The RCVS Code of Professional Conduct exam: open-book tips for overseas vets
Updated 20 October 2026
The Code paper is open book, which makes it feel easy and makes it easy to fail. You will not have time to read the Code from scratch, so the skill is finding the right paragraph quickly and applying it to a scenario.
The format
The RCVS describes an open-book paper on the Code of Professional Conduct, lasting about 2 hours 15 minutes, with no negative marking. Candidates are told to be familiar with the Code and its supporting guidance beforehand. Check the current guidance for the number of questions.
How to prepare
- Read the whole Code and the supporting guidance once, slowly.
- Learn the layout: headings, numbering and where the supporting guidance sits.
- Practise with a scenario, then find the clause. Aim for under two minutes per look-up.
- Do 20 scenarios a day for two weeks rather than a cram in the last week.
- Answer what the Code says, not what you would do in your own country.
Topics to know well
- Consent and communication with clients.
- Confidentiality and its exceptions.
- Record keeping.
- The prescribing cascade and medicines rules.
- Out-of-hours emergency cover.
- Competence, referral and complaints.
- Professional indemnity, social media and raising concerns about colleagues.
- Animal welfare duties, and what the RCVS, VMD and APHA each do.
Frequently asked questions
Is the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct exam open book?
Yes. The RCVS describes it as an open-book paper.
How long is the Code paper?
About 2 hours 15 minutes according to the 2027 RCVS guidance. Times can vary, so check the current guidance.
Keep reading
- How to pass the RCVS Statutory Membership Exam written papers
- A 16 week study plan for the RCVS written exam
- RCVS Statutory Membership Exam (SME): what overseas vets need to know