Apply for general registration in Victoria

The information on this page is for persons who have previously worked as a vet in another jurisdiction and are applying for general registration for the first time in Victoria. If you are new graduate who has never worked as a vet before, please go to new graduate registration.


DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES?

Eligibility for general registration

In Victoria, a person must be a registered veterinary practitioner to practise as a veterinarian. General registration is the standard type of registration for veterinarians in Victoria. In most cases a veterinary practitioner holding general registration has unrestricted registration. They can be employed as a vet by any business or organisation, work as a locum vet or treat their own animals. 

You can apply for general registration in Victoria if:
  • your principal place of residence is in Victoria or will be in Victoria while you are practising
  • you have been awarded a qualification recognised by the Board: List of qualifications generally recognised (AVBC website)

If your qualification is not recognised by the Board, you may be eligible for a type of registration called "specific registration", i.e. limited registration with conditions. Check if you are eligible: Specific registration

Are you a veterinary student who will soon be awarded your degree? New graduate registration
Held general registration in Victoria before? Re-register in Victoria
Want to convert to general from non-practising or specific registration? Contact Board staff

Application dates

Applications are considered on the second Tuesday of each month and must be submitted 2 weeks before that date. For registration earlier than the next registration date or if you miss the application date for the next registration date, you can request fast track processing of your application for an additional fee.

Vets already registered in other Australian states: South Australian and ACT vets must register immediately after moving to Victoria; others - see dates below.

Next application dates:
  • 5 June for registration on 1 July 2026 (including vets relocating from New South Wales, Tasmania and Western Australia)
  • 23 June 2026 for registration on 14 July 2026
  • 21 July 2026 for registration on 11 August 2026
  • 18 August 2026 for registration on 8 September 2026
  • 22 September 2026 for registration on 13 October 2026
  • 20 October 2026 for registration on 10 November 2026
  • 17 November 2026 for registration on 8 December 2026
  • 15 December 2026 for registration on 1 January 2027

Application process and form

READ THESE STEPS FIRST. YOU MUST UNDERTAKE ALL STEPS INCLUDING PAYMENT FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE COMPLETE:
  • STEP 1 - Prepare all documents to upload to the application form:
    • Document to be emailed to us directly by other organisation:
    • If you are working as a vet (or have previously worked as a vet), please arrange for the registration authority where you are currently or were last registered to email a letter of good standing or license verification to [email protected]. The letter will only be valid for 3 months and must still be current on the day you are granted registration.
    • Applicants with qualifications from Canada, France, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea, the USA and the West Indies also need to show they have the NAVLE: please arrange for a VAULT Basic score transfer to be emailed to [email protected]
    Documents to be uploaded to the application form:
    IMPORTANT Certification of documents: Some documents listed below must be certified by a person authorised to certify documents. Certified copies are documents that have been authenticated as true copies of the originals. They must be authenticated in person, not electronically.  For a list of types of persons who can authenticate documents in Australia, go to: certified copies of original documents. If you are not in Australia, the documents must be authenticated by someone authorised to do so in your country. An Australian Consulate or Embassy in your country may be able to certify your documents: Notarial services (legalising documents) overseas
    1. Your veterinary qualification document. This is the official certificate/testamur awarded after you completed your veterinary qualification. Note for UK applicants, an RCVS registration certificate is not a qualification document - your testamur will have been awarded by your University.
      • If you graduated from an Australian or New Zealand university, we will accept a download link shared directly from the My eQuals portal instead of an uploaded document.
      • If you are an international graduate or an Australian or New Zealand graduate not sharing your document via My eQuals, upload a high quality colour PDF copy of your qualification document which has been certified as a true copy of the original by a person authorised to certify documents (see information about certification of documents above). If your qualification document is not in English, it must be translated by an authorised translator and the translation must also be certified.
    2. Proof of your identity via one of the two methods below:
      • Electronic verification: if you have an Australian driver's licence or passport or you have a foreign passport + an Australian visa and are currently in Australia, you can choose to verify your identity electronically and we'll email you instructions about how to do this.
      • Certified ID: if you have a foreign (not Australian) passport but no visa or do not wish to verify your identity electronically, you must upload a high quality colour certified copy of your passport page or (Australian residents only) the front and back of your driver's licence (see certification of documents information above).
    3. An up-to-date personal resume (CV). This should include all your education, work and veterinary activities up to now. The resume should explain any gaps in your veterinary work or activities. The resume should include your place of birth, and your places of primary, secondary and tertiary education. If English is not your primary language, the resume should provide details of your English language education.
    4. A change of name document if you are re-registering under a different name than the name on your photo ID or degree testamur. The copy must be certified as a true copy of the original by a person authorised to certify documents (see information about certification of documents above).
    5. Only if you have previously done an accredited English language test, results of IELTS, PTE Academic, OET, or TOEFL iBT. The results must be certified as a true copy of the original by an authorised certifier of documents (see information about certification of documents above).
    6. If you first registered as a vet more than 3 years ago but have not practised as a vet within the last 3 years, evidence of training undertaken to prepare to return to practice.
  • STEP 2 - Create an account in your legal name via the application form link below. Your name should include your first, middle and family name if that is your legal name. After you have created an account, you can start your application and complete it later.
  • STEP 3 - Complete the application form, uploading prepared documents as required. The form will appear after you create your account.
  • STEP 4 - Pay required fees via credit or debit card (MasterCard or Visa). Fees include an application processing fee and registration fees (to 30 June). Other fees may be charged if your application is complex or received late (see dates above). Current fee schedule: Vetboard fees
  • STEP 5 - If you have consented to electronic verification of your identity, you will need to do this on your mobile phone. Get your identity document(s) ready and open the email we have sent to you in your mobile - it may take 10 minutes to arrive. Click on the link on the email, VERIFY YOUR IDENTITY. If the email does not arrive within 10 minutes, please contact us.
  • STEP 6 - Take any other actions listed in our email, e.g. arrange for a letter of professional standing to be emailed to us by the relevant registration authority.

Privacy of your information: The Board will only use and disclose personal information collected in the application form for the purposes of registration, unless the Board has obtained your consent to use the information for additional purposes. More information: Privacy policy. You may have the option to verify your identity electronically. For information about how your personal information is handled for this purpose, view our Identity verification collection notice. 

Application form

You will be asked some questions to check your eligibility, then directed to create an account and complete an application form.
Click here for general registration stream

Non-standard registration options

Select the option that applies to you from the list below:

Mutual recognition of existing Australian or New Zealand registration
If you do not have a recognised qualification but have current veterinary registration in another Australian jurisdiction or New Zealand, you can apply for registration under mutual recognition law.
>> Make an enquiry about registering under mutual recognition law

General registration for purposes of specialist endorsement
If you have specialist qualifications you may be eligible to apply for general registration. View our policy: Specialist registration of persons with unrecognised primary degree.

Specific registration
If you do not have a recognised qualification and are not registered in another Australian jurisdiction or New Zealand, you may be eligible to apply for "specific registration" with conditions imposed on your registration.
>> Learn more about specific registration

If you have not practised as a veterinary practitioner for 3 or more years, please contact the Board first to discuss your circumstances.

You will need to provide information to help the Board assess your current competencies and understand how you have been preparing to return to veterinary practice. Examples: proof of CPD/study such as the AVA's Return to Work program and/or arrangements with a proposed employer to supervise you.

The Board's registration decision will be based on your circumstances and the information you provide with your application. Options available to the Board are to:
  1. grant general registration, expecting that you follow Board Guideline 9 – Practising within areas of technical competence
    OR
  2. grant general registration and impose conditions on your registration under section 6(3) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 (VPA) with a view to strengthening your general competencies in veterinary medicine. Conditions may include supervision by a registered veterinary practitioner for a period of time or completing training. The Board may also impose a condition restricting your practice to a specific field of veterinary medicine.
    OR
  3. refuse grant of registration until you undertake further training. Section 5(2) of the VPA states, ‘if the Board is satisfied that an applicant would not be able to provide the standard of veterinary services ordinarily required in Victoria because the applicant has not practised as a veterinary practitioner within the 3 years preceding the application it may refuse to grant general registration unless the applicant undertakes further training approved by the Board’. An example of the training you may be required to undertake is the AVA’s Return to Work program.
If you were previously registered in Victoria or currently have non-practising registration, go to: Re-register in Victoria