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:

1. Establish that (s)he is a veterinarian.
2. Be able to communicate in English.
3. Provide that (s)he has the academic credentials in the licensee category for which applying.
4. Verify identification.
5. Be a Canadian citizen or be entitled to work in Canada.
6. Provide proof of good moral character.

The first three requirements are fulfilled by submitting a Certificate of Qualification from the National Examining Board of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. In the application to the ABVMA, you will be asked to submit documentation of the last three requirements.

Current application processing may take up to 6 weeks. Processing cannot commence until all required notarized documents have been received. Please apply well in advance of anticipated employment date.

Use this application for Active General Practice, Time limited or Limited Practice – Unsupervised licenses:

• Active – General Practice Licensee : Allows the member to engage in the full scope of veterinary practice
• Time Limited General Practice Licensee : Allows the member to engage in the full scope of veterinary practice to a maximum of 100 days in one calendar year.
• Limited Practice – Unsupervised : 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 an Active General, Time Limited or Limited Practice – Unsupervised 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 downloaded during the application process::
  • 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 on line. Click the sidebar menu for the current fee amount. Online payment is preferred but payment can also be offline by cheque or debit.

Application for Active General Practice/Time Limited Licensee/Limited practice - Unsupervised

Use this application under labour mobility agreements from other provinces or territories in Canada:

This application is for a candidate whois 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 downloaded during the application process::
  • 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. A letter from a 
• Names and contact information of 3 character references.
• At the end of the online application process, you will be asked to pay on line. Click the sidebar menu for the current fee amount. Online payment is preferred but payment can also be offline by cheque or debit.

Application for Labour Mobility

Use this application for Limited Practice – Supervised Licensure:

Before you apply for a limited practice – supervised registration, 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 downloaded during the application process::
  • A letter of eligibility to enter the National Examination Board Exam sequence
  • notarized photocopy of BCSE results
  • notarized photocopy of veterinary degree (translated to English if required)
  • 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. A letter from another provincial licensing body confirming current General Practice License is required.
• Names and contact information of 3 character references.
• At the end of the online application process, you will be asked to pay on line. Click the sidebar menu for the current fee amount. Online payment is preferred but payment can also be offline by cheque or debit.

Application for Limited Practice - Supervised

Use this application for Temporary Licensure:

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 downloaded during the application process::
  • notarized photocopy of veterinary degree (translated to English if required)
  • notarized recent colour photograph
  • notarized photocopy of NAVLE examination results
  • notarized photocopy of BCSE results
  • notarized photocopy of Letter for Acceptance to site the CPE exam
• 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 on line. Click the sidebar menu for the current fee amount. Online payment is preferred but payment can also be offline by cheque or debit.

Application for Temporary License

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 downloaded during the application process::
  • 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.
• At the end of the online application process, you will be asked to pay on line. Click the sidebar menu for the current fee amount. Online payment is preferred but payment can also be offline by cheque or debit.

Application for Short Term License

Use this application to reinstate as a registered veterinarian:

You can reinstate as an Active General Practice Licensee, Time Limited, Limited practice – unsupervised or non-practicing. 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.

Application for Reinstatement

2017 Registration Dues - Veterinarians