Journey

Set up a veterinary practice

Follow this path to meet every regulatory obligation for your veterinary practice — from workplace health and safety and COSHH controls through to RCVS registration, veterinary medicines, clinical waste, controlled drugs and ionising-radiation duties.

Starting Updated 22 October 2026

This learning path takes you through the regulatory framework for veterinary practices in order. Each step links to a guide that covers one part of your obligations. Follow them in sequence to build a complete picture.

Step 1 — Find out which regulations apply

Identify which workplace and profession-specific duties apply to your practice, and understand which regulators operate UK-wide and which are devolved.

Step 2 — Set up your workplace safely

Work through the six universal duties every veterinary practice must meet: health and safety, COSHH controls on anaesthetic gases and chemicals, fire safety, employers' liability insurance, equality and data protection.

Step 3 — Meet your veterinary regulatory duties

Complete RCVS registration, comply with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, manage clinical waste through registered carriers, and — if applicable — meet controlled-drugs and ionising-radiation requirements.

Step 4 — Confirm you have covered everything

Work through the compliance checklist to confirm every obligation is in place before you open or continue practising.