Welcome to AMTRA
AMTRA is an independent regulatory body whose task it is to ensure that the prescription and supply of VPS animal medicines in the UK is undertaken in a responsible manner by AMTRA-qualified persons. Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, AMTRA is the body appointed by the Secretary of State to keep a register of Suitably Qualified Persons. Find out more about AMTRA...
What is an SQP?
"Suitably Qualified Person" is the legal term for animal medicine advisors who form a category of professionally qualified people who are entitled to prescribe and/or supply certain veterinary medicines in the UK under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations.
There are almost 4800 SQPs. They include over 500 working in veterinary practices and increasing numbers of registered pet shop staff, suppliers of equine products, and those working in agricultural merchants and country stores.
Find out more about SQPs....
Do you want to become an SQP?
If you are interested in becoming an SQP, to supply and/or prescribe medicines for pets, horses or farm animals, please read the page on becoming an SQP.
SQP students
If you are already training to become an SQP, please also study the page on becoming an SQP which summarises the next steps and provides easy access to the necessary forms and guidance.
Current SQPs
We've attempted to draw together summaries of key information relevant to current SQPs.
New Avian module
We've created a page drawing together information on the new avian SQP module which we hope addresses queries and directs people to further information. If you can't find the information you are looking for about the avian module, please contact us (details at the bottom of this page).
News from AMTRA
Avian SQP module now available
21 February 2012
AMTRA is now accepting enrolments for the new SQP avian module, a 5-credit
module at level 4 which complements the existing SQP modules. This has been
created in response to demand from those who wish to prescribe and supply avian
(particularly poultry) VPS medicines without needing to pass the SQP farm animal
module.
More...
New VMR, Code of Practice and Guidance
30 September 2011
The new Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2011 come into force on 1 October. Accompanying them are the new Code of Practice for SQPs and revised Veterinary Medicines Guidance Notes. More...
New AMTRA fees from 1 October
29 September 2011
At their meetings on 28 September, the AMTRA Council recommended new fees, and these recommendations were accepted by the Board. Renewal fees, having been frozen for two years, will increase by just under 2%, but with the opportunity for a 5% discount by individuals or smaller companies paying online or larger companies managing their renewals in bulk.
Having been frozen since May 2009, enrolment fees will increase by about 2%. Exams must now be sat within 13 months of enrolment in order to avoid the risk of an additional fee being charged. Please use the new enrolment form which includes the new fees.
AMI becomes part of VMD's Inspections & Investigations Team
21 September 2011
VMD has reorganised staff responsible for the inspection and investigation of premises including SQP Retailer premises. What was the AMI has been combined with other parts of VMD to form the new Inspections & Investigations Team within which there is a dedicated Inspections Administration Team which should be the first point of contact for queries about SQP Retailers premises. More from VMD...
"CPD exam" - new dates offered
18 August 2011
Take-up of the "CPD exam" for those who didn't gain enough CPD points has been very low, suggesting that most of the 3% of SQPs concerned are intending not to continue as SQPs in 2012. However, for those who are, AMTRA is offering additional dates for the exams to demonstrate continuing competency. More...
"CPD exam" to demonstrate continuing competency for SQPs
30 June 2011
The vast majority of SQPs have exceeded their CPD points targets, in some cases gaining four or five times the required amount. But a small number look likely to have fallen short when all the points information reaches the AMTRA office.
Any SQP who has not earned sufficient CPD points by 30 June must pass an exam to demonstrate continuing competency before they will be permitted to renew their SQP status for 2012.
More information is in the guidance for SQPs.
If you wish to book, please download the booking form, complete it and send to AMTRA with the appropriate payment.
Webinars offer SQPs opportunities to gain CPD points before 30 June deadline
10 May 2011
A series of webinars is being offered to help SQPs who haven't quite gained enough CPD points before the 30 June deadline. These seminars are carried out online, and so don't require SQPs to travel and can be slotted in to a busy working day.
Virbac is bringing SQPs the opportunity to undertake one or both of a pair of webinars on equine parasitology on 11 and 25 May, worth 20 points to those participating in both events.
Elanco have announced three new CPD webinar dates that will earn 6 points for attendees. On the subject of parasitic gastroenteritis in cattle, the meetings will take place on May 16th, June 7th and June 21st 2011 at 17.30 hrs and will last for approximately one hour.
For more details on how to register for these events, and for other CPD events open to all SQPs, see the AMTRA website.
AMTRA and AHDA CPD series to conclude in Northern Ireland
8 April 2011
AHDA and AMTRA have together run 15 popular CPD meetings around Great Britain in 2011, and are coming to Northern Ireland for the final event of the series, on 23 May at Loughry Campus, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone.
There will be an afternoon session on companion animals and an evening session on farm livestock. SQPs may attend either or both. This is a great opportunity to make sure you are up to speed on key topics, as well as gaining CPD points before AMTRA's 30 June deadline. More...
AMTRA Council minutes published
1 April 2011
The minutes of the most recent meeting of the AMTRA Council have been published. They can be found on the page on the AMTRA Council.
SCOPS Principles in Action for SQPs and vets - 5 May, Gloucestershire
30 March 2011
Good worm control is a vital factor in the profitability of sheep farming but in recent years this has been increasingly hampered by resistance. SCOPS guidelines were developed to address this. Over the last four years Hilary and Richard Mann have worked with SCOPS and vet Katie Essex, looking at the parasite challenges and implementing a control strategy that both improves performance and minimises the selection for worms resistant to anthelmintics. This is an opportunity to see what's been done and take home some practical ideas to help you improve your clients' worming programmes.
To register for your FREE place please ring Hellen or Sandra at EBLEX on 0870 609 1840 / 01904 771211 or email brpevents@eblex.org.uk
SQP Compendium
16 March 2011
All SQPs and student SQPs should receive very shortly their copy of the 2011 Compendium of Data Sheets. The cost of this is included in your annual AMTRA fee - or enrolment fee for students.
A single SQP edition of the Compendium is now produced containing all POM-VPS and NFA-VPS medicines, and is supplied by AMTRA to all SQPs and SQP students.
The new format book contains three coloured sections - for companion animals, for equines, and for food-producing animals. Medicines authorised for multiple species may therefore appear in more than one section. Although this makes the book a little thicker, it actually reduces costs by avoiding the need for three different versions.
4 March 2011
Thanks to Eblex's "Better Returns Programme", all farm animal SQPs and student SQPs are currently being posted a copy of the 2011 edition of the Cattle & Sheep Parasite Control Guide, which we hope will be useful. This includes a comprehensive list of products for the control of internal and external parasites in cattle and sheep, and now incorporates milk withhold times too.
NADIS Parasite Forecast & CPD
2 March 2011
As part of AMTRA's online CPD Programme for livestock SQPs, each month AMTRA will be emailing farm animal SQPs the NADIS Parasite Forecast, a bulletin on animal health issues, and the opportunity to gain CPD points. More...
