Veterinary Council of New Zealand

Annual Practising Certificates

Annual Practising Certificate Renewal 2012-13

The practising year starts on 1 April 2012. All those practising during the year 1 April 2012 - 31 March 2013 must be registered and maintain a current practising certificate.

2012-13 Practising Certificate application forms (PDF)
2012-13 Practising Certificate application notes (PDF)

If you are not already registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand, click here.

The current annual fee for practising veterinarians and for non-practising veterinarians can be seen on the fees page. A pro rata fee policy is in place for those taking out a practising certificate during the year. Refer to the fees page for details. Definitions of practising and non-practising are provided below. Ensure that you keep the Council informed of any changes of address. It is your statutory responsibility to do so, in writing.

Definition of Practising

'Practice' is described as any aspect of veterinary endeavour. The practice of veterinary science is described as:

signing any certificate
prescribing
treating
reporting or giving advice in a veterinary capacity using the knowledge, skills and competence initially attained for the BVSc degree. 'Practice' goes wider in this context than clinical veterinary science to include regulatory and compliance functions, teaching, consultancy, advice and health and welfare management

A key question to ask when considering whether a current practising certificate is required, is: Does the position held by the person carry or convey the expectation that the holder is a veterinarian?

There is further advice on practising and non-practising registration in the Veterinary Handbook (provided free to all New Zealand resident practising veterinarians, and on payment of a fee to others).

Definition of Non-Practising

A veterinarian who is registered as non-practising is bound by all the statutory and ethical obligations of the Veterinarians Act 2005 but is not entitled to practise as a veterinarian and therefore is not entitled to treat, prescribe prescription animal remedies or give advice in a veterinary capacity. The non-practising category is intended to allow a veterinarian who is retired, overseas, taking time out, or working in areas where registration is not required, to retain their name on the register, and to remain in touch with the profession by receiving publications and communication from the Council.

Recency of Practice

To be issued with a practising certificate the Council must be satisfied that veterinarians meet the practising requirements of the Act. These include recency of practice requirements.

Applicants for a practising certificate are therefore required to provide, with their application, full details of their practice intentions, work history and CPD activities if:

they are seeking to resume veterinary practice after a break of three or more years; or
they have not practised within one year of graduation; or
they have not practised within one year of passing an approved registration examination or assessment programme; or
they have commenced work, since they were last issued with an APC, in a field of veterinary activity, they have never practised in or have not practised in for three years or more; or
they are seeking to commence work in a field of veterinary activity they have never practised in or have not practised in for three years or more

A detailed CV format is recommended.

Refer to the Policy on Recency of Practice for further information and feel free to contact Council staff for advice.


HOME ONLINE REGISTER VETERINARIANS PUBLIC INFORMATION PUBLICATIONS SCHEDULE OF FEES NEWS & ISSUES CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT SEARCH WEBSITE FIND A VETERINARIAN FIND A VET PRACTICE ABOUT THE COUNCIL LINKS CONTACT
	Annual Practising Certificates Annual Practising Certificate Renewal 2012-13 The practising year starts on 1 April 2012. All those practising during the year 1 April 2012 - 31 March 2013 must be registered and maintain a current practising certificate. 2012-13 Practising Certificate application forms (PDF) 2012-13 Practising Certificate application notes (PDF) If you are not already registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand, click here. The current annual fee for practising veterinarians and for non-practising veterinarians can be seen on the fees page. A pro rata fee policy is in place for those taking out a practising certificate during the year. Refer to the fees page for details. Definitions of practising and non-practising are provided below. Ensure that you keep the Council informed of any changes of address. It is your statutory responsibility to do so, in writing. Definition of Practising 'Practice' is described as any aspect of veterinary endeavour. The practice of veterinary science is described as: signing any certificate prescribing treating reporting or giving advice in a veterinary capacity using the knowledge, skills and competence initially attained for the BVSc degree. 'Practice' goes wider in this context than clinical veterinary science to include regulatory and compliance functions, teaching, consultancy, advice and health and welfare management A key question to ask when considering whether a current practising certificate is required, is: Does the position held by the person carry or convey the expectation that the holder is a veterinarian? There is further advice on practising and non-practising registration in the Veterinary Handbook (provided free to all New Zealand resident practising veterinarians, and on payment of a fee to others). Definition of Non-Practising A veterinarian who is registered as non-practising is bound by all the statutory and ethical obligations of the Veterinarians Act 2005 but is not entitled to practise as a veterinarian and therefore is not entitled to treat, prescribe prescription animal remedies or give advice in a veterinary capacity. The non-practising category is intended to allow a veterinarian who is retired, overseas, taking time out, or working in areas where registration is not required, to retain their name on the register, and to remain in touch with the profession by receiving publications and communication from the Council. Recency of Practice To be issued with a practising certificate the Council must be satisfied that veterinarians meet the practising requirements of the Act. These include recency of practice requirements. Applicants for a practising certificate are therefore required to provide, with their application, full details of their practice intentions, work history and CPD activities if: they are seeking to resume veterinary practice after a break of three or more years; or they have not practised within one year of graduation; or they have not practised within one year of passing an approved registration examination or assessment programme; or they have commenced work, since they were last issued with an APC, in a field of veterinary activity, they have never practised in or have not practised in for three years or more; or they are seeking to commence work in a field of veterinary activity they have never practised in or have not practised in for three years or more A detailed CV format is recommended. Refer to the Policy on Recency of Practice for further information and feel free to contact Council staff for advice.