The AMTRA New Training Regime

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The AMTRA New Training Regime

• Phil Thomas
• AMTRA Chairman

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Past History

• Long-history of SQP training and registration
  schemes.
• In 1991 AMTRA replaced AHTAG.
• Long-history of uncertainty for SQPs and
  businesses because of legislative position.
• Initially premises registration linked to Code of
  Practice.
• Then link was a fit and proper person to
  authorise sales.
• AMTRA system evolved to deal with change.

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Recent History

• Recent threat began with the EU Veterinary
  Medicines Review 2000.
• Final outcomes were the excellent UK Veterinary
  Medicines Regulations 2005.
• AMTRA moved towards becoming professional body
  for SQPs - covering training, professional ethics
  and representation.

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Regulations 2005 SQPs become fully legally
recognised as a professional group.

• Regulations say there are 3 different types of
  Registered Qualified Person (RQP)
• a veterinary surgeon registered with the Royal
  College of Veterinary Surgeons
• a pharmacist registered with the Royal
  Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain or the
  Pharmaceutical society of Northern Ireland
• an SQP who is registered with a body approved by
  the Secretary of State.

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Also the role of SQPs becomes embedded in the
classification of veterinary medicines.

• POM - V
• Prescription Only Medicine -Veterinarian
• POM VPS
• Prescription Only Medicine -Veterinarian,
  Pharmacist, SQP
• NFA VPS
• Non-Food Animal Veterinarian, Pharmacist, SQP
• AVM-GSL
• Authorised Veterinary Medicine General Sales
  List

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Also SQP becomes legally and professionally
defined.

• To become an SQP it is necessary to pass
  examinations set by a body approved by the
  Secretary of State and to be registered with such
  a body.

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Also requirements for the profession body become
defined.

• Provide training to supply POM-VPS and NFA-VPS.
• Through an appropriate training programme.
• Set standards in deciding whether or not to
  register someone as SQP.
• Operate an appeals system for anyone with
  appropriate qualifications that it refuses to
  register.
• Maintain Continuous Professional Development
  (CPD) programme.

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SQP Competencies (1)

• Basic knowledge of anatomy, physiology and
  nutrition.
• Knowledge of legislation in the distribution
  category and Code of Practice.
• Information on products sufficient to sell
  appropriate medicine and advise on use, storage,
  disposal and despatch/distribution
• How to obtain knowledge of farm to enable
  appropriate advice to be given.

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SQP Competencies (2)

• How to interpret animal health plans.
• Disease control/parasite control strategies
  (including husbandry methods which minimise
  disease and medicines interactions).
• What each RQP type can sell and when to refer a
  customer to a veterinary surgeon.
• How to submit information to the VMD Suspected
  Adverse Reaction system.

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SQP Competencies (3)

• The requirements for registered premises.
• Strategies to optimise the use of medicines.
• Recognition of the limits of an SQPs knowledge
  and competence and implications of actions.
• Mandatory CPD (this should be at least one
  additional option to be available to SQPs at
  least once each year.

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Required SQP level of SQP competencies is
stipulated.
NVQ/SVQ
Scotland
England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Masters degree
Masters degree
Level 5
BSc 3-years
BSc 4-years
Level 4
SQP training
Level 3
Entry to Higher Education
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(No Transcript)
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Schematic Model of Professional Body and QA system
SQP in Practice
Training course design
Trainers/centres offering courses
HAUC
AMTRA
Candidate
Registered SQP
Qualification
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Actions on New System
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Actions on New System
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Legislation allows for several possible SQP
categories.

• All animals (food and non-food producing)
• All food producing animals
• Equines
• Companion animals
• Specified species

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Principles of Modular Course Approach
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Other SQP Groups?

• Manufacturers Sales Representatives (option).
• Veterinary nurses.
• Pharmacy technicians.
• Specialist suppliers.