How To Find Veterinary Locum Jobs In The UK Through A Veterinary Recruitment Agency

There is veterinary locum work in the UK if you are suitably qualified and know how to find it: finding it is easy if you know how to, and the qualifications should not be a problem for you if you are qualified to work as a veterinary surgeon in the UK, or your own country if you are a foreign national seeking work in the UK. However, let's first resolve any concerns you have about immigration.

Immigration Concerns

According to current immigration law, you will be granted a skilled worker permit and be allowed to remain in the UK for the shortest of three years and one month or whatever time is stipulated on your permit. You can reapply after that period, and this applies to a number of categories, of which skilled worker shortage is one of them. Veterinary work is included in that definition, so you will have no problem with coming into the country if you have applied for and been accepted for veterinary locum work in the UK.

Veterinary Qualifications

The qualification aspect is simple: you must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in order to practice veterinary surgery in the UK - even as locum from overseas. This is not imposed by the RCVS but by UK statutory law.

If you are a graduate from any recognized veterinary college within the UK, then you qualify for membership. Graduates from EU colleges also qualify along with those from EU Accession Countries, and others such as the USA and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and South Africa.

You will also qualify if you have passed the statutory RCVS membership examination. If you are unsure, contact the RCVS and ask them if you are qualified for membership.

Experience Required for Veterinary Locum Work in the UK

In order to work as locum you will be expected to work without supervision, so new graduates would not be suitable. A minimum of two years is generally regarded as acceptable, though it is up to the individual practice what degree of experience or even specialization they require. For example, a locum working for a Newmarket practice whose primary work is with racehorses would be expected to have experience in equine work, and preferable with thoroughbred horses.

It is very important that you are honest with your prospective employer regarding your experience, since you could otherwise find yourself in an untenable position that could generate a great deal of friction between you and your employer and colleagues. There is sufficient veterinary locum work in the UK to suit all levels of experience, and therefore no need to lie to land a position.

In times of crisis, such as the last foot and mouth outbreak, you might finds it easier to find locum work with less experience, and while much of this would be helping your employer deal with the crisis, much of it might also be to look after the day to day work of the practice, while the more experienced carried out government or local authority work in treating, sampling and containing the outbreak.

Finding Veterinary Locum Work in the UK

Whether you will find it easy or difficult to find veterinary locum work in the UK depends upon the areas in which you are willing to work and the amount of veterinary work available. The aforesaid foot and mouth crisis resulted in a great deal of locum work being available, but if you want to remain in the UK for three years or more, you will need more than just that type of occasional work.

There is a lot of competition for locum work in and around London, but if you are prepared to travel to the northern areas of England and Wales or example, or to Scotland, you might find veterinary locum work available that could lead, not only to work for your 37 months, but also to a permanent job offer enabling you to apply for permanent residency in the UK.

Where to Find Veterinary Locum Work

Veterinary locum work in the UK can be found online from websites specializing in locum and permanent veterinary placements. In order to register with such a site you will need to provide the usual personal details, your education and qualifications, and your veterinary experience. You must also be registered with the RCVS of course, but by registering, you will likely find a large number of positions that are suited to your experience and expertise.

You will also find adverts published privately in publications such as The Veterinary Times, but by being registered with an online veterinary employment service in the UK you will receive help and advice with getting your visa, how to make sure you are suitably qualified and many are also employment exchanges, in which you can advertise your availability while the practices advertise their requirements.

Whatever method you use, you should be able to find veterinary locum work in the UK to suit you if you are a member of the RCVS or have passed its examination, and have the appropriate visa allowing you to reside in the UK. Online employment sites are recommended, since they have the widest reach throughout the UK.