Veterinary Council of New Zealand

Veterinarians Act 2005

Notice of Scopes of Practice for Limited Registration, 2014

Pursuant to section 13(1)(a) of the Veterinarians Act 2005, the Veterinary Council of New Zealand ("council") in this notice sets the scopes of practice in respect of which a person may apply and be considered for limited registration.

This notice replaces the council’s Notice of Scopes of Practice Under Which a Person May Apply for Registration as a Person with Limited Registration (published in the New Zealand Gazette, 15 June 2006, No. 57, page 1441)
and comes into force on the day of its notification in this New Zealand Gazette.

Scopes of Practice for Limited Registration

The following scopes of practice are those in respect of which a person may be considered for limited registration.

Academic Scope

The criteria under which the council may provide a person with limited registration, in the academic scope, despite that person not being otherwise eligible for registration as a veterinarian in New Zealand, are if:

(a) there is an identifiable and specific (to a particular position) need in an academic institution and that need cannot appropriately be met by the appointment of a veterinarian otherwise able to be registered in New Zealand;

(b) the position is an academic position at a New Zealand tertiary institution acceptable to the council;

(c) the applicant holds a primary veterinary science degree of not less than four years;

(d) the applicant can communicate in and understand English to the standard required for practising as a veterinarian in New Zealand;

(e) the position requires the person to have obtained an appropriate post graduate qualification;

(f) the position requires the person to have teaching experience in the type of work in which they will be limited to practise;

(g) the council is satisfied that the applicant is fit to practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand; and

(h) the employer has made a submission relating to the specific application for limited registration under this scope.

Postgraduate Training Scope

The criteria under which the council may provide a person with limited registration, in the postgraduate training scope, despite that person not being otherwise eligible for registration as a veterinarian in New Zealand, are if:

(a) the applicant holds a primary veterinary science degree of not less than four years;

(b) the applicant is temporarily visiting New Zealand specifically for the purpose of undertaking postgraduate training;

(c) the applicant is enrolled in a formal postgraduate training programme with a body which certifies training programmes and administers examinations leading to qualifications generally considered acceptable for specialist registration purposes in New Zealand;

(d) the council is satisfied of the rigour of the proposed postgraduate training programme, the adequacy of the veterinary supervision, and the sufficiency of safeguards in place to ensure that the student confines his or her practice to the area of their postgraduate training and to a council approved location;

(e) the council is satisfied that the applicant is fit to practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand and is registered and in good standing status in his or her own country and any other jurisdictions they are registered in; and

(f) the applicant can communicate in and understand English to the standard required for practising as a veterinarian in New Zealand.

Industry Scope – Laboratory Diagnosis and/or Pathology

The criteria under which the council may provide a person with limited registration, in the industry scope, despite that person not being otherwise eligible for registration as a veterinarian in New Zealand, are if:

(a) there is an identifiable and specific (to a particular position) need in a discipline of laboratory diagnosis and/or pathology and where that need cannot appropriately be met by the appointment of a veterinarian otherwise able to be registered in New Zealand;

(b) the applicant holds a primary veterinary science degree of not less than four years;

(c) the position requires the person to have obtained an appropriate and relevant post-graduate qualification in laboratory diagnosis and/or pathology;

(d) the position requires the person to have experience in the appropriate discipline within laboratory diagnosis and/or pathology;

(e) the applicant can communicate in and understand English to the standard required for practising as a veterinarian in New Zealand;

(f) the council is satisfied that the applicant is fit to practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand; and

(g) the employer has made a submission relating to the specific application for limited registration under this scope.

Scope Relating to a Biosecurity or Other Emergency Situation

The criteria under which the council may provide a person with limited registration, in the biosecurity or other emergency scope, despite that person not being otherwise eligible for registration as a veterinarian in New Zealand, are if:

(a) there is an identified biosecurity alert or urgent or emergency situation that requires the person to practise temporarily in New Zealand and where that need cannot be met by a veterinarian otherwise able to be registered in New Zealand;

(b) the position requires the applicant to hold a primary veterinary science degree of not less than four years;

(c) the position requires the person to have obtained experience in the area in which their practice will be limited;