Registration renewal
Renewal dates and process
It is your responsibility as a registered veterinary practitioner to apply to renew your registration (section 12 of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997).
- The Board registration year is from 1 July to 30 June (financial year registration).
- Registration renewal for the 2023-2024 period closed on 31 July 2023
- Registration renewal for the 2024-2025 period will begin on or before 1 June 2024.
- Veterinary practitioners will have until 30 June 2024 to renew their registration without incurring late charges.
- Fees for registration can be viewed at Vetboard Victoria fee schedule (2024-2025 fees will be posted in May 2024)
- Late fees are invoiced on non-paid charges for renewal during the period 1 to 31 July.
- The last day of the renewal period is 31 July.
- On 1 August, the Board removes the names of veterinary practitioners who have not renewed their registration from the Register of Veterinary Practitioners.
- Veterinary practitioners who do not apply to renew before 31 July but still wish to be registered in Victoria must submit a re-registration application.
Renewal process
Veterinary practitioners are notified by email and mobile phone when the Board opens online renewal and can renew online via www.vetboard.vic.gov.au/myaccount. For security reasons we only provide a username for sign-in. Passwords can be re-set using the ‘Forgot Password?’ link on the sign-in page.
Honorary non-practising registration: Vets with honorary registration can also apply to renew online. While you may not be required to pay registration fees, you must still apply to renew your registration as you must complete a declaration confirming you will continue to comply with the conditions on your non-practising registration.
Non-standard registration: If you have conditions on your registration or your registration is suspended, Board staff will email you separate instructions about renewing manually.
What to do if you are retiring from practice
If you are retiring from practice, you may wish to take up non-practising registration. Veterinary practitioners with non-practising registration pay a reduced fee. Your name would remain on the Register of Veterinary Practitioners and you would continue to receive communications from the Board. It is important to note that veterinary practitioners with non-practising registration may not:
- carry out veterinary procedures, including treatment of their own animals, in Victoria
- provide veterinary services in Victoria
- purchase, possess or supply scheduled drugs under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances legislation in Victoria, and
- exercise authority requiring registration as a veterinary practitioner in Victoria.
More information: Apply for non-practising registration
CPD declaration
When you apply to renew your registration, you will be required to complete a compliance declaration about your suitability to practise as a veterinary practitioner.
One of the statements in the compliance declaration is, ‘I have participated in Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programs sufficient to demonstrate maintenance of competency in my chosen field of work, and I have retained documented evidence of all completed CPD for the required period. See requirements in Board Guideline 10’.
For information about your CPD requirements and a sample record form, see Continuing professional development for veterinary practitioners in Victoria
What to do if you have changed your name
If you have changed your legal name since you last renewed your registration, and you wish to practise under your legal name, please complete and return the form at the following link attaching certified copies of proof of change of name documentation and current ID: Change of Name form
What to do if you have temporarily stopped practising in Victoria
If you have temporarily stopped practising in Victoria, e.g. if you are on parental leave, are working in a different profession, or have moved overseas for a short period, you have several options as follows:
- Keep up your general registration, which would mean you could step back into practising at any time to take locum shifts etc. This also means you can continue treating your own animals.
- Let your registration lapse then re-register a month or so before you return to practising in Victoria. Fees to re-register include an application fee as well as registration fees. More information: Re-registration.
- Apply to change to non-practising registration, which would mean your name would remain on the Register of Veterinary Practitioners and you would continue to receive communications from Vetboard Victoria. As with Option 2, you would need to re-register a month or so before you return to practising in Victoria. Fees to re-register include an application fee as well as registration fees. More information: Apply for non-practising registration and Re-registration
Preparing for renewal
Veterinary practitioners can take the following actions to prepare for renewal:
A. Sign into your account to check your contact details are up to date:
- Go to your account: www.vetboard.vic.gov.au/myaccount
- Your username is your registration number with a V in front, e.g. V0000.
- For security reasons, we do not provide passwords. To reset your password, click the ‘Forgot Password?’ link on the account page. Enter your username to have a re-set email sent to the email address linked to your account. If you do not receive the re-set email, check your spam/junk folder. If you have not advised us of a change of email address, you will not receive a re-set email. For assistance please email [email protected].
- Follow the trouble-shooting instructions on the sign-in page if you have problems signing in.
B. When signed into your account, check your contact details
- Is your email address up to date? This is the address we will use for renewal reminders.
- Is your mobile number correct? This is the number we will use for SMS renewal reminders.
- Have you provided a residential address?
- You must provide your residential address so we know you are entitled to be registered in Victoria. Under section 4(1A) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997, a prerequisite for registration in Victoria is that your principal place of residence is (or will be) in Victoria when you are practising.
- Under section 19 of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997, you must notify the Board of a change of address within 28 days of that change.
- DO NOT add a mailing address if it is the same as your residential address.
The Register of Veterinary Practitioners and your privacy: Under section 16(6) of the Veterinary Practice Act 1997, the Board must ensure that private address information must not appear on the part of the Register of Veterinary Practitioners open to the public for inspection, unless authorised by a veterinary practitioner. Currently only your name, registration number and practice suburb and postcode are published on the Board's website at www.vetboard.vic.gov.au/VPRBV/VetSearch