The clinical EMS program is a 26-week clinical educational partnership program with veterinary profession, government and industry. The program is comprised of 6 weeks of Pre-clinical EMS, followed by 20 weeks of clinical EMS covering both small and large animals.

At the EMS placement, one veterinarian will be the Placement Supervisor, and will be the major point of contact for the JCC Pre-Clinical and Clinical EMS Coordinator and for the student. During pre-clinical EMS placement, the student will work under the day-to-day direction of the Placement Supervisor who may also assign the student to work with other clinicians on a one-to-one basis. With the permission of the owners, in accordance with the policy of the particular practice, and within the legal constraints of the Veterinary Surgeons’ Registration Ordinance, students will, under the close and direct supervision of a registered veterinary surgeon, participate in the clinical examination, diagnosis, treatment, and surgery of animals and the recording of case data. Students will also familiarize themselves with the veterinary clinic/hospital design and business model, the services provided, pharmacy management, teamwork, professional behaviour, animal management and patient record management systems.

Students will undertake their Pre-clinical EMS in three two-week blocks, with each block being undertaken in a different practice. Two weeks of small animal practice and two weeks of equine or livestock practice are a compulsory requirement for successful completion of this course. The remaining two-week placement is an elective placement chosen by the students in areas of their career interest.

Students will undertake their 20 weeks of Clinical EMS in four-week blocks with each block being undertaken at school-approved external locations. Some of the establishments will be outside of Hong Kong. One of the four-week blocks will be undertaken at an approved public, industry, or community agency servicing the livestock industries and/or public health. The four remaining blocks of placements are elective placements chosen by the students in areas of their career interest.

Both Pre-clinical EMS and Clinical EMS make a major contribution towards the development of the competencies, skills and attributes required by the Australasian Veterinary Board Council Inc (AVBC) of veterinary graduates. It also contributes to the development of the general professional skills and attributes, practical and clinical competencies expected by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) of newly qualified graduates. Pre-clinical EMS and Clinical EMS will also contribute to the underpinning knowledge and understanding required by RCVS in relation to the development of effective interpersonal skills and an ethical approach to animals and veterinary practice.