Specialist registration

The title veterinary specialist and related terms are legally restricted to persons who have achieved higher veterinary qualifications and are registered as veterinary specialists by Australian veterinary boards.

The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria endorses veterinary practitioners to practise in Victoria as veterinary specialists in branches of veterinary surgery or medicine. Prerequisites for endorsement are:

1. The veterinary practitioner must have general registration in Victoria.
2. The practitioner must have satisfactorily completed a post-graduate qualification in a recognised branch of veterinary surgery or medicine.
3. The practitioner must have practised, or must be currently practising, in the specified branch of veterinary surgery or medicine.

Application information

• Applying for first-time specialist registration in Australia or New Zealand
• Applying if you are already registered as a specialist in Australia or New Zealand
• Application form
• Application and endorsement fees
• Privacy of your information   

Applying for first-time specialist registration in Australian or New Zealand

1. If you do not have general registration in Victoria > Apply for general registration.
2. Get your qualifications and training assessed by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) following the instructions on the AVBC website.
3. If the AVBC recommends you for endorsement as a veterinary specialist, complete Vetboard Victoria's specialist endorsement application form (below) and email it to [email protected]
4. After you lodge your application, we will email you an invoice for application and endorsement fees. On payment, the Board will consider the application at at its next monthly meeting.

Applying if you are already registered as a specialist in Australia or New Zealand

1. If you do not have general registration in Victoria > Apply for general registration.
2. Arrange with the registration authority where you are endorsed as a specialist to email a Letter of professional standing confirming your specialist registration to [email protected]
3. Complete Vetboard Victoria's specialist endorsement application form (below) and email it to [email protected]
4. After you lodge your application, we will email you an invoice for application and endorsement fees. On payment, the Board will consider the application at at its next monthly meeting.

Vetboard Victoria specialist endorsement application form

Application and endorsement fees

Board fees for specialist endorsement during the 2020-2021 financial year are:

• $155 application fee 
• $260 specialist endorsement fee (payable each year)
• If you are also applying for general registration, general registration fees of $390 (or $195 for the period 1 December to 30 June). 

Privacy of your information

The Board will only use and disclose personal information collected in the registration form for the purposes of registration, unless the Board has obtained your consent to use the information for additional purposes. More information: Privacy and data protection policy