Applying for Membership with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association
The Veterinary Profession Act of Alberta and the General Regulations to the Act, 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.
There are three broad areas of licensure you may apply for:
- General Practice License
- Restricted (Temporary or Short Term) (under supervision of someone holding a General License).
- Limited License (practice limited in scope)
To obtain any license all Veterinarians must:
A. Establish that he/she is a Veterinarian
B. Be able to communicate in English
C. Provide that he/she has the academic credentials in the license category that he/she is applying for
D. Verify his/her identification
E. Be a Canadian Citizen or be entitled to work in Canada
F. Provide proof that he/she is of good moral character
General Practice License (unrestricted):
A, B, and C requirements are fulfilled by submitting a Certificate of Qualification from the National Examining Board of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
Restricted Membership (temporary or short term) (supervised):
A ,B, and C requirements are fulfilled by submitting a passing score on the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) and a letter of approval from the NEB stating that the applicant is qualified to proceed to the Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE).
AND
Is supervised by a veterinarian who holds a General Practice License
Limited Licensure (limited scope of practice): ***See Footnote***
A and B requirements are fulfilled by submitting a letter from the NEB stating that the applicant is eligible to enter into the examination sequence, starting with the Basic Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE).
C requirement is fulfilled by having advanced or unique veterinary credentials. The verified credentials must be appropriate for the area of employment that the individual seeks, and the limitations placed on the applicant’s scope of practice will reflect this. Generally these credentials will be a Board Certification, Masters Degree, Doctor of Philosophy Degree or other recognized veterinary training acceptable to the Registration Committee.
Additionally, all applicants are required to submit:
D. Evidence satisfactory to the Committee of his/her identification
· notarized recent photograph of the applicant
E. Evidence satisfactory to the committee that the applicant is a Canadian Citizen
or lawfully entitled to work in Canada
· Social Insurance Number
· Passport
· Work Visa
· any other documentation regarding status in Canada
F. Evidence satisfactory to the Committee that he/she is of good moral character
· Letters of Good Standing from all Professional Organizations to which the applicant
has been a member of
· Character reference letters
· two references from veterinarians, one of whom shall be a recent supervisor
or employer and one person who is not a veterinarian or family member
· consent must be given that the Committee may solicit information not submitted,
including a criminal record search if they deem necessary.
All applicants must submit the completed application form provided by the Registration Committee. All documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a notarized translation into English, and payment of all non-refundable application fees must be enclosed. Full payment of dues must be received before final approval is granted, and should accompany the application.
All accepted General Practice and Limited Licensure applicants are also required to attend in person at the next AB.VMA Registration Day.
***Footnote***
Scope of Practice limitations that might be considered include:
- employment by a federal or provincial government agency with activity limited to the activity specified for that employment
- employment by virtue of an academic appointment or other suitable engagement in an academic institution acceptable to the Registration Committee
- appointee in an internship, residency or graduate studies program recognized by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association or as acceptable to the Registration Committee.
- Licensees in this category without the NAVLE require immediate supervision
- Licensees in this category with the NAVLE may only require indirect supervision
- engagement in private practice by a veterinarian where the requirement for supervision and range of skills practiced is consistent with the credentials provided
- employment in private practice in an instructional capacity for veterinarians who have graduated but have not yet completed the BCSE or NAVLE (under immediate supervision)
Immediate Supervision is defined as the supervising veterinarian being within sight or hearing range of the supervised person
Direct supervision is defined as the supervising veterinarian being on the same premises as the supervised person and being readily available
Indirect Supervision is defined as the supervising veterinarian being on the premises at least once a day during which time the veterinarian has in-person communication with the supervised person
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