Registration information

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Qualifications

A person is entitled to be registered as a veterinary surgeon in Queensland if the person is of good fame and character and is the holder of a recognised veterinary degree.

Good fame and character is demonstrated immediately after graduation by provision of personal references and thereafter by certificates of good standing from the veterinary boards of states or countries from where the person was last registered.

Queensland recognises degrees in veterinary science accredited by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc (5) the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (7) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (32) provided holders of the latter have passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, in addition to membership of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons attained by examination.

Persons possessing a degree or who have membership from these institutions are automatically eligible for registration in Australia providing they are of good fame and character and have been in good standing with their previous registration boards.

Persons possessing a degree from other veterinary institutions throughout the world  must first sit and pass a National Veterinary Examination (NVE) conducted by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc before they are eligible for registration.  The NVE consists of an occupational English test if required, and a written and clinical examination.  Successful completion of the NVE indicates the certificate holder has skills and knowledge equivalent to that of a graduate of an Australian Veterinary School.

Categories of veterinary surgeon registration

Primary registration applies to all registrants who do not qualify for secondary registration.

Secondary registration is available to veterinarians who are registered as veterinarians in at least one State/Territory of Australia outside Queensland which can be qualified as the registrant’s ‘home’ state of primary registration.

Discounted fees apply to secondary registrations.  Otherwise all conditions of registration apply equally to primary and secondary registrations.

Limited registration is available to current veterinary registrants of jurisdictions of Australia and New Zealand who have reason to apply for registration in Queensland for a period not exceeding thirty days.

Restoration to register

Veterinarians who have been removed from the Register of Veterinary Surgeons at their own request or due to non-payment of the annual registration renewal fee may make application for restoration of their name to the Register.

Veterinary specialist

A veterinarian is entitled to be registered as a veterinary specialist if the person satisfies the Board that:

1. the person has gained special skill in the veterinary specialty with respect to which the person applies to be registered;
2. the special skill was gained in practising veterinary science for a period of at least five years;
3. the person is the holder of a recognised qualification that relates to that specialty.

The certifying bodies that set the standards acceptable for specialist registration are:

The Australian College of Veterinary Scientists
The American Board of Veterinary Specialties
The European Board of Veterinary Specialisation
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

A list of recognised specialist categories and the applicable qualification is shown as Annex A in the Specialist Registration Information Booklet.

It is an offence for a person who is not a registered veterinary specialist to use a title that consists of, or includes the words ‘veterinary specialist’, or an abbreviation of the words or another title or name suggesting in the context used that the person is a specialist.

Uniform primary and secondary registration conditions apply to specialists as do to surgeons.

Specialists who have been removed from the Register of Veterinary Specialists may make application for restoration of their name to the Register.

Overseas graduates with non-accredited qualifications

Overseas veterinarians with qualifications that are not accredited for the purposes of registration in Australia may apply for candidacy of the National Veterinary Examination (NVE) conducted by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc (AVBC).  Follow the link to the AVBC website.  www.avbc.asn.au

Approval for non–registered veterinarians to perform certain acts of veterinary science under direction

The Board may grant approval for a person to perform certain acts of veterinary science under the direction of a registered veterinarian. Approval may be considered in circumstances where the person must comply with further requirements before the person’s qualifications can be recognised as entitling the holder to registration in the State.

Consideration of approvals will be restricted to the following applicants:

Graduate veterinarians with overseas qualifications not recognised as entitling the holder to registration in Australia without further examination:

How to apply

Contact the Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland for details of forms, documentation and payment required. Details can be emailed, faxed or posted to you on same day. For veterinary surgeon application forms, Specialist Registration Information Booklet and payment forms go to Forms. The requirement for submission of original witnessed documents and accompanying documentation prevents on-line application.

Accompanying documentation must always include a certified copy of photograph identification endorsed 'This is a true photograph of (FULL Name)', endorsed by either

(i) a Commissioner of Declarations, Justice of Peace, Public Notary; or

(ii) a registered veterinary surgeon (requires the veterinary surgeon's signature, place of registration, registration number)

A letter confirming the applicant's good standing with the veterinary registration authority of current registration must be forwarded direct to the Queensland Veterinary Surgeons Board from that authority.

If not currently registered elsewhere, a minimum of two references attesting as to the applicant's good fame and character from either responsible members of the veterinary profession or persons of good repute in the community who have known the applicant for no less than twelve months must be provided.

Locum agencies

The following locum agencies can assist registered veterinarians and veterinary nurses seeking employment in the veterinary industry.

Kookaburra Veterinary Employment
PO Box W266
WEST TAMWORTH  NSW  2340
Ph/Fax: (02) 6769 0344
Email: jobs@kookaburravets.com
Website: www.kookaburravets.com

Vetlink Employment Service
PO Box 457
ELWOOD VIC 3184
Phone: +61 3 9596 5277
Fax: +61 3 9530 6632
Free Call: 1800 991 991 (within Australia)
Email: denise@vetlink.com.au
Website: www.vetlink.com.au (for permanent job vacancy listings)

or

PO Box 22
NORTH FREMANTLE WA 6159
Phone: +61 8 9430 9990
Fax: +61 8 9430 9994
Free Call: 1800 991 993 (within Australia)
Email: mark@vetlink.com.au
Website: www.vetlink.com.au (for permanent job vacancy listings)

Annual renewal of registration

It is the responsibility of all veterinarians to renew their registration annually.  A registration renewal notice will be forwarded to veterinarians at their nominated postal address.  The Board’s statutory responsibility is to remove from the Register the name of any person who has not renewed registration before 31 January in each year.  It is not responsible for locating that person before doing so.

Veterinarians will receive mailings from the Board as deemed necessary.  Circulars addressing important issues and annual notice for renewal of registration (posted early December) will be forwarded to the last nominated postal address given to the Board.

It is essential that the Board be notified immediately of any change in business, private or postal address. 

Limits of registration

Registration in Queensland does not entitle a veterinarian to practise outside Queensland.  Veterinarians must register in each individual jurisdiction in Australia and overseas where they intend to practise.

Links have been established with the individual veterinary boards of Australia and New Zealand, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the American Veterinary Medical Association and the South African Veterinary Council

Fees

Refer to the Schedule of Fees.