Apply as a Veterinarian
The Veterinary Profession Act of Alberta and the General Regulations specify the conditions that must be met in order for a veterinarian to be granted membership in the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association and subsequently be allowed to practice veterinary medicine in the province.
To obtain any license all veterinarians must:
- Establish that (s)he is a veterinarian.
- Be able to communicate in English.
- Provide that (s)he has the academic credentials in the licensee category for which applying.
- Verify identification.
- Be a Canadian citizen or be entitled to work in Canada.
- Provide proof of good moral character.
Current application processing may take up to 6 weeks. Processing cannot commence until all required notarized documents have been received. Outstanding items and discipline matters in other jurisdictions will delay processing time. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Please apply well in advance of anticipated employment date. After submitting one of the online forms below, you will receive an email from our system with additional instructions. You must mail or courier the required documents to the ABVMA office. Letters of Good Standing from other licensing bodies, or any questions you may have can be directed to registration@abvma.ca.
Appeals
Use this application for General Practice, Time Limited or Unsupervised Limited Practice Registered Veterinarian licenses:
- General Practice Registered Veterinarian: Allows the member to engage in the full scope of veterinary practice.
- 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.
- 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.
Before you apply as a General, Time Limited or Unsupervised Limited Practice Registered Veterinarian, gather the following information:
- A scanned copy to upload in the application:
- a valid Canadian Passport or Canadian Birth certificate or Canadian Social Insurance Number(SIN). If the applicant doesn’t have these documents then a work visa or permanent resident visa is required.
- A scanned copy of Police Information Check certificate if applicable.
- Mail by regular mail or courier with signed cover sheet. The cover sheet will be sent to the applicant once online application is submitted.
- notarized photocopy of NAVLE examination results
- notarized photocopy of the Certificate of Qualification
- notarized photocopy of veterinary degree and all advanced education credentials
- notarized recent colour photograph
- A letter of good standing from each jurisdiction where you have been registered to practice veterinary medicine. These must be mailed/emailed directly from the jurisdiction to the ABVMA.
- Names and contact information of 3 character references.
- At the end of the online application process, you will be asked to pay the application fee. Online payment of the application fee is required.
Application for General/Time Limited/ Unsupervised Limited Practice Registered Veterinarian
Use this application under Labour Mobility agreements from other provinces or territories in Canada:
This application is for a candidate 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.
Before you apply as a veterinarian under Labour Mobility legislation, gather the following information:
- A scanned copy to upload in the application:
- a valid Canadian Passport or Canadian Birth certificate or Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). If the applicant doesn’t have these documents then a work visa or permanent resident visa is required.
- A scanned copy of Police Information Check certificate if applicable.
- Mail by regular mail or courier with signed cover sheet. The cover sheet will be sent to the applicant once online application is submitted.
- notarized photocopy of the Certificate of Qualification
- notarized copy of Board or Specialty Certifications(s) (if applicable)
- notarized recent colour photograph
- police information check (if applicable)
- A letter of good standing from each jurisdiction where you have been or are registered to practice veterinary medicine. These must be mailed/emailed directly from the jurisdiction to the ABVMA.
- Names and contact information of 3 character references.
- At the end of the online application process, you will be asked to pay the application fee. Online payment of the application fee is required.
Application for Labour Mobility
Use this application for Temporary Registered Veterinarian:
Before you apply for Temporary Licensure, gather the following information:
- A scanned copy to upload in the application:
- a valid Canadian Passport or Canadian Birth certificate or Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). If the applicant doesn’t have these documents then a work visa or permanent resident visa is required.
- A scanned copy of Police Information Check certificate if applicable.
- Mail by regular mail or courier with signed cover sheet. The cover sheet will be sent to you once online application is submitted.
- notarized photocopy of veterinary degree (translated to English if required)
- notarized recent colour photograph
- notarized photocopy of CVMA/NEB examination results (or results available on NEB portal and accessible to ABVMA staff)
- Letters of good standing from each jurisdiction (regulatory body) where you have been registered to practice veterinary medicine. These can be mailed/emailed directly from the jurisdiction to the ABVMA (registration@abvma.ca)
- Names and contact information of 3 character references.
- At the end of the online application process, you will be asked to pay the application fee. Online payment of the application fee is required.
Application for Temporary Registered Veterinarian
Use this application for Short Term Licensure:
This application is for use by a veterinarian applying to practice Veterinary Medicine in Alberta as a short-term registered veterinarian according to Section 6.1 of the Veterinary Profession Act. This veterinarian is under supervision of another veterinarian holding an active General License. This is meant for short term work in Alberta for educators and consultants for up to 7 days.
Before you apply for short term licensure, gather the following information:
- A scanned copy to upload in the application:
- a valid Canadian Passport or Canadian Birth certificate or Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN). If the applicant doesn’t have these documents then a work visa or permanent resident visa is required.
- A scanned copy of Police Information Check certificate if applicable.
- Mail by regular mail or courier with signed cover sheet. The cover sheet will be sent to the applicant once online application is submitted.
- notarized photocopy of veterinary degree (translated to English if required)
- notarized photocopy of your board certifications (if applicable)
- A letter of good standing from each jurisdiction where you have been registered to practice veterinary medicine. These must be mailed/emailed directly from the jurisdiction to the ABVMA.
Application for Short Term License
Use this application to reinstate as a registered veterinarian:
You can reinstate as an General Practice, Time Limited, Unsupervised Limited Practice Registered Veterinarian within five years of cancellation. If you have worked in another jurisdiction since last being an ABVMA member, you must submit a letter of good standing from each jurisdiction where you have been registered to practice veterinary medicine. These must be mailed/emailed directly from the jurisdiction to the ABVMA. If it has been more than five years since you have been an ABVMA member, you will need to submit a new application for registration (do not use the reinstatement application).
2024 Registration Dues - Veterinarians
Description | Details | Fees | Total Fee |
Application/Reinstatement Fee | 338.23 16.91 |
355.15 | |
General / Unsupervised Limited | ABVMA Dues GST |
1913.72 95.69 |
2,009.41 |
Time Limited | ABVMA Dues GST |
1376.79 68.84 |
1,445.63 |
Non-Practicing | ABVMA Dues GST |
455.04 22.75 |
477.80 |
Temporary – 12 months |
ABVMA Dues GST |
1830.36 91.52 |
1921.88 |
Short Term – 7 days |
ABVMA Dues GST |
185.94 9.30 |
195.24 |
Veterinary Student Membership – Annual |
ABVMA Dues GST |
50.00 2.50 |
52.50 |