to advise and make recommendations to the Minister on any matter relating to veterinarians and the practice of veterinarian science
advise the governing body of any New Zealand University in any matter relating to the education of veterinarians
to promote and encourage high standards of professional education and professional conduct among veterinarians
to consider reciprocal arrangements with registration bodies in other countries
to register persons, issue practising certificates, assess whether persons meet the requirement for continued registration or eligibility for a practising certificate, and peform the other functions relating to registration and practising requirements in accordance with Part 2, including -
- to determine the institutions and the degrees and diplomas offered by those institutions that are recognised for the purposes of section 6(1)(a); and
- to approve assessment programmes, post-graduate study, and post-graduate training for the purposes of section 6(1)(b)(ii) and (iii); and
- to designate branches of veterinary science as branches in which veterinarians may practise as specialists for the purposes of section 7(i); and
- to determine the form and content of applications for the purposes of sections 10(a) and (b) and 24(2)(a) and (b).
to keep and maintain the register and carry out the other functions relating to the register in accordance with Part 2
to receive, investigate, and hear complaints about, inquire into the conduct of, make assessments of, and discipline specified persons under Part 3
to investigate offences and bring prosecutions under the Act
to prescribe minimum standards for practising as a veterinarian, including standards relating to either or both of the following:
- a person's fitness to practise as a veterinarian; and
- the maintenance, examination, or improvement of the overall competence of a veterinarian to practise.
to prescribe -
- examinations for the purposes of section 6(1)(b)(i); and
- the form of the register and the information to be contained in the register under section 22.
to prescribe fees payable for the mattersreferred to in section 97 in accordance with section s98 to 100

Gaining Registration

All people working as veterinarians in New Zealand or representing themselves as a 'veterinarian' must by law (Veterinarians Act 2005) be registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand and hold a current practising certificate. If you are already registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand but need to renew your practising certificate follow the Veterinarians/Annual practising certificate link on the left hand bar on this page.

For those who are not yet registered, you will need to establish whether you are eligible for registration without examination or registration by examination (or neither). There are also different categories of registration. To check if you are eligible for general registration (i.e. without further examination) read the information below and refer also to this Information letter. If you are eligible you can apply by downloading, completing and forwarding the Application form

If you are registered as a veterinarian or a veterinary specialist in any Australian jurisdiction you can apply under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition (TTMR) provisions. Download, complete and forward the TTMRA Application form or the TTMRA Specialist Application form. If you do not hold recognised qualifications (or a pass in a prescribed assessment or examination programme) you may apply for registration in a limited scope of practice. Refer to the Policy on Limited Registration criteria and the Limited Registration Application form.

What is the English language requirement?

The Veterinary Council must be satisfied that veterinarians are able to communicate in and understand English to an appropriate standard for practising in New Zealand.

Effective English and communication skills are required to pass the registration examination and to practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand. The Council considers that an objective test of English language skills is the best way of ensuring that applicants can comprehend and communicate to the required level.

Applicants are normally considered to have met the statutory English language requirements if:
- English is their first language; or
- They have passed a Council approved English test to the required level; or
- They have graduated with a primary veterinary degree from a recognised veterinary programme in a country where English is the first and prime language and where English was the sole language of their instruction and assessment and can provide satisfactory evidence that they have worked or studied in a country where English is the first and prime language for at least four of the previous five years; or
- They have passed a Veterinary Council prescribed assessment programme (ECFVG or NEB in English) and they have worked or studied in a country where English is the first and prime language for at least four of the previous five years.

The Council recognises a pass in the following English tests:

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Applicants are required to
- sit the academic band
- score at least 7 in each band of the four individual components of listening, reading, writing and speaking

Occupational English Test (OET)

A pass with A or B grades in each of the four sections is required.

A pass in an approved English test is valid for 2 years for new registration and examination applicants, but the validity of this pass may be extended for up to five years for applicants who can demonstrate that they have continuously lived and worked in a country where English is the first and prime language for at least 4 years of the previous 5 years.

The Council requires applicants to arrange for English test results to be sent directly from the examining body to the Veterinary Council.

For more information, please contact one of our offices

Last Updated: 12 February 2012

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