Applicant
Applying to practice Veterinary Medicine in Alberta
As a Student
This membership is meant for students enrolled in:
- an animal health technology or veterinary technology program accredited by the Canadian or American Veterinary Medical Association.
- a veterinary medical degree program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Council on Education.
As a Veterinary Technologist
The types of registrations available for veterinary technologists in Alberta are:
- General Practice Registered Veterinary Technologist: a graduate of an animal health technology or veterinary technology program accredited by the Canadian or American Veterinary Medical Association, and has passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
- Limited Practice Registered Veterinary Technologist: a graduate of a non-accredited animal health technology or equivalent program, who has completed the ABVMA assessment process and their practice is limited to the species or category (small animal, large animal) and has passed the VTNE.
- Provisional Veterinary Technologist Member: a graduate of an animal health technology or veterinary technology program accredited by the Canadian or American Veterinary Medical Association, who has not yet passed the VTNE. Immediate or direct supervision of an unrestricted veterinarian or general or limited registered veterinary technologist (RVT) is required.
- Non-Practicing Veterinary Technologist Member: not entitled to practice veterinary medicine but is entitled to the other membership rights of RVT members. This category is most commonly used for medical and personal leaves as well as retired members.
- Reinstatement : an individual who has been previously registered in Alberta less than 5 years ago, and who wishes to re-instate as an RVT in Alberta.
Graduates from non-accredited animal health technology/veterinary technology programs may qualify for registration upon successful completion of an assessment that has been established by the ABVMA and the ABVTA. To view the current policy click here.
As a Veterinarian
The types of licenses available to veterinarians are:
- General Practice Registered Veterinarian: Allows the member to engage in the full scope of veterinary practice. Must possess a Certificate of Qualification (CQ) from the CVMA.
- Time Limited Registered Veterinarian: Allows the member to engage in the full scope of veterinary practice to a maximum of 100 days in one calendar year. Must possess a Certificate of Qualification (CQ) from the CVMA.
- Unsupervised Limited Practice Registered Veterinarian: Allows a member to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in a limited capacity based on special or unique qualifications or credentials recognized by the ABVMA Council.
- Labour Mobility: for an applicant who is a veterinarian in good standing with a veterinary professional regulatory organization in another province or territory of Canada, with a General Practice License. These applicants can apply for General or Time Limited Licenses.
- Temporary Registered Veterinarian: a graduate veterinarian from a non-accredited school who has been accepted to enter the National Examination Board (NEB) process to obtain a Certificate of Qualification, and has at a minimum passed the BCSE, but does not hold advanced credentials. This licensee is required to be at minimum under the immediate supervision of an unrestricted registered veterinarian. Other levels of supervision may be granted based on the applicant's progress in the NEB exam sequence. A new policy to support the recent bylaw changes is currently under development.
- Short-Term Registered Veterinarian: under supervision of another veterinarian holding an active General License. This is meant for short term work in Alberta such as educators using live animals in wet labs, consulting work for up to 7 days.
- Non-Practicing Veterinarian Member: not entitled to practice veterinary medicine but is entitled to the other membership rights of veterinarian members. This category is most commonly used for medical and personal leaves as well as retired members.
- Reinstatement: an individual who has been previously registered in Alberta less than 5 years ago, and who wishes to re-instate as a veterinarian in Alberta.
If you are a graduate of a non-accredited veterinary program, please go to ‘Become a Member’, click on ‘Veterinarian’ and follow the veterinary licensure flowchart.
Open a Practice
Veterinary Practice Entities (VPEs) in Alberta can be owned by registered unrestricted veterinarians or a corporation(s). In either structure, 51% of the VPE must be owned by registered unrestricted veterinarians. If any of the owners of the VPE is a corporation, the corporation requires a ‘Permit to Practice for a Corporation’.
Permit for a Corporation
A copy of the ‘Certificate of Incorporation’ and articles from an Alberta Registrar of Corporations must be submitted with your Permit to Practice application. Go to ‘Open a Practice’, click on ‘Ownership Structure’ for more information.