It will be RCVS recognized, and theoretically one day a month.

3 years, their plan is.

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

Jillian Hall — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:52:43 GMT

I would agree with it being very very time intensive. It took me 2 years (and lord knows how many hours) to complete A/B and I've been trudging through the C modules for another 2 years. I joined with VetLearning and Middlesex uni as the guinea pig / pilot group so I would like to think that a lot of the inefficiencies with my group have been improved upon. (I think only 3 out of the original 40 or so have managed to finish in the space of 5 years).

I didn't have a set reading list to contend with but I'm sure all the providers are different in many respects. It might be worth 'shopping around' to see whose course structure best meets your needs.

I don't think working part time will be too much of a handicap as long as you can make an effort to be involved with 'practice projects' and the non-clinical side of things.

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

Emma Howarth — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 22:02:09 GMT

Hi Liz,

I'm doing my Cert AVP with the RVC. Have completed the A and B Modules and now doing my medicine C modules. I have two young children and work two part-time jobs, so yes, it is possible but it does take up a lot of time. I'm finding with all the modules that it takes me a lot longer than the number of hours suggested, but hopefully I'll get there eventually!

For module A, I managed to borrow some of the books on the reading list. Bought one, then resourced what similar texts I could find in the local library for the rest. I don't live anywhere near a Vet School library, but this would make life a lot easier if you do. A huge amount of my research for articles was done online, so the Athens login which comes with the online support is very useful. A lot of the Module A work is about reflecting on your own personal experiences.

Good luck

Emma

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

Stuart Fitzgerald — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:22:54 GMT

It is quite time-consuming, I'd estimate I spent close to a hundred hours on Module A. I found The Five Minute Practice Management Consult invaluable. Beyond that I used what resources I could access online, particularly In Practice. It also took a couple of marathon copying sessions in the library. Genuinely educational and rewarding though even though I thought the whole module looked beyond tedious when I first approached it.

Re: Info about Cert AVP please

Mark Hedberg — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 21:16:21 GMT

I've got a colleague working on the CertAVP; she seems to live on the computer. The RCVS certificates appear (to me) to be very time intensive. Not sure that fits in with kids.