Conditional registration
Returning to practice
Veterinary practitioners seeking to return to practice in the ACT after a period of absence are expected to demonstrate that they can practise safely, ethically, and within their current area of competence. The Board requires applicants to reflect on their professional readiness, including any changes in veterinary standards, legislation, or clinical practice that may have occurred during their time away. Applicants should be prepared to outline any steps taken to update their knowledge and skills, such as continuing professional development, mentoring, or supervised practice.
Practitioners must also acknowledge any limitations in their current scope and commit to working within those boundaries.
Where necessary, the Board may impose registration conditions to support a safe return to practice. These conditions may include requirements for supervision, restricted scope of practice, or completion of specific professional development activities. Such measures are designed to uphold public safety and animal welfare while supporting practitioners in re-establishing their professional competence.
Registration of foreign graduates
If you have received your Veterinary qualification in a country other than Australia, you are encouraged to review the Qualifications Generally Recognised by the AVBC list. This will indicate whether your qualification is suitable for the practice of veterinary science in Australasia.
If, however, your qualification is not listed, conditional registration may be granted to overseas-qualified veterinarians who have completed preliminary assessments and meet the requirements under the Veterinary Practice Act 2018. The ACT Veterinary Practitioners Board assesses each application on a case-by-case basis and may impose conditions based on qualifications, experience, or public interest consideration.
The Conditional Registration of Foreign Veterinary Graduates policy outlines that conditional registration may be granted only to foreign-trained veterinary graduates who have commenced the Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE) process. Specifically, applicants must meet one of the following pathways:
- Pathway A: Completion of AVBC Stage 1 (Eligibility Screening) and successful completion of the AVE Multiple Choice Questionnaire (MCQ); or
- Pathway B: Completion of AVBC Stage 1 and successful completion of both the Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE) and the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), with evidence of registration for an upcoming AVE MCQ sitting
Once you have determined you eligibility for registration in the ACT, please complete the VP01 – Application for Veterinary Practitioner Registration form (PDF 395.0 KB).
Upon review of your application, the Board may impose conditions such as:
- supervised practice
- limitation to specific types of practice
- completion of further assessments or CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
These conditions will be clearly outlined in your registration notice if applicable.
Definition of conditions
- Direct supervision: Where the Board determines that a veterinary practitioner must work under the direct supervision of another registered veterinary practitioner, the veterinarian subject to this condition must only perform restricted acts of veterinary science when the supervising veterinarian is located at the same premises and available for consultation.
- Direct and immediate supervision: Where the Board determines that a veterinary practitioner must work under the direct and immediate supervision of another registered veterinary practitioner, the practitioner subject to this condition must only perform restricted acts of veterinary science in the presence of the supervising veterinarian.
