Home Office Licence Training

The Royal Veterinary College provides training courses for individuals seeking to apply to the Home Office for Personal or Project Licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

Our courses are expertly taught live online, in a virtual classroom with a tutor. The handling, suturing and minor procedure modules the skills practical's  are held in person at the RVC, or at your own institution by request. Self-study-e-learning courses are available to start at any time.  

Please apply using the application form, or for information contact hocourses@rvc.ac.uk or telephone +44 20 3905 4785 

Course Dates 2025 →


E1 & L: Ethical background to the Act, details on the Act's requirements and other related legislation.

E1&L Is self-study. We recommend taking a full study day to prepare for the exam.

PIL A & B K theory: (modules 3 – 8 and 20 ) General biology and care of research animals, health and safety, introduction to anaesthesia.  Core species rat and mouse, otherwise stated

PIL C: 1-day course, covering basic Surgery and Anaesthesia techniques (modules 20 – 22)

K Theory: Stand-alone Humane killing (module KD 6.3)

PPL E2 - Project licence holder training: Ethics 2, statistics, and experimental design. (modules 9,10,11) 2-day course (10:00-16:00 daily)

PILABK other species: Avian, Camelids, Cat, Cattle, Dog, Equine, Ferret, *Gerbil, Goat, *Guinea pig, *Hamster, Pig, *Rabbit, Sheep *denotes self-study

The 3-day course timetable: Monday - Day1: E1&L (10:00-10:45 AM) PILA (12:15 - 16:30) Tuesday - Day2: cont PILABK (10:30 - 14:45) Wednesday - Day3: PILC (9:15 - 16:30)

COURSE DATES FOR 2025

Modular Courses for Home Office Licence Applicants Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 – Amendment Regulations 2012

Download the PDF here

2025 Dates Jan - July
2025 Dates Sep - Dec

Until further notice our courses are expertly taught live online with a tutor. The handling, suturing and minor procedure modules (practicals) are held in person at the RVC, or at your own institution by request. Self-study course are available to start at any time.

E1&L –  Ethics and Legislation

PILAB –  Is Rat and mouse unless stated otherwise

PILC –  non-species specific however we can tailor to fit your requirements

K –  theory only

PPL E2 –  Project Licence holder training  –  Ethics 2, statistics, and experimental design

PILABK  species on request: *denotes self-study

Camelids, Cat, Dog, *Gerbil, Goat, *Guinea pigs, *Hamster, *Rabbit.


June 2025

2nd E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

3rd PIL A (cont) & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

4th PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus date 12th June

 

10th Large animal PIL AB K Pigs, sheep.

(On request: goats, cattle, equine)

Practical handling TBC

 

16th E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

17th PIL A (cont) & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

18th PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus 24th June

 

26th -27th PPL E2 – Project Licence holder training (10am-4pm daily)


July 2025

2nd Large animal PIL AB K Pigs, sheep.

(On request: goats, cattle, equine)

Practical handling TBC

 

7th E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

8th PIL A (cont) & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

9th PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus date 14th July

 

21st E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

22nd PIL A (cont) & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

23rd PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus date 31st July

 

24th – 25th PPL E2 – Project Licence holder training (10am-4pm daily)


September 2025

8th E1 & L (10am-11am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

9th PIL A & PILB K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

10th PIL C (9:30am – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus 19th September

 

15th E1L ethics and Legislation and/or KD theory

Self-study with invigilated exam (10-11:30 am)

16th Large animal PIL AB K Pigs, sheep.

(On request: goats, cattle, equine)

Practical tbc

 

22nd E1 & L (10am-11am); PIL A (12:15pm-4:30pm)

23rd PIL A & PILB K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

24th PIL C (9:30am – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus date 1st October

 

25th 26th PPL E2 – Project Licence holder training (10am-4pm daily)

29th E1L ethics and Legislation and/or KD theory

Self-study with invigilated exam (10-11:30 am)


October 2025

NEW course!

2nd Ethics Level 2 – E2

 

6th E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

7th PIL A & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

8th PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus 16th October

 

13th E1L ethics and Legislation and/or KD theory

Self-study with invigilated exam (10-11:30 am)

 

14th PILABK Avian (9:30 – 3:30pm)

 

20th E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

21st PIL A & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

22nd PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus 27th October

 

23rd – 24th PPL E2 – Project Licence holder training (10am-4pm daily)


November 2025

3rd E1L ethics and Legislation and/or K theory

Self-study with invigilated exam (10-11:30 am)

4th PILABK Ferret (10am -3pm)

 

10th E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

11th PIL A & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

12th PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus 21st November

 

13th Large animal PIL AB K Pigs, sheep.

(On request: goats, cattle, equine)

Practical tbc

  

17TH E1L ethics and Legislation and/or K theory

Self-study with invigilated exam (10-11:30 am)

  

18th Ethics Level 2 – E2

 

24th E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

25th PIL A & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

26th PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

27th -28th PPL E2 – Project Licence holder training (10am-4pm daily)


December 2025

1st E1 & L (10am-10:45 am); PIL A (12:15-4:30pm)

2nd PIL A & B K theory (10am – 2:45pm)

3rd PIL C (9:30 – 4:30pm)

Practical at Camden Campus date 11th December

 

8th E1L ethics and Legislation and/or KD theory

Self-study with invigilated exam (10-11:30 am)
 

15th E1L ethics and Legislation and/or KD theory

Self-study with invigilated exam (10-11:30 am)
 

18th – 19th PPL E2 – Project Licence holder training (10am-4pm daily)

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