Specialist Registration

Registered veterinary specialists are those with higher qualifications and skill levels in a particular branch of veterinary medicine who have undergone recognised advanced and supervised training and passed recognised specialist examinations.
 
To search the list of New Zealand Veterinary Specialists click here .
 
You can view the current Policy on Specialist Registration by clicking here .
 
For detailed information about the application process we suggest you read the guidance  on the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) website. This includes examples of qualifications whose formal full time training programmes generally meet the standards for specialist registration.
 
 

New veterinary specialties

 
There is a pathway for suitably qualified founding members of new veterinary specialties to gain specialist registration in Australia and New Zealand. The AVBC has set minimum standards which apply to founding members of new specialities; these form part of the requirements for registration as a veterinary specialist in the new speciality in Australia and New Zealand.
 
Founding member applicants need to contact the VCNZ Registrar direct for a Founding Members of New Specialities application form – see below.
 
 

Applying for Specialist Registration

 
Step 1
Applicants apply direct to the AVBC for an assessment of the suitability of their qualifications, training and experience for specialist registration. This assessment is carried out by the ACRVS on VCNZ's behalf.
 
To apply for an assessment of your eligibility for specialist registration either:

  1. if your training programme is listed in the AVBC guidance, visit the AVBC website and follow their specialist registration process; or
  2. if you wish to apply for registration as a specialist in a new specialty, contact the VCNZ Registrar for a Founding Members of New Specialities application form, then send it to the AVBC

Step 2
Once you've received the ACRVS assessment indicating that you're eligible for specialist registration, you need to send your Specialist Registration Application Form to VCNZ for consideration.
 
 
Important Note: Australian registered specialists will already have undergone the ACRVS assessment process. They should therefore apply directly to VCNZ for specialist registration under the Trans Tasman Mutual Recognition provisions using the TTMRA Specialist Registration application form.