Who can practise as a veterinarian in this state?

Only a person whose name is currently on the South Australian Veterinary Surgeons Register.

Who can register?

To be eligible for automatic registration in this state, legislation requires that applicants must have either gained their veterinary degree from a prescribed institution located in Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom, or have gained admission to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in London by examination.

With recent changes in legislation, we also recognise graduates from the University of Pretoria (Onderstepoort), and graduates of American Veterinary Medical Association accredited / approved universities (including State University of Utrecht), who have passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam.

National Veterinary Examination (NVE)

If none of the above criteria applies, to achieve full registration in this State, applicants must pass the National Veterinary Examination (NVE) conducted by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Incorporated (AVBC). The AVBC is the assessing body for the profession of veterinary science for the purpose of migration. You can download a brochure which gives more information about the NVE (NVE Brochure) as well as contact details.

Once eligibility of residency is established, and qualifications assessed, the NVE involves a 3-part exam: english test, multiple choice question test and a clinical exam. For more information, contact the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Incorporated at Level 8, 470 Collins St, Melbourne, Victoria 3000 or visit their web site.

Specialist Registration

Types of Registration

Registration as a Veterinary Surgeon in South Australia, under the Veterinary Practice Act, 2003 is available in the following categories:

Ordinary (Primary) Registration - for persons resident in SA for 6 months or more.
Secondary Registration - Where the applicant's principal place of residence and practice is outside this state.
Limited Registration - For the purpose of gaining experience, teaching or undertaking research where the qualifications don't meet the requirements under the Act and/or the applicant is undertaking the National Veterinary Examination, and working under supervision.
Limited Non-practicing - For veterinarians who are not practicing but work in an industry where Registration is a requirement (ie Government employee); veterinarians who may seek to upgrade their registration at a later date; and retired veterinarians who wish to remain on the Register and receive information from the Board.
Specialist Registration - The prescribed branches of veterinary surgery in relation to which a person may currently be registered on a register of specialists are as follows:
- Veterinary Anaesthesiology
- Veterinary Medicine
- Ophthalmology
- Pathobiology
- Reproduction
- Surgery
- Radiology
Provisional Registration - Where a person has applied for registration and in the opinion of the Registrar, the Board is likely to grant the application. Registration takes effect from the commencement of Provisional Registration.
Permit - A permit may be issued to a suitable person subject to such conditions as the Board sees fit.

Recency of practice

Under S.43 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003, the Board considers applications from veterinarians seeking to register as, or upgrade to, primary registration (ie practicing veterinarian) - if the applicant has not practiced for 3 or more years. Applicants should discuss their application with the Registrar if these circumstances apply.

Renewal of Registration

The Veterinary Practice Act 2003 requires that every registered person shall, in each calendar year, by 31st December, pay to the Board, the prescribed annual practice fee for the following year. In addition, every primary registrant must provide information relating to the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) undertaken during that year. The Board may remove from the Register the name of a person who fails to do so. Restoration to the Register due to any lapse requires payment of an additional fee. The Register is published in the Government Gazette in March of each year.

Contact details - address and email address

All registrants are required to inform the Registrar of any change to their name or address. You can provide this information by fax, telephone or email.

The office attempts to keep an uptodate list of email addresses for SA registrants also. If you have changed your email address, please contact the office and let us know your current address.

Fees

Click here for registration and renewal fees applicable from 1 January 2012: Scale of fees current

How do you register?

Complete the form (see below) and send, with fee and attachments as required to the Veterinary Surgeons Board. Passport sized photograph, proof of qualifications and if currently registered a Letter of Professional Standing from the current registering authority, will be required. If you are a new graduate, you may send two References (sample references are on the Forms page of this site), rather than a Letter of Professional Standing. If you have any queries, contact the office - admin@vsbsa.org.au

Applications for Registration as a Veterinary Surgeon in South Australia

Registration Application (primary or secondary).

Go to the Forms page of this website to download the Application Form for Limited Registration and for Reinstatement to the Register. Form A for Secondary Registration is also on the Forms page, as well as a sample 'Reference' for new graduates registering for the first time.