Who is the Board
The Veterinary Services Regulatory Board of South Australia (the Board) 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 functions of the Board include determining applications for registration. The Board receives queries from students and graduating veterinarians about the Board, its functions and how to enter the profession. This information sheet is a guide for students and graduating veterinarians about registration and entering the profession.
When you can register
You can apply to the Board for registration when the following criteria have been met:
- You have qualifications recognised by the Board for the purposes of registration on the register to which the application relates; and
- have met the requirements determined by the Board to be necessary for the purposes of registration on that register; and
- are medically fit to provide veterinary services as a veterinarian; and
- are a fit and proper person to be registered on that register
A person will be taken to have the qualifications recognised by the Board for the purposes of registration if they have completed the academic requirements for those qualifications, but not yet had the relevant academic reward conferred upon them.
The Board encourages you to assess the required information on our website and in the online application ahead of time to ensure that you are ready to apply if you intend to work immediately after graduation.
The Board endeavours to review all graduate applications as expediently as possible; however, your application may take up to 21 business days to review. If it appears likely to the Executive Officer that the Board will grant an application for registration, the Executive Officer may provisionally register the applicant. In that case, you will be taken to be registered, and this will remain valid until your application can be considered by the Board.
When can you work
As soon as you have received confirmation from the Board that you are registered, you are permitted to work as a veterinarian. This includes a granted provisional registration.
You do not need to register as soon as you complete your studies if you do not intend to start work immediately. However, registration is granted for a 12-month period so, if you intend to work in the year following your graduation, it would be prudent to ensure that you are registered in time to commence work as a veterinarian.
Graduate veterinarians must seek supervision from within the practice or from other experienced veterinarians, as appropriate, for a minimum of 12 months.
Graduating in South Australia with the intention of practising in another jurisdiction
If you intend to work in another jurisdiction immediately after graduating in South Australia, you do not need to register with the South Australian Board unless you intend to work in this state. However, you cannot work in South Australia unless you are registered. You may be able to deem in South Australia if you are registered in a recognised jurisdiction however, this will depend on individual circumstances.
Every state and territory Board in Australia has different registration requirements and time frames for registration. South Australia’s registration period operates on a calendar year; however, some other jurisdictions operate on a financial year. Before applying to register in another jurisdiction, contact the Board you intend to register with to discuss your options for registration.
Deeming
Deemed registration means that a veterinarian from a participating jurisdiction is treated as being registered under the Act even though they have not applied for primary registration on the general register in South Australia. The same applies for South Australian registered veterinarians working in another jurisdiction in Australia or New Zealand using their South Australian registration without the need to apply for primary registration in the other jurisdiction. The purpose is to recognise veterinarians registered elsewhere, facilitating mobility, avoiding duplicative registration, while still ensuring safety, oversight and standards.
In South Australia, there is no time limit for deeming as long as the veterinarians principal place of residence remains in another jurisdiction. If your principal place of residence becomes South Australia, you must apply for primary registration.
If you are deeming in another jurisdiction, using your South Australian registration and your circumstances result in your primary residence becoming another jurisdiction without the intention to return to South Australia, you must be removed from the South Australian register.
It is important to check your deeming entitlements with the participating jurisdictions in which you wish to work if you are exercising your right to work around Australia.
Providing veterinary services
You cannot provide veterinary services in South Australia for money or other consideration unless you are a registered veterinarian. Providing veterinary services (other than those permitted to be performed by persons other than a veterinarian under the Act) when you have completed your studies but are not yet registered is not permitted.
If a person holds themselves out as a veterinarian, or a specialist, or particular class of specialist, or permits another person to do so unless that person is actually registered, they have committed an offence with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months.
Students and graduating veterinarians may wish to continue to work as a veterinary nurse or technologist if they are not registered, but must ensure that they are only performing tasks that they are permitted to, and not holding themselves out as a veterinarian. See nurse and technologist information sheet.
Important resources
The Board’s website contains publicly available information relevant to the registration and regulation of veterinarians and veterinary premises. Once you register, you will have access to important veterinarian-related news and information via the veterinarian portal. Signing up to the Board’s mailing list and following the Board’s newsletter and website updates will ensure you do not miss important information the Board communicates about your registration and the veterinary profession.
Veterinary students and graduates should familiarise themselves with the Board’s information, Codes, guidelines, standards and policies available on our website.