Eligibility for specific registration in Victoria

If your primary veterinary qualification is not recognised in Victoria, you may be able to apply for "specific registration".

Conditions are imposed on specific registration, limiting your practice to a named employer for a maximum period of 36 months. You may also need to be supervised by a registered veterinary practitioner.

You can apply for specific registration if you have been:
  • offered a job to teach or research at the University of Melbourne (including Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital) - application under section 7(1)(b) Veterinary Practice Act 1997
  • offered an internship or other training at the University of Melbourne (not private practices) - s7(1)(a) VPA
  • offered a government job which requires registration as a veterinary practitioner - s7(1)(ba) VPA
  • offered a job or practical experience after passing written exams for a non-degree qualification, e.g. Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE) or US Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) - s7(1)(c) VPA. A registered vet at the practice must agree to provide direct supervision while you work or undertake practical experience. ECFVG candidates are only eligible for registration if they have a job offer and have passed both the BCSE and NAVLE exams. 
  • offered a job at a private practice and your employer provides comprehensive information showing there is a need to employ you - s7(1)(d) VPA. Your proposed employer must provide the information listed on pages 4 and 5 of the: VPRBV Policy on identified need applications (e.g. evidence they have widely advertised the position they are offering you).

More information: Frequently asked questions

Check your eligibility to apply:
Specific registration eligibility checker

 

Application due dates

Applications must be submitted 2 weeks before the Board's monthly registration date (the second Tuesday of every month). If you wish to be registered sooner than the next registration date or have missed the application date for the next registration date, you can request fast track processing of your application for an additional fee.

Next application dates:
  • 26 May 2026 for registration on 9 June 2026
  • 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 fees

COMPLETE ALL STEPS BELOW 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:
    • Ask the registration authority where you are currently 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. If you are not currently registered with any authority, request the letter from the authority where you were last registered.
    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 (Department of Justice Victoria). 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. Evidence that you are eligible for specific registration:
      • You will need to upload a letter from your proposed employer or university - please click on '+ Click (+) for eligibility evidence required' (below) for details required in the letter for your type of registration.
      • Course information:
        • If you are applying under section 7(1)(a) VPA for a university course / traineeship, you must provide the course curriculum.
        • If you are applying under section 7(1)(c) VPA to prepare for your AVE (or ECFVG etc) clinical exams, you must upload certified proof of enrolment in that qualification and certified evidence of passing the required written exams.
      • Supervision forms:
        • If you are applying under section 7(1)(c) VPA (AVE etc), arrange for your proposed supervisor() to complete this direct supervision form and read the Board's supervision policy.
        • If you are applying for specific registration either under section 7(1)(a) VPA - university course / traineeship or 7(1)(d) VPA - identified need, arrange for your proposed supervisor(s) to complete this indirect supervision form and read the Board's supervision policy.

      Check the table below for the evidence required to apply for particular registration category.

       Registration reason Section of Veterinary Practice Act 1997 (VPA) Evidence required in addition to standard documentation

      You are enrolled or have been offered study, training or a course at the University of Melbourne (including Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital), e.g. an internship

      		 Specific registration under s7(1)(a) VPA
      1. Letter from the University of Melbourne on official letterhead confirming that you have been offered a place, specifying the course or type of training, and providing the start and end dates of the course or training.
      2. Full curriculum outlining what you will be studying, e.g. what the internship will involve.
      3. Indirect supervision formed signed by principal and secondary supervisors: download indirect supervision agreement and send the form and the Board's supervision policy to your proposed supervisors to complete

      You have been offered a teaching/research position at the University of Melbourne

      		 Specific registration under s7(1)(b) VPA

      Letter from the University of Melbourne on official letterhead confirming that you have been offered a teaching or research position, specifying the title of the position, and providing the start and end dates of the position.

      You have been offered employment in Victoria by a government department or agency

      		 Specific registration under s7(1)(ba) VPA Letter from your prospective employer on official government letterhead confirming that you have been offered a government position, specifying the title of the position, and providing the start and end dates of the position.
      1. You are enrolled in one of the following qualifications and have passed the written examination/s for that qualification:
        • the Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE) - written exam is the MCQ
        • the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) - written exams are the BCSE + NAVLE, or
        • the Canadian Certificate of Qualification (CQ) - written exams are the BCSE + NAVLE
        AND
      2. You have also been offered a position at a veterinary practice where you can train under the direct supervision of a registered veterinary practitioner. NOTE the Board does not help applicants to find such positions. However, AVE candidates may be assisted to find a potential employer through the AVE Candidate Hub.
      		 Specific registration under s7(1)(c) VPA
      1. Letter from the veterinary clinic on official business letterhead confirming that you have been offered employment or practical experience there, specifying the title of the position or nature of the practical experience you have been offered, providing start and end dates, and describing the support the clinic will offer you to help you prepare for your final clinical exams.
      2. Either:
        • for AVE candidates, certified proof that you have passed the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) Examination
          • OR
        • for US ECFVG or Canadian NEB CQ candidates, certified proof and basic vault transfer from the Veterinary Information Verifying Agency that you have passed both the BCSE and the NAVLE (Basic Clinical Sciences Examination and North American Veterinary Licensing Examination).
      3. Direct supervision form signed by your proposed principal supervisor and secondary supervisors: download Direct supervision agreement and send the form and the Board's supervision policy to your proposed supervisors to complete.

      You have been offered a position to meet an identified need for a veterinary practitioner. You and your your employer can provide the information listed in in the Board's Identified Need Policy demonstrating that there is a need to employ a person with your qualifications and skillset.

      NOTE it is unlikely the Board would consider new graduates offered internships to have the skills and experience required to be registered to meet an identified need.

      		 Specific registration under s7(1)(d) VPA
      1. A letter from your prospective employer on official business letterhead confirming that you have been offered a position, specifying the title of the position, and providing the start and end dates of the position.
      2. The information and documents listed on pages 4 and 5 of the Board's Identified Need Policy. This information will show that a) there is an identified need to employ you and b) you have the skills and experience to meet the identified need. Some of this information can be included in the employer's letter. Some can be uploaded separately, e.g. evidence of advertising for the position.
      3. Indirect supervision formed signed by principal and secondary supervisors: download indirect supervision agreement and send the form and the Board's supervision policy to your proposed supervisors to complete.

      You have received the Board's approval to exchange practice with a registered veterinary practitioner for a limited period.

      		 Specific registration under 7(1)(e) VPA Letter from the registered veterinary practitioner with whom you propose exchanging practice

       

    2. Your primary veterinary qualification document. This is the certificate/testamur awarded after you completed your veterinary qualification. The copy of your qualification must be a high quality colour PDF scan. Before scanning and uploading the document, you must arrange for it to be certified as a true copy of the original by a person authorised to certify documents (see information about certifying 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.
    3. Postgraduate veterinary qualifications (if you have them). These must be high quality colour PDF scans. Before scanning and uploading them, you must arrange for them to be certified as true copies of the originals by a person authorised to certify documents (see information about certifying documents above).
    4. 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 + 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 (non-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).
    5. A change of name document if you are registering under a different name than the name on your photo ID or foundation veterinary qualification document. The copy must be certified as a true copy of the original by a person authorised to certify documents (see information about certifying documents above).
    6. An up-to-date personal resume (CV). This should include all your education, work and veterinary activities up to now. If there are any gaps in your veterinary work or activities, please explain why. Include your place of birth, and your places of primary, secondary and tertiary education. If English is not your primary language, include a section detailing your English language education
    7. 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 certifying documents above).
  • STEP 2 - Create an account in your name via the application form link below.
  • STEP 3 - Complete the application form and upload prepared documents. 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, a complex processing fee, and registration fees for the period of registration you have requested (you can choose between 12, 18, 24 or 36 months). A fast-track processing fee may also be charged if your application or payment is received after the application cut-off date for your preferred date of registration (see list of dates on this page). Current fee schedule: Vetboard fees
  • STEP 5 - If you have consented to doing this, verify your identity on your mobile phone. Get your identity document ready. Look for an email for us in your mobile - it may take 10 minutes to arrive. Click on the link in 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 to you, e.g. arrange for a letter of professional standing to be emailed to us by the relevant registration authority.
  • STEP 7 - We will email you the Board's proposal to impose conditions on your registration. Standard conditions restrict you to practising at a specific workplace for a specific period of time (under supervision if required for your type of registration).
  • STEP 8 - Your application will be scheduled to be considered by the Board, and we will contact you to let you know if your registration has been approved.

Application form

Create account & apply for new specific registration >>

Privacy: The Board will only use and disclose personal information collected in the application form for the purposes of registration, unless it 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. Access information about how personal information is handled for this purpose: Identity verification collection notice.

Frequently asked questions about specific registration

No. The only specific registration pathways for study are for persons offered internships or other training/courses at the University of Melbourne (specific registration under sections 7(1)(a) or 7(1)(b) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 (VPA)), or if you are training to get a recognised non-degree qualification such as the Australasian Veterinary Examination (specific registration under section 7(1)(c) of the VPA). 

However, if you have considerable experience in a particular branch of veterinary medicine and are offered an internship or externship by a private practice, you and your prospective employer may be able to make a case for specific registration under identified need (section 7(1)(d) VPA). You can read about this here: General information for employers. If you are a graduate with minimal experience, it is unlikely that you would qualify for specific registration under s7(1)(d) VPA to work at a private practice. 

Read the General information for employers on this page. If you still have questions after reading that information, feel free to contact Board staff.

Congratulations on passing the first stage of the Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE), the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) written exam.

The next step if you want to be registered in Victoria is to find a job in a veterinary clinic in Victoria where a registered vet will provide you with direct supervision. Supervision means the vet must be in the practice when you are working there – it does not mean they have to be in the same room as you but they must be on the premises when you are there. The principal supervisor (and any secondary supervisors) will need to complete and sign our direct supervision form. Please refer them to the Board’s supervision policy before they sign this form. When you have been offered a job and a registered vet in Victoria has agreed to provide you with direct supervision, you can apply for specific registration under section 7(1)(c) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 following the process on this page.

The Board does not organise job placements. You must find a job yourself. If you are enrolled in the AVE, the Australian Veterinary Association may be able to find a placement via its AVE Candidate Hub. Otherwise, you can view currently advertised positions on the websites of veterinary placement agencies such as the Australian Veterinary Association's Career Connect service, Kookaburra Veterinary Employment, Vetlink Employment Services or Veterinary Jobs Marketplace. Some veterinary clinics such as big corporate employers advertise positions directly on their websites.

It is important to think carefully before accepting a job offer, especially if you are relocating from another country perhaps with your family, because the process can be expensive and stressful. As there would be conditions on your registration restricting you to practising at a specific workplace under direct supervision, it may not be easy to find another employer if things do not work out. Do all you can to ensure that the job is the right fit for you:
  • Do you know the job requirements and have the skills, experience and English to do the work required, e.g. communicate with clients, read clinical documentation and write veterinary medical records to the expected standard?
  • What impression do you get of the employer and the team? Do you think you will fit into the practice? Do you know anyone else who has worked there and what was their experience?
  • What support has the employer offered to help you settle into practice in Victoria?
  • Have you considered what is involved in settling in Australia? Key settlement topics - Department of Home Affairs?

Congratulations on passing the Basic Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE) and North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) written exams for the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or National Examining Board Certificate of Qualification qualification.

The next step if you want to be registered in Victoria is to find a job in a veterinary clinic in Victoria where a registered vet will provide you with direct supervision. Supervision means the vet must be in the practice when you are working there – it does not mean they have to be in the same room as you but they must be on the premises when you are there. The principal supervisor (and any secondary supervisors) will need to complete and sign our direct supervision form. Please refer them to the Board’s supervision policy before they sign this form. When you have been offered a job and a registered vet in Victoria has agreed to provide you with direct supervision, you can apply for specific registration under section 7(1)(c) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 following the process on this page.

The Board does not organise job placements. You can view currently advertised positions on the websites of veterinary placement agencies such as the Australian Veterinary Association's Career Connect service, Kookaburra Veterinary Employment, Vetlink Employment Services or Veterinary Jobs Marketplace. Some veterinary clinics such as big corporate employers advertise positions directly on their websites.

It is important to think carefully before accepting a job offer, especially if you are relocating from another country perhaps with your family, because the process can be expensive and stressful. As there would be conditions on your registration restricting you to practising at a specific workplace under direct supervision, it may not be easy to find another employer if things do not work out. Do all you can to ensure that the job is the right fit for you:
  • Do you know the job requirements and have the skills, experience and English to do the work required, e.g. communicate with clients, read clinical documentation and write veterinary medical records to the expected standard?
  • What impression do you get of the employer and the team? Do you think you will fit into the practice? Do you know anyone else who has worked there and what was their experience?
  • What support has the employer offered to help you settle into practice in Victoria?
  • Have you considered what is involved in settling in Australia? Key settlement topics - Department of Home Affairs?

No, a non-recognised primary veterinary degree + North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) is not a recognised qualification for registration in Victoria.

Your options for gaining registration in Victoria are to:
  1. Enrol in a non-degree qualification such as the Australasian Veterinary Examination, Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (US) or National Examining Board Certificate of Qualification (Canada), pass the written examination and find a job where you would be provided with direct supervision by a registered veterinary practitioner. At that point you could apply for specific registration under section 7(1)(c) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997.
  2. Get a recognised primary veterinary degree by enrolling at an accredited university. Some of your previous study may be recognised by the veterinary school – you would need to contact the relevant university to find out about enrolling and getting credit for your previous studies. If you obtained a recognised primary degree, you would be eligible to apply for general registration in Victoria.

Before you can register in Victoria, you must:

  1. Pass required written exams:

  2. Find a job in a veterinary clinic in Victoria where a registered vet will provide you with direct supervision. Supervision means the vet must be in the practice when you are working there – it does not mean they have to be in the same room as you but they must be on the premises when you are there. The principal supervisor (and any secondary supervisors) will need to complete and sign our direct supervision form. Please refer them to the Board’s supervision policy before they sign this form. When you have been offered a job and a registered vet in Victoria has agreed to provide you with direct supervision, you can apply for specific registration under section 7(1)(c) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 following the process on this page.

    The Board does not organise job placements. If you are enrolled in the AVE, the Australian Veterinary Association may be able to find a placement via its AVE Candidate Hub. Otherwise, you can view currently advertised positions on the websites of veterinary placement agencies such as the Australian Veterinary Association's Career Connect service, Kookaburra Veterinary Employment, Vetlink Employment Services or Veterinary Jobs Marketplace. Some veterinary clinics such as big corporate employers advertise positions directly on their websites.

    It is important to think carefully before accepting a job offer, especially if you are relocating from another country (perhaps with your family) because the process can be expensive and stressful. As there would be conditions on your registration restricting you to practising at a specific workplace under direct supervision, it may not be easy to find another employer if things do not work out with your current employer. Do all you can to ensure that the job is right for you:
    • Do you know the job requirements and have the skills, experience and English to do the work required, e.g. communicate with clients, read clinical documentation and write veterinary medical records to the expected standard?
    • What impression do you get of the employer and the team? Do you think you will fit into the practice? Do you know anyone else who has worked there and what was their experience?
    • What support has the employer offered to help you settle into practice in Victoria?
    • Have you considered what is involved in settling in Australia? Key settlement topics - Department of Home Affairs

No. The Board is not able to give advice or issue visas. However, if you are granted registration, we issue proof of registration in the form of a certificate which you can use for your visa application if required.

You may be able to obtain information and assistance with visas from a registered migration agent or the following organisations:

General information for private employers

In Victoria, two types of specific registration are potentially available for persons without recognised veterinary qualifications who apply to work for a private veterinary business:
  1. Registration under section 7(1)(c) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 while the employee trains for a recognised qualification such as the Australasian Veterinary Examination. 
    This type of registration allows persons enrolled in a non-degree qualification, such as the Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE) or the equivalent in Canada or the US, to practise in Victoria while they are training. The applicant must be able to show that they have:
    • passed the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) stage of the AVE (or the Basic Clinical Sciences Examination + the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination for the Canadian Certificate of Qualification or the US Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates), and
    • been offered a voluntary or paid position in a veterinary practice where they will be directly supervised by a veterinary practitioner registered in Victoria. Note re supervision: persons granted specific registration under section 7(1)(c) of the VPA are restricted to working at a particular practice under the direct supervision of a registered general practitioner. Direct supervision means the supervising practitioner must be on the premises when the registrant is practising, though they are not required to be in the same room. The obligations of a supervising practitioner are outlined in the Board's policy: Supervision of veterinary practitioners.

    Is the applicant the right fit for your practice? Employers considering engaging a person who would need specific registration should carefully conduct appropriate due diligence. Prospective employers must satisfy themselves that the applicant has the skills and experience to do the work required; and the English to understand and sufficiently communicate with clients, read clinical documentation and write veterinary medical records to the expected standard. More than this, the employer should try to establish whether the applicant is a good fit for their practice generally.

    Due diligence of this sort is good practice for any prospective employee but even more important in cases where the vet may be relocating from another country at considerable financial and personal cost, often accompanied by their family. As there would be conditions on the vet’s registration restricting them to practising at a specific workplace under direct supervision, it is not straightforward for a person in this situation to find another place to work if things don’t work out with their employer.

    For the same reasons, if an applicant is granted specific registration, an employer should also be prepared to provide additional support at induction to help the vet settle into practice in Victoria. The registered veterinary practitioner appointed as supervisor can assist with this, but the whole veterinary team can play a role.

  2. Registration under s7(1)(d) of the VPA to fill a position to meet a need for a veterinary practitioner.

    This type of registration allows persons with the skills and experience to meet an identified need for a veterinary practitioner to practise in Victoria. Note in relation to this that it is unlikely the Board would consider new graduates offered internships to have the skills and experience required to meet an identified need. Identified need is a public or community need for a specific skillset that is not readily available among veterinary practitioners who have general registration in Victoria or to fill a position in a location where the lack of a veterinary practitioner may negatively affect animal welfare. Persons granted specific registration for this purpose are restricted to working at a specific practice under indirect supervision.

    A detailed list of the information and evidence for employers and applicants to provide is on pages 4 and 5 of the Board's Policy: Identified need - Specific registration under section 7(1)(d) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

    Identified need applications should be accompanied by information from the applicant’s prospective employer that:
    • clearly describes a public or community need for veterinary services to be provided to animals, by a person with a specific skillset and/or in a location where the absence of a vet may negatively affect the public, community and/or health and welfare of animals
    • explains the potential risks in not meeting the identified need, i.e., how the public, community and/or health and welfare of animals will be at risk if the position is not filled, and
    • shows their efforts to fill the position that will meet the identified need with a person who would qualify to apply for general registration, e.g. evidence of advertising over a prolonged period.

    Applicants must provide information which shows they have the knowledge (including English competency), skills and experience to meet the identified need.

    Is the applicant the right fit for your practice? Employers considering engaging a person who would need specific registration should carefully conduct appropriate due diligence. Prospective employers must satisfy themselves that the applicant has the skills and experience to do the work required; and the English to understand and sufficiently communicate with clients, read clinical documentation and write veterinary medical records to the expected standard. More than this, the employer should try to establish whether the applicant is a good fit for their practice generally.

    Due diligence of this sort is good practice for any prospective employee but even more important in cases where the vet may be relocating from another country at considerable financial and personal cost, often accompanied by their family. As there would be conditions on the vet’s registration restricting them to practising at a specific workplace, it is not straightforward for a person in this situation to find another place to work if things don’t work out with their employer.

    For the same reasons, if an applicant is granted specific registration, an employer should also be prepared to provide additional support at induction to help the vet settle into practice in Victoria. The registered veterinary practitioner appointed as supervisor can assist with this, but the whole veterinary team can play a role.

Specific registration is granted for a limited period of between 12 and 36 months. Persons can extend the period of their registration if their initial grant of registration was for a period less than 36 months. Registrants granted 36 months registration must lodge a new application for specific registration before their registration expires. The Board assesses any new application as stand-alone application and decides whether to grant registration on the individual merits of the new application, e.g. for a new 7(1)(d) application, the Board would consider whether the information demonstrates a continuing identified need to employ the applicant.

It is the Board's general practice to impose conditions on specific registration. Conditions may restrict registration to a specific employer and place or require the vet to be supervised by a registered veterinary practitioner. More information: Board policy - Supervision of veterinary practitioners.

Working outside Victoria

Specific registration limits a person to practising in Victoria at a specific practice. 

If you wish to practise in another Australian State or Territory, you must ask the registration board in that jurisdiction if you can work there (see list of other boards below).

When you contact the other board, you should tell them that you hold specific registration with conditions (providing them with the conditions). If the other board allows you to apply to register with them, they will ask for a letter of professional standing from us >> Order a letter of professional standing from Vetboard Victoria

Australian veterinary registration authorities