Abstract
The learning process for veterinary surgeons is lengthy, and after five years at university they still experience an extensive skills gap. This longitudinal study examines the experiences of twenty-five newly qualified vets as they transition from student to practitioner, highlighting the role of Communities of Practice in the socialization process. The vets were interviewed at three points over an 18-month period. The vets were employed in small independent practices through to large corporate practices, with this organisational context shaping their socialisation experience. The paper draws on both the Socialization and Communities of Practice literature to examine the structure of Communities of Practice in the veterinary profession and to identify the content of the learning and support they offer. It argues that positive relationships between novices and old-timers are necessary for the CoP to support learning.