Applicants wishing to apply to be on the register in South Australia whether as a graduate or a practicing veterinarian from overseas must have a qualification that is recognised by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Inc (‘AVBC’). More information can be found at www.avbc.asn.au. If a veterinarian’s qualification is not recognised, an application for registration can still be considered by the Board on a case by case basis.
Process
If an applicants’ qualifications are recognised by AVBC, they may apply for primary registration on the general register online. For more information, please see general registration information for full eligibility requirements.
If an applicants’ qualifications do not meet AVBC guidelines, an application can be submitted however, the Board will review the application to determine whether the applicant can be registered in South Australia and whether a limited registration will be granted or whether conditions are to be imposed.
The Board may determine that the applicant is required to sit the Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE) conducted by the AVBC. In that instance, limited registration can be granted after an applicant has passed the English language and multiple choice questions components of the AVE pending final examination. Enquiries about assessment of qualifications for the purpose of immigration, and the AVE, should be directed to the AVBC.
The registration application is a statutory declaration. It is an offence under section 91 of the Act to provide false or misleading information in your application, and criminal penalties may apply. Section 13(a)(iii) of the Regulations also stipulates that providing information relating to veterinarian qualifications for registration knowing that the information is false or misleading in a material particular may be considered unprofessional conduct.
Information required
In addition to general registration information, applicants may be required to submit the following:
- Proof of qualification via Letter of Professional Standing and certified copy of your qualification certificate (unless your degree can be verified through MyEquals)
- Proof of meeting English language requirements if your primary veterinary qualification is not taught in English via IELTS
- Proof of completion of the preliminary examination (MCQ section) of the Australasian Veterinary Exam or equivalent
- Proof of completion of recognised specialist qualifications (if applicable)
- Curriculum vitae
- Record of continuing professional development activity completed over the past 3 years (if any)
- Any proposed supervisory arrangements with your employer, including letter of support and agreement to the proposed supervisory arrangements. See supervision guidelines [link]
- If applying for registration for the purpose of teaching and/or undertaking research or study in South Australia, upload a letter from supervisor that outlines the nature and duration of the teaching, research or study assignment, and the nature and extent of the proposed supervision arrangements.
Limited registration
After assessing an application from an overseas veterinarian, the Board may grant limited registration.
Section 28(11) of the Act prescribes circumstances where the Board may grant limited registration.
If a person who applies for registration, or reinstatement of registration, on a particular register or in a particular specialty
- does not, in the opinion of the Board, have the necessary qualifications or experience required for registration on that register or in that specialty; or
- is not, in the opinion of the Board, medically fit to provide veterinary services as a veterinarian; or
- is not, in the opinion of the Board, a fit and proper person to be registered on that register; or
- does not, and does not propose to, have their principal place of residence in a participating jurisdiction but is visiting, or proposes to visit, this State.
The Board may grant limited registration in these circumstances to:
- enable the person to do whatever is necessary to become eligible for full registration under this Act, or
- to teach or to undertake research or study in this State, or
- to provide veterinary services or engage in other conduct as a veterinarian while visiting this State; or
- if the applicant does not have the necessary qualifications or experience required but the person, in the opinion of the Board, has appropriate qualifications or experience in a particular area of veterinary practice obtained in an overseas jurisdiction—in order to enable the person to provide veterinary services or engage in other conduct as a veterinarian in that area of veterinary practice while residing in or visiting this State; or
- if, in its opinion, it would otherwise be in the public interest to do so.
Conditions
The Board may impose one or more conditions on the veterinarian’s registration. These may comprise of:
- restricting the places or times at which the person may provide veterinary services as a veterinarian,
- limiting the kind of veterinary services that the person may provide
- limiting the kind of animal the person may provide veterinary services to
- limiting the period during which the registration will have effect
- require that the person be supervised (for more information see guideline on supervision)
- such other conditions as the Board thinks fit.
Fees
An application for primary registration on the general register must be accompanied with the prescribed fee being the application fee, and the annual practice fee in accordance with the schedule of fees.