Join the most comprehensive surgery program in Australia!
Covering both soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery, this two-year program will give you the skills to perform surgical procedures with confidence. Whether you want to advance your surgical skills, refresh knowledge of common procedures, or delve into more advanced surgeries, this program has you covered.
The program offers a balance of online theory and face to face practical training, allowing you to study at your own pace online and consolidate your knowledge during intensive surgery workshops.
Get hands-on skills, fast, with 10 days of Specialist-led practical training. This is the ONLY surgical program in Australia and New Zealand offering such extensive, practical training. These two, five-day practical blocks are run at the world class training facilities at the University of Queensland, Gatton.
Places are strictly limited. We keep our group sizes small to ensure that each one of our delegates has plenty of hands-on training and time with the Specialist and Tutors delivering the practical component of the program. In addition, this program is only available every two years, so the next opportunity to join would be in February 2027. For these reasons, we strongly recommend enrolling early to avoid disappointment.
Please be aware that minimum delegate numbers are required for this program to run in Australia.
This program is accredited with the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS) meaning you can work towards the following globally-recognised qualifications while you study:
General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert)
By attending the full online structured program and following successful assessment, including an exam, you can gain a General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert) awarded by the ISVPS.
Postgraduate Certificate (PgC)
A route to a PgC is available through our partnership with Harper Adams University (HAU). The PgC is a recognised higher education qualification demonstrating that you have achieved the required standard within a designated subject. Additional assessments will be necessary to apply for this route.
Please note that ISVPS registration and examination fees are not included in the course fees.
For all enquiries about ISVPS requirements, contact [email protected].
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February 2025
Speaker: Jonathan Bell (BVM&S CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS)
Key Learning Objectives
March 2025
Speaker: Guillaume Chanoit (DEDV PhD DECVS DACVS FHEA FRCVS)
Key Learning Objectives
April 2025
Speaker: Rachel Burrow (BVetMed CertSAS CertVR DipECVS MRCVS RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue))
Key Learning Objectives
May 2025
Speaker: Guillaume Chanoit (DEDV PhD DECVS DACVS FHEA FRCVS)
Key Learning Objectives
June 2025
Speaker: Kelly Blacklock (BVM&S DipECVS FHEA PGCert MRCVS )
Key Learning Objectives
July 2025
Speaker: Jane Ladlow (MA VetMB CertSAS CertVR MRCVS)
Key Learning Objectives
September 2025
Speaker: Kelly Blacklock (BVM&S DipECVS FHEA PGCert MRCVS )
Key Learning Objectives
October 2025
Speaker: Pieter Nelissen (MVM CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS )
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Dates: Nov 10-14th 2025
Speaker: Dr Kieri Jermyn
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Dates: Nov 10-14th 2025
Speaker: Dr Kieri Jermyn
Key Learning Objectives
Dates: Nov 10-14th 2025
Speaker: Dr Kieri Jermyn
Key Learning Objectives
Dates: Nov 10-14th 2025
Speaker: Dr Kieri Jermyn
Key Learning Objectives
Dates: Nov 10-14th 2025
Speaker: Dr Kieri Jermyn
Key Learning Objectives
February 2026
Speaker: Hannes Bergmann (DrMedVet DipECVS MRCVS)
Key Learning Objectives
March 2026
Speaker: Hannes Bergmann (DrMedVet DipECVS MRCVS)
Key Learning Objectives
April 2026
Speaker: Heidi Radke (DVM DipECVS FRCVS and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics))
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May 2026
Speaker: Heidi Radke (DVM DipECVS FRCVS and RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics))
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June 2026
Speaker: Sebastien Behr (DVM(Hons) DipECVN MRCVS RCVS Specialist (Veterinary Neurology))
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July 2026
Speaker: Sebastien Behr (DVM(Hons) DipECVN MRCVS RCVS Specialist (Veterinary Neurology))
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Dr Rachel Burrow qualified in 1991 from the RVC, London. After several years working in mixed practice, Dr Rachel Burrow returned to the RCV and completed a 3 year residency in soft tissue surgery. After this Rachel went back into practice for a few years and also spent some time at University College Dublin working as a soft tissue surgeon. Rachel completed RCVS certificates in Small Animal Surgery and Radiology before taking up a temporary soft tissue surgery lectureship at the University of Liverpool, that was over 19 years ago. Other than one year spent in a private referral practice, Rachel has remained working at the University of Liverpool where she teaches 4th and 5th year vet students alongside working in a busy soft tissue surgical referral service. Whilst at Liverpool Rachel has gained the European Diploma in Small Animal Surgery and a Masters in Clinical Oncology from Birmingham University . Despite being in the business for a long time Rachel is still not bored with surgery!
2025 Program now SOLD OUT
Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings.
Please find the terms and conditions here.
You must be a graduated Veterinary Surgeon with a minimum of 1 years clinical experience however we recommend at least two years of clinical practice, so you have some surgical experience. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the eligibility criteria for the program.
As a private education provider, Improve Veterinary Education is not part of the national HECs scheme.
Payment plans are done on a case-by-case basis and additional fees are incurred. Please refer to our full T&Cs here.
Yes, with program is accredited with RACE for 248 CE hours. It is also accredited with the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA) and fulfils the criteria for Australian veterinary boards.
You will spend on average 3-4 hours per week working through the module content. Some program participants will spend significantly more time if they are engaging on the platform with specialists and with additional resources. Preparation of assessments and revising for the ISVPS examinations will require additional time commitments.
No, the Small Animal Surgery Program if on offer every two years. The next program intake from 2025 will be in 2027.
No, this is a ‘blended’ learning program. The theory for the surgery programs is delivered fully online, with 14 months of theory content, delivered as monthly modules. The hands-on surgery workshops, where you will practice the new techniques run as 10 face-to-face practical days. There are five practical days, for each of the surgery years.
The practical sessions run after the theory content has been fully delivered for each the year. The year 1 Soft Tissue 5-day Practical session runs after the completion of the theory modules in October 2025. The Year 2 Orthopaedic 5-day Practical session runs after the completion of the theory modules in July 2026.
No, the program has an order that must be followed. You can review the lessons you have already completed but it is not possible to access lessons before they are due to run online. The specialist tutor is only available to answer questions during the month that their module is delivered.
After the module month is over, you have ongoing access to all interactive materials. Your specialist tutor is only available for their module month, so will not be available for answering questions after their module has finished. You will be able to access to the discussion forum for the module, view any earlier Q&A and can discuss module content and questions with your colleagues in the program.
The Small Animal Surgery Program is delivered over 24-months. Once the full program has been delivered, you have an additional 12-months access to all online program materials, for review, completion and revision. This means you have 36 months access to the online material, from time of program start.
As this program has limited numbers and runs only every two years there are limited options for deferral. These will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are associated with additional costs if agreed. See the most up to date T&Cs for this information.
It is advisable you work through the Small Animal Surgery Program Demo module before enrolling in this program. This is so you are aware of how the online learning experience suits you, before committing to the program. Being comfortable working autonomously through learning materials on the digital platform and engaging on the discussion boards is critical to this learning experience. While there are practical components, your engagement during the online modules is predominantly through the online discussion forum interactions with your specialists and peers. Please contact the Improve team directly if you have any questions.
The practical competent is delivered over two, five-day practical blocks and is held at the world-class facilities of the University of Queensland, Gatton campus.
Unfortunately, as the practical sessions run in line with the full program, these cannot be ‘made up’ so are an essential part of the program. They are also a requirement of the GPCertSAS so are a critical part of the program.
The International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS) have accredited the global Small Animal Surgery Program as appropriate training for the General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert) and Postgraduate Certificate (PgC). All assessments for these qualifications are online.
Completion of the full Small Animal Surgery Program and successful completion of additional ISVPS assessments, including a final online examination, are required to achieve ISVPS GPCert.
The PgC is higher qualification than the GPCert, and further assessment criteria apply.
The most up-to-date information for these qualifications can be found on the ISVPS website. Any further questions on the ISVPS certificate qualifications can be asked of the ISVPS Team at [email protected].
Registration with ISVPS to undertake the postgraduate Certificates is optional. The registration and exam fees are made directly with ISVPS, once you have started in the Small Animal Surgery Program. You can decide at any time during your two-year program if you are going to pursue your postgraduate qualifications. The fees are payable at the time of your ISVPS registration and are invoiced directly by ISVPS.
This program completes the Learning Objectives of the ISVPS Certificate syllabus and is not intended to fully cover ANZCVS Membership requirements.
This program will, however, provide a solid clinical and practical knowledge that will benefit those undertaking further study in small animal surgery. A number of our Australian program participants have used it for preparation for Memberships in small animal surgery.
Yes. We can accept delegates across Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific region. Please be aware that although the program theory is online, you will be required to travel to University of Queensland Gatton Campus, Australia, for the practical component (which is delivered as two separate five-day blocks).
If you intend to sit the GPCertSAS qualification through ISVPS, their requirements are based fully on online assessments. Please contact ISVPS directly with any questions or for further information on the qualifications and assessment details. ([email protected]).