2025 PgCertDent Initial Deposit

Postgraduate Certificate Professional Development in Small Animal Dentistry

Become a Dynamic Small Animal Dentist in just 12 months!

Secure your place on the 2025 intake now with a deposit of £997 + VAT.

Download a Brochure with Full Course Information Now

This course, starting in October 2025, will help you to develop your confidence and skills in small animal dentistry and gain a valuable qualification in as little as 12 months.

Reserve your place now, and look forward to nine full days of hands-on practical dentistry training with expert and approachable tutors helping you develop your skills.

Why Choose this PgCert?

• Primarily Practical Training – 9 days of hands-on practicals to develop new skills
• Valuable work-based learning skills that you can use throughout your career
• Get your PgCert qualification in a 12 month timeframe
• Full support for continuous assessment by critically reflective essay – no formal exams
• Extensive online resources to provide a framework for your study – webinars, online Mini Series courses, eBooks and bespoke reflective writing resources
• Enjoy access to your online course materials from CPD Solutions for a full year after graduating
• RCVS Knowledge Library membership and Journal of Veterinary Dentistry online membership – access to a wide range of full text eJournals
• A whole range of Course Bonuses including a text book, surgical instruments and CPD Vouchers
• A dedicated contact at CPD Solutions to help you throughout your study
• A valuable PgCert qualification from the University of Chester, leaders in work based learning

Your programme is divided into three modules and each module commences with a practical attendance session where you’ll learn new skills to take back to your practice:

• Essentials of Small Animal Dentistry
• Exodontics and Feline Dentistry
• Paediatric, Geriatric and Advanced Small Animal Dentistry

Practical attendance sessions:

• 1st to 3rd October 2025 (3 days)
• 4th to 6th February 2026 (3 days)
• 17th to 19th June 2026 (3 days)

You’ll combine these structured attendance courses with work-based reflective learning. During each module, you’ll complete a reflective essay that will be assessed by your tutor. You’ll receive plenty of help and guidance on how to write the essay and feedback on a draft from your tutor.

Course Tutors

Alex Smithson BVM&S BDS(Hons) Cert Endod Dip Endodontology MRCVS

Gerhard Putter BVSc DEVDC MRCVS MANZCVS (Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery)

Alix Freeman BA MA BVSc DipEVDC MRCVS, EBVS European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry

Andrew Perry BVSc DipEVDC MRCVS, EBVS European Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry

What’s your investment?

You can secure your place on this small group programme with a non-refundable deposit of £997 + VAT (£1196.40) paid to CPD Solutions. You can then select from the following payment options:

1. Save a full 10% of your course fee (£1144.70 + VAT) when you make full payment within 2 weeks of receiving your CPD Solutions invoice. The total CPD Solutions fee that you pay (inclusive of the deposit) is £10,302.30 + VAT (£12,362.76).

2. Pay in full at least 8 weeks before the course starts. The total CPD Solutions fee that you pay (inclusive of the deposit) is £11,447 + VAT (£13,736.40).

3. Spread your payments. After your initial deposit of £997 + VAT (£1196.40) you pay £2500 + VAT (£3000) by 31st July 2025, then 6 payments of £1325 + VAT (£1590) monthly from 1st September 2025 until 1st February 2026. The total CPD Solutions fee that you pay (inclusive of the deposit) is £11,447 + VAT (£13,736.40).

You also need to register with the University of Chester. The current 2024-25 registration fee is £2835* (no VAT applies) for UK students or £4425* (no VAT applies) for EU/International students.

* All University registration fees listed are for the 2024-25 academic year and will be subject to an increase for the 2025-26 academic year, which commences August 2025. 

NB Please note your payment options  shown above are for the CPD Solutions course fee – you still need to register with the University of Chester and pay their fee whichever option you choose.

Applicants for this study route must hold a veterinary degree and have at least 2 years postgraduate clinical experience. EU/International applicants who are not RCVS Members will need to satisfy the English Language proficiency requirements of the University of Chester (please see https://www.chester.ac.uk/international/how-to-apply/entry-requirements).

Download a Brochure with Full Course Information Now

Any questions? Please call us on 0151 328 0444 or email [email protected] and we’ll be delighted to help you.

What do Vets Say about the PgCert in Dentistry?

“Completing the PgCert has given me both practical skills and confidence to forward my interest in veterinary dentistry and allowed me to provide the best patient care possible. The tutors are excellent and very approachable, and the content is very clinically relevant. I am happy I made the decision to enrol.”  Charlotte Nicholson MRCVS

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Small Animal Dentistry course and feel I’ve progressed in this discipline massively since the start.” Eleanor Cowton MRCVS

“Excellent course with lots of scope for practical learning and experience.” Laura Prendergast MRCVS

“Brilliant practical sessions with lively in-depth discussions. Good time-frame over which to learn and feel improvement.” Mary Raho MRCVS

“I finally feel confident to be extracting teeth safely and with the least trauma possible. Dentistry is much less stressful.” Tim Pearson MRCVS

“Loved it. Already feel my dentistry has improved a lot because of what I have learnt.” Robert Smith MRCVS

“This has been above and beyond what I anticipated, and I’m so thankful I decided to do it. Coming from a very hands off equine certificate, I was worried that I would find this course similar, but the level of hands on practice was unreal, and the elearning combined with the case based assessment really helped hone and solidify the practical aspects. The practical components were fabulous. Having them as ‘intensives’ a few times a year was hugely beneficial for me, as it’s easier to travel down to England for a few days in a row rather than needing to be back and forward for one day every few weeks. Additionally, I found the tutors to be hugely knowledgeable and realistic in their expectations, they were able to talk through different approaches to suit the facilities present in our home clinics, as well as different techniques to best utilise our existing skills. I never had any difficulties with support, and when I did require additional help with assessments etc I was always able to get rapid responses to queries. My skill level has improved dramatically, and my confidence in new approaches as improved as well. ” Emma Carmody MRCVS

“Good amount of topics covered, excellent amount of wet lab practical time and enough time allocated to each task. Excellent tutors who can criticise and analyse the task performed and give great feedback points which are practical in clinic. Excellent wet lab time to be able to practice different techniques to a good standard, wide range of resources available online to prepare for practical days and refresh knowledge. Tutors were very good at teaching to an appropriate level and were very approachable throughout. Vast amount of techniques/procedures learnt, a manageable short time frame. Well structured programme, friendly/welcoming staff. ” Alice Humphrey MRCVS

“I have found this course has helped with my confidence in approaching most of the routine dental conditions presenting in my general practice. It has removed my worry about correct placement of local anaesthetic and vastly improved my radiographic skills. The rest of the group are really supportive and friendly making the lecturing environment very positive. Lecturers and all the staff involved are welcoming and friendly. This course is ideal for improving the skills of a good first opinion dentist, so we can provide the best treatment for our patients and improve the dental offering we can provide” Katherine Brierley MRCVS

“The course has made me a better vet delivering much better clinical outcomes for my patients.” Mark Gordon MRCVS

Download a Brochure with Full Course Information Now

Any questions? Please call us on 0151 328 0444 or email [email protected] and we’ll be delighted to help you.