The course enables veterinary surgeons to become familiar with the application of forensic techniques to veterinary medicine. This marriage of "vet" and "CSI" allows vets to utilise their existing knowledge and skills in veterinary medicine, add new forensic methods, and learn a new set of skills.
 The field of veterinary forensics is in its infancy and is not, as some believe, a new description of veterinary pathology. The course includes teaching in ballistics, chemical analysis, document examination, anti-bioterrorism, examination of hair and feathers, applications of DNA to veterinary medicine, investigation of interspecies sexual assault and bite marks. The practical component familiarises delegates with taking charge at a crime scene, collecting and storing evidence, and analysing and interpreting that evidence. A module is devoted to report writing, and another to court room skills to equip delegates with the skills and confidence to stand up to cross-examination in a court room.
Firearms and ballistics includes live firing by delegates at a rifle range and bullet recovery and microscopic analysis. Evidence collection and gathering is done at a mock crime scene with real-time pressures. Argument construction is combined with forensic reasoning to make the course as much a learning of a new philosophy as the learning of hands-on forensic veterinary skills.
The law component takes students through the legal background behind animal welfare, international trade law and evidence collection and analysis. The application of evidence of animal origin to non animal cases and court room skills and etiquette will also be covered.
Upon successful completion of the course candidates will be able to demonstrate that they have received training as a forensic practitioner to various relevant bodies
such as courts, police services and welfare organisations.
This course is unique and does not occur anywhere else in the world. The forensic and legal training provided is generic and non-jurisdictional and can be applied worldwide.
The uniqueness of this qualification is that it can be achieved whilst working in fulltime practice and can be used to enhance your practice and the services you offer. No prior knowledge is necessary to participate in the certificate, however you must have been qualified for a minimum of two-years. ESVPS has been running General Practitioner Certificate since 2003, and during this period over 700 veterinary surgeons have achieved an ESVPS General Practitioner Certificate in one of the sixteen subjects offered. The veterinary profession is constantly changing and at ESVPS we strive to offer the most up to date qualifications in subjects which are relevant for today's veterinary professionals.
The General Practitioner Certificates were designed to meet the needs of busy veterinary practitioners wanting to gain a post graduate qualification without having to take excessive time out of their busy working lives. The uniqueness of the GPCert is that through the Improve International modular programmes, candidates are given structured taught sessions from experienced academics which the final examination is based on. Candidates are required to complete further study in their own time as well as submitting various pieces of course work.
All the Improve International General Practitioner Certificates modular programmes are accredited by ESVPS. The course syllabus, learning objectives and tutors on the course must meet the strict ESVPS accreditation guidelines before a course is launched. In addition to the ESVPS accreditation, a number of the GPCert programmes have been accredited by the University of the West of England at 'M' level. These programmes have been approved by the RCVS as either an 'A' or 'B' module for the RCVS CertAVP.
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