Information for veterinary practice managers
The Veterinary Services Regulatory Board of South Australia assists the Minister in administering the Veterinary Services Act 2023 (the Act). An objective of the Board is to regulate the provision of veterinary services for the purposes of maintaining high standards of competence and conduct by veterinarians supporting animal health, safety and welfare and the public interest.
The Board regularly receives queries from practice managers of veterinary premises relating to employed veterinarians’ obligations and premises registration. This information sheet intends to assist practice managers with common queries relating to registration and understand when a practice manager may be communicating with the Board.
Employing veterinarians
A veterinarian must be registered in South Australia prior to providing veterinary services for money or other consideration unless they are able to deem from interstate until they obtain registration. For more information, please refer to the registration information sheet.
If veterinarians starting at the practice are relocating from overseas, encourage applicants to utilise our online services and information on the website before applying for registration. Veterinarians from overseas must be registered in South Australia before they are able to provide veterinary services for money or other consideration and application processing can take up to 30 business days. Additionally, some applications do not meet all requirements, are not able to be provided provisional registration and have to await Board approval, which may extend processing timeframes.
Annual return and veterinarian registration
Veterinarians who are currently registered, renew their registration each year by completing an annual return and renewal. This process only applies to registered veterinarians and not support staff. Every veterinarian must complete an annual return, even if they are not renewing their registration. Veterinarian registration renewal and payment is due by 31 December every year.
An annual return and renewal is a declaration about the veterinarians previous 12 months. It must be completed personally by the veterinarian and practice managers must not submit annual returns and renewals on behalf of veterinarians. Some veterinary practices pay for the registration fees of their employed veterinarians however, the Board does not provide third party invoices and so payment of a veterinarian’s registration must be done at the time of renewal or by way of reimbursement.
Premises registration
As of 1 July 2026, every veterinary premises providing veterinary services must be registered. A responsible person has to be appointed in respect of every veterinary premises. In most circumstances, this will be a practice owner or South Australian registered veterinarian however, in some cases, this role may be undertaken by a practice manager.
Veterinary premises renewal becomes due on the registration anniversary date each year and can only be completed by the appointed responsible person. The annual renewal is a declaration and must not be completed by a practice manager, unless the practice manager has been formally appointed as the sole responsible person.
Clinical records and other information
As a practice manager, you may be asked by the Board to assist with a request for clinical records or other documentation where there has been a complaint against a veterinarian or a premises. You may also be asked other general information such as which veterinarians are working at the practice or who the appointed responsible person of a practice is.
The Boards website contains helpful resources for veterinarians, premises and the public which may assist practice managers to implement policies and assist veterinarians and support staff with any internal questions. You can also seek further assistance by emailing the Board at [email protected]