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This PgCert is now approved as an eligible qualification towards Advanced Practitioner status. Click here to find out more.

Get your PgCert in just 12 months

PgCert Small Animal Surgery

Download Brochure Book a Call With Our PgCert Team Book a Call

Become a Super Small Animal Surgeon in just one year with the highly practical, flexible and convenient work-based Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery programme from CPD Solutions, validated by The University of Lancashire.

The 12 month duration of the programme gives you a valuable qualification quickly. This means minimal disruption for you, your family and your practice and you can put your new skills to use straight away to benefit your patients, your practice and your career.

Download a brochure now or book a call with our PgCert team to learn more today.

Join the Hundreds of Vets Who Have Boosted Their Careers With a CPD Solutions PgCert

“Overall I feel I have developed myself as both surgeon and person. I have gained lots of confidence and brought new skills into my practice.”

Alvaro Sicilia,MRCVS

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Great balance of theory, practicals, research and reflection-helped me develop skills beyond just surgery and helps me to critically evaluate and review my decisions in all aspects of cases. Really accelerated my learning/improvement where this had previously stagnated a little. Very clear and logical approach and delivery. Has changed and fostered critical reflective practice in other areas too.”

Laura Adams,MRCVS

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“As someone who graduated nearly 20 years ago, this course has been nothing short of transformative. It has helped me refresh and deepen my clinical knowledge, challenged me to reflect more critically on my practice, and reignited my passion for surgery. The structure of programme, the quality of teaching and support provided throughout has been outstanding. This is huge step forward in my personal development.”

Kishor Mahind,MRCVS

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“The course was incredibly well organised, provided excellent practical and theory sessions as well as access to multiple learning resources. The tutors were very knowledgeable and approachable. This course has definitely enabled me to enhance my surgical skills and confidence. I highly recommend this PgCert.”

Marina Papa,MRCVS

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Well organised sessions, good selection of procedures to try. Venue is clean, well organised, staff very friendly and helpful. Excellent and will continue to use CPD Solutions for future CPD.”

Vikki Moran MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Learned loads and all staff were amazing and helpful.” 

Gary Kelly MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Thank you kindly for the super course – very pleased to see how far it has taken me in my professional development.” 

Sally Potter MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Thoroughly enjoyed the practical sessions learning to reflect not just at essay time but day-to-day! Excellent content and relevance to first opinion practice. Very well organised. Good facilities. Brilliant staff.”

 Liam O’Connor MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Amazing course, I would recommend to everyone wanting to massively advance their skills and knowledge!” 

Emily Copp MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Very practical, excellent all round. Love the reflective aspect, helps a lot more to appreciate best practice better.”

Michelle Frayne MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“I have really enjoyed the course. The content has been so useful, with a large amount of practical content and the opportunity to perform all the procedures in the wet lab which has been invaluable. All the speakers were great and so helpful and patient, and spent a really good amount of time with each person giving one to one help during the practicals.”

Selina Rumbold MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“I completely revised our peri-operative protocol of our BOAS surgeries. This has very significantly improved my approach and the approach of my entire practice to our BOAS cases. As we have so many brachycephalic dogs that need help, this is a very exciting development and for this I owe a huge debt of gratitude! I feel very passionately that I would like all my colleagues to benefit from the process of critical reflection and its positive effects on what we are and do for the profession.”

Leon Ringelmann MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“My expectations were satisfied, more than happy, worth the money, thoroughly recommend, Staff and venue was best of the best. Already recommended to multiple colleagues.” 

Matej Zupanc MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

Next Intake

The next intake for the PgCert Small Animal Surgery is in September 2026.

Reserve your place with a deposit of just £997 + VAT.

Reserve My Place!

Is this the right PgCert for you?

Take our quick quiz to discover if this course matches your goals and professional needs. In just a few minutes, you’ll know if it’s the perfect fit for your veterinary journey.

Take the Quiz

The CPD Solutions Commitment Guarantee

We know a PgCert is a big step in terms of time, dedication, and investment. That’s why we created The CPD Solutions Commitment.

If, after your first attendance session, you decide a PgCert isn’t right for you, we’ll credit the balance of your investment towards any other CPD Solutions training — from Practical Courses and Online CPD to Webinar Club Memberships and OnTrack programmes.

(This applies to the CPD Solutions PgCert fee only, not the separate University Registration Fee.)

You can take your next step with confidence, knowing your career development is fully supported.

*Terms and conditions apply

PgCert Commitment.

A modern work-based PgCert that could transform
you and your practice

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Develop Your Surgical Skills

The PgCert Small Animal Surgery includes ten full days of hands-on practical surgery training in wetlabs.

The best way to develop your surgical skills and confidence in making decisions is by practising techniques in a supportive environment with the direct help of our expert and approachable tutors.

You’ll cover essentials of small animal surgery, small animal soft tissue surgery, and small animal orthopaedic surgery. Use your new skills in your practice straight away.

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Travel just Three Times

There are just three, highly-practical attendance sessions on the PgCert Small Animal Surgery, each of 3-4 days, to reinforce your learning, teach you new practical skills and minimise disruption to your life. Held at the CPD Solutions Training Centre in Studley, Warwickshire. Learn with like-minded fellow vets away from the distractions of home and work, and develop your surgical skills and confidence during each attendance session.

Module 1: Essentials of Small Animal Surgery
Module 2: Small Animal Soft Tissue Surgery
Module 3: Small Animal Orthopaedic Surgery

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Use Your New Skills Straight Away

Use your new skills and confidence from day one in your practice to enable you to carry out more effective procedures, increase practice revenue and provide a more convenient in house service for your patients and their owners.

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Gain A Valuable Qualification

The PgCert Small Animal Surgery delivered by CPD Solutions and validated by the University of Lancashire represents 60 academic credits at Masters Level 7 within the Quality Assurance Agency’s higher education framework. This is equivalent to all other veterinary PgCerts and the CertAVP.

Assessment of the PgCert in Small Animal Surgery is via reflective portfolios, consisting of a case log (minimum 15 general surgery cases Module 1, 15 soft tissue surgery cases Module 2, 5 orthopaedic surgery cases Module 3) and a 4000 word critically reflective essay for each module.

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Extensive Learning Resources

The course is delivered via blended learning. Each module comprises 21-28 hours of face to face practical workshops, 25 hours of directed online learning and 147-154 hours of self-directed study. The amount of self directed study is a guideline only – how much you do is up to you and will depend on your current level of experience.

Extensive online resources provide a framework for your studies – webinars, Online Mini Series, surgical technique videos, practical notes, self-assessment MCQs, access to the University’s e-library and resources, online text books and journals and bespoke reflective writing resources and full access to our Orthopaedic Webinar Club. With unlimited access during your study.

You also benefit from a full 12 months of additional access to the CPD Solutions resources after you complete your PgCert.

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Get The Support You Need

You’ll get support from your tutors throughout the course. Face to face practical sessions will help develop your surgical and decision-making skills, and your personal tutor will guide your self-directed studies with constructive feedback on your work.

Your academic tutors are Specialists in Small Animal Surgery: Lee Meakin, Elinor Field, Simon Roch and Darren Carwardine.

General support is provided by our CPD Solutions PgCert Team. We’re here whenever you need us.

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Can I Register for this PgCert?

Applicants for this study route must hold a veterinary degree and have at least 2 years postgraduate clinical experience at the start of the course.

Applicants must have access to suitable veterinary clinical cases to facilitate work-based learning reflections.

UK based applicants must be on the RCVS UK practising register.

EU/International students who are not RCVS members will need to satisfy the English language proficiency requirements of The University of Lancashire.

Practical Attendance Session Dates

Module 1

15th – 18th Sep 2026

(4 days)

Module 2

13th – 15th Jan 2027

(3 days)

Module 3

12th – 14th May 2027

(3 days)

Venue

CPD Solutions - Training Centre, Studley, UK

Outstanding value

Your PgCert is a major commitment of TIME and MONEY.
We want to do everything we can to make it a huge success.

Let’s look at what added value you get with your investment in a CPD Solutions PgCert:

PgCert Value. PgCert Value.

* CPD Solutions PgCert fee. You also need to register with validating University for that PgCert and pay their fee. The University of Central Lancashire fee is £2750 (no VAT applies) for UK students or £4400 for EU/International students.

How Do Our PgCerts Work?

Your Investment

Your investment in the PgCert Small Animal Surgery is £11,447 + VAT (CPD Solutions),
plus £2750 (University home student fee) or £4400 (University EU/International student fee).

Reserve your place with a deposit of just £997 + VAT or see programme brochure for further details, discounts and instalment plans.

Reserve My Place! Download Brochure

What Is Included With Your PgCert

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One Year's Additional Access

An extra year’s access to all of the CPD Solutions online resources in your support materials. Includes webinars and Online Mini Series courses with unlimited access.

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£400 CPD Voucher

To use on any practical course of your choice during or after your PgCert Small Animal Surgery course.

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Essential Equipment

Quality tungsten carbide Metzenbaum scissors to help you with your precision surgery from Day one of the PgCert Small Animal Surgery course.

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Essential Text Book

Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal Expert Consult 2nd Edition by Tobias and Johnston.

Join the Hundreds of Vets Who Have Boosted Their Careers With a CPD Solutions PgCert

“Overall I feel I have developed myself as both surgeon and person. I have gained lots of confidence and brought new skills into my practice.”

Alvaro Sicilia,MRCVS

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Great balance of theory, practicals, research and reflection-helped me develop skills beyond just surgery and helps me to critically evaluate and review my decisions in all aspects of cases. Really accelerated my learning/improvement where this had previously stagnated a little. Very clear and logical approach and delivery. Has changed and fostered critical reflective practice in other areas too.”

Laura Adams,MRCVS

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“As someone who graduated nearly 20 years ago, this course has been nothing short of transformative. It has helped me refresh and deepen my clinical knowledge, challenged me to reflect more critically on my practice, and reignited my passion for surgery. The structure of programme, the quality of teaching and support provided throughout has been outstanding. This is huge step forward in my personal development.”

Kishor Mahind,MRCVS

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“The course was incredibly well organised, provided excellent practical and theory sessions as well as access to multiple learning resources. The tutors were very knowledgeable and approachable. This course has definitely enabled me to enhance my surgical skills and confidence. I highly recommend this PgCert.”

Marina Papa,MRCVS

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Well organised sessions, good selection of procedures to try. Venue is clean, well organised, staff very friendly and helpful. Excellent and will continue to use CPD Solutions for future CPD.”

Vikki Moran MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Learned loads and all staff were amazing and helpful.” 

Gary Kelly MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Thank you kindly for the super course – very pleased to see how far it has taken me in my professional development.” 

Sally Potter MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Thoroughly enjoyed the practical sessions learning to reflect not just at essay time but day-to-day! Excellent content and relevance to first opinion practice. Very well organised. Good facilities. Brilliant staff.”

 Liam O’Connor MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Amazing course, I would recommend to everyone wanting to massively advance their skills and knowledge!” 

Emily Copp MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“Very practical, excellent all round. Love the reflective aspect, helps a lot more to appreciate best practice better.”

Michelle Frayne MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“I have really enjoyed the course. The content has been so useful, with a large amount of practical content and the opportunity to perform all the procedures in the wet lab which has been invaluable. All the speakers were great and so helpful and patient, and spent a really good amount of time with each person giving one to one help during the practicals.”

Selina Rumbold MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“I completely revised our peri-operative protocol of our BOAS surgeries. This has very significantly improved my approach and the approach of my entire practice to our BOAS cases. As we have so many brachycephalic dogs that need help, this is a very exciting development and for this I owe a huge debt of gratitude! I feel very passionately that I would like all my colleagues to benefit from the process of critical reflection and its positive effects on what we are and do for the profession.”

Leon Ringelmann MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

“My expectations were satisfied, more than happy, worth the money, thoroughly recommend, Staff and venue was best of the best. Already recommended to multiple colleagues.” 

Matej Zupanc MRCVS,

PGCert Small Animal Surgery

This PgCert is now approved as an eligible qualification towards Advanced Practitioner status. Click here to find out more.

Download Brochure

Enter your details below and click the download brochure button.

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Any questions?

Call us now on 0151 328 0444

Entry Requirements:

Applicants for this study route must hold a veterinary degree and have at least 2 years postgraduate clinical experience. Applicants must have access to suitable clinical cases to facilitate work-based reflections. UK-based applicants must be on the RCVS UK Practising Register. EU/International applicants who are not RCVS Members will need to satisfy the English Language proficiency requirements of The University of Lancashire.

This course is validated by the University of Lancashire, regulated by the Office for Students (OFS).

Click here to read the University's Access and Participation Plan

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CPD Solutions Pg Cert in Small Animal Surgery?

The CPD Solutions Pg Cert in Small Animal Surgery is a university-validated postgraduate certificate for veterinary surgeons. It is a 60-credit Level 7 qualification. The programme is designed to help vets develop their knowledge, clinical reasoning, reflective practice and practical confidence in small animal surgery through a structured postgraduate learning pathway.

Is the Pg Cert in Small Animal Surgery approved for RCVS Advanced Practitioner status?

Yes. The Synoptic Pathway of the CPD Solutions Pg Cert in Small Animal Surgery has been approved as an eligible postgraduate qualification that veterinary surgeons may use as part of an application for RCVS Advanced Practitioner status. Applicants must still meet the wider RCVS requirements for Advanced Practitioner status.

Does completing the Pg Cert automatically make me an RCVS Advanced Practitioner?

No. Completing the Synoptic Pathway does not automatically confer RCVS Advanced Practitioner status. It provides an approved qualification route that can support an application, but Advanced Practitioner status is awarded separately by the RCVS and applicants must meet the full RCVS criteria.

What is the difference between the Standard Pg Cert Pathway and the Synoptic Pathway?

The Standard Pg Cert Pathway is for vets who want to complete the postgraduate certificate, develop their small animal surgical skills and gain a university-validated qualification. The Synoptic Pathway includes an additional synoptic assessment and is intended for vets who want their qualification to support a future application for RCVS Advanced Practitioner status.

Which Pg Cert pathway should I choose?

You should choose the Standard Pg Cert Pathway if your main goal is to develop your small animal surgery skills and gain a postgraduate certificate. You should consider the Synoptic Pathway if you want your qualification to support a future application for RCVS Advanced Practitioner status. Our team can talk you through the options if you are unsure which route is right for you.