Official Veterinarian Training

Below you will find all the information you need to train and become an official veterinarian to perform both, ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance and ante-mortem inspection outside the slaughterhouse in case of emergency slaughter. These are two official controls that require separate authorisations.

Undertaking ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance

A veterinarian carrying out ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance must either be: 

• a fully appointed Official Veterinarian (OV) by the FSA/FSS; or

• a veterinarian specifically appointed for the purpose of undertaking ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance.

The ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance includes the following duties:  

• ante-mortem inspection at the holding of provenance of animals intended for slaughter at a slaughterhouse.

• ante-mortem inspection of poultry where the holding is authorised for on-farm slaughter,

• ante-mortem inspection of farmed game where the holding is authorised for on-farm slaughter

Appointment as Official Veterinarian to perform ante-mortem inspection at the Holding of Provenance (OV-HoP)

Veterinarians interested in becoming an OV-HoP must be members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and pass a test covering the requirements for ante-mortem inspection. 

How to apply for the appointment as OV-HoP

Firstly, veterinarians must sit and pass the online test which consists of 50 multiple choice questions. Each question has only one correct answer. You must answer a minimum of 40 questions correctly in order to pass the test. Unlimited attempts are allowed.

Please click on the box below to access the test, we will contact you via email approximately within seven working days of you completing the test to acknowledge the appointment as OV-HoP and issue your certificate. 

Veterianarians are required to undergo revalidation for the OV-Hop every four years. 

Please note that veterinarians are not required to hold the OCQ(V) - ES qualification to apply for the OV-HoP qualification. 

If you have any queries or questions, please contact the FSA at WATOK@food.gov.uk or Food Standards Scotland at approvals@fss.scot 

Undertaking ante-mortem inspection outside the slaughterhouse in case of emergency slaughter

 A veterinarian carrying out ante-mortem inspection of domestic ungulates in case of emergency slaughter outside the slaughterhouse must either be:

• a fully appointed Official Veterinarian (OV) by the FSA/FSS; or

• a veterinarian specifically appointed for the purpose of undertaking ante-mortem inspection of domestic ungulates outside the slaughterhouse in case of emergency slaughter

Appointment as an Official Veterinarian to perform ante-mortem inspection outside the slaughterhouse for emergency slaughter (OV-EMSL)

Veterinarians interested in becoming an OV- EMSL must be members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, undergo an online training and pass an online test about ante-mortem inspection in domestic ungulates outside the slaughterhouse in case of emergency slaughter.

How to apply for the appointment as OV- EMSL

Firstly, veterinarians must undergo an online training. Please click on the link below to access the training.

Veterinary training to become an OV- EMSL - ADD LINK OR PULL OUT 

Once the training has been completed, veterinarians must sit and pass the online test which consists of 54 multiple choice questions. Each question has only one correct answer. You must answer a minimum of 43 questions correctly in order to pass the test. Unlimited attempts are allowed.

Please click on the box below to access the test, we will contact you via email within 7 working days of you successfully completing the test to acknowledge appointment as OV- EMSL.

Veterinarians are required to undergo revalidation for the OV-EMSL every four years.

Please note veterinarians are not required to hold the OCQ(V) - ES qualification to apply for the OV-EMSL qualification.

If you have any queries or questions, please contact the FSA at WATOK@food.gov.uk  or FSS at approvals@fss.scot.

You can view the guidance for the appointment as OV-HoP and OV- EMSL here. Veterinarians appointed as OV- EMSL and HoP must be familiar with the content of this document as it is the policy under which they are authorised. - EDIT UPLOAD GUIDANCE