Official Controls Qualification
(Veterinary) OCQ(V)


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About the OCQ(V)s

There are different OCQ(V)s available depending on the type of work an OV undertakes. There may be more than one qualification that is applicable, or more than one course that is necessary, as some are prerequisites to others.

Prerequisites

The diagram below illustrates the relationships between the OCQ(V)s. Click on the qualification for more information on the course content. If you have any queries about which course(s) to enrol on, please feel free to contact us.

Course content

The following table gives a general overview of the course content and prerequisites. Click on the links for more information.

OCQ(V) Course title Prerequisite(s) Summary of content
ES Essential Skills None - Basics of state veterinary medicine
- Working with APHA
- Regulation and statutory control of animal diseases and animal welfare
- Principles of Certification
EX Exports General OCQ(V) - ES - Basics of international trade
- Export certification and procedures
CA Companion Animals None - Includes relevant aspects of ES and EX
- Export of companion animals
AX Avian Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of poultry
- Poultry Health Scheme
- Export of birds that aren’t pets
EQ Equine Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of Equidae
FA Farm Animal Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of farm animals (cattle, sheep, pigs and goats)
GX Germinal Products Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of germinal products
- Supervision of AI centres
LX Laboratory Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of laboratory animals
PX Product Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of animal products, including food for human consumption and animal by-products
SS Statutory Surveillance OCQ(V) - ES - Statutory surveillance activities for ‘endemic’ diseases other than bTb:
  • Brucellosis
  • Anthrax
  • Sheep scab
SX Small Animal Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of small animals
- Commercial export from zoos/laboratories
- Export of companion animals and pet birds
TT Tuberculin Testing OCQ(V) - ES - Tuberculin testing
UX Ungulate Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of ungulates:
  • domesticated ungulates
  • non-domesticated ungulates from zoos/laboratories
  • Equidae
ZX Zoo Animal Exports OCQ(V) - ES
OCQ(V) - EX
- Export of zoo animals
CYTB Cymorth TB OCQ(V) - ES Not available for enrolment until further notice
- Advice, support and bespoke veterinary interventions for Welsh herd keepers affected by bovine TB

Export courses

The diagram below shows the exports permitted after obtaining each export qualification or combination of qualifications.

Please note: There may be some exceptions to this diagram, where an OV qualification is not required by certain countries for some types of export (for example, live fish and mice semen). This should be checked with CIT Carlisle and the import country (or for fish, please check with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) or Marine Scotland Information).

Exports Diagram

For Animal Health Paraprofessional training, please visit:

APHA's OV Instructions have moved and are now hosted by Improve International. They can be accessed using the links below:

Counts of OVs Authorised by APHA in GB

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