Notice Type
General Section
Notice Title

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)1 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;
(d) the position requires the person to be able to communicate in and understand English to an appropriate standard for practising in this context;
(e) the council is satisfied that the applicant is fit to practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand;
(f) the council is satisfied of the safeguards in place to ensure that the person confines his or her practice
to the specific biosecurity or emergency situation; and
(g) the employer has made a submission relating to the specific application for limited registration under this scope.
Scope Relating to Particular Skills for a Restricted Period
The criteria under which the council may provide a person with limited registration, within this scope, despite that person not being otherwise eligible for registration as a veterinarian in New Zealand, are if:
(a) the applicant is temporarily visiting New Zealand and proposes to practise as a veterinarian for a period not exceeding six calendar months (which may be extended if the council thinks fit for one further period not exceeding six calendar months);
(b) the applicant holds an acceptable primary veterinary science degree of not less than four years;
(c) the applicant is appropriately qualified to practise within this scope of practice;
(d) the applicant has sufficient knowledge and experience to practise as a veterinarian in the area in which their practice will be limited, subject to any restrictions (if any) as the council may specify;
(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;
(g) the council is satisfied of the adequacy of the veterinary supervision (which is normally required for registration in this scope); and
(h) the employer or relevant organisation has made a submission relating to the specific application for limited registration under this scope.
Restricted Purpose Scope
The criteria under which the council may provide a person with limited registration, within the restricted purpose 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 particular defined field of veterinary practice and where that need cannot be filled by the appointment of a veterinarian otherwise able to be registered in New Zealand;
(b) the applicant holds an acceptable primary veterinary science degree of not less than four years; and
- holds appropriate post graduate qualifications in the particular field of veterinary practice; or
- the combination of the applicant's postgraduate experience, continuing education, research and publication history and professional recognition is equivalent to, or as satisfactory as, an appropriate postgraduate qualification subject to such restrictions (if any) as the council may specify;
(c) the applicant has sufficient knowledge, training and experience to practise as a veterinarian in this scope of practice, subject to such restrictions (if any) as the council may specify;
(d) the applicant can communicate in and understand English to the standard required for practising as a veterinarian in New Zealand;
(e) the applicant is fit to practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand;
(f) the applicant is registered as a veterinarian with a comparable overseas organisation and is in good standing status; and
(g) the employer or relevant organisation has made a submission relating to the specific application for limited registration under this scope.
Time Limited Scope for New Zealand National Veterinary Examination (NZNVE) Candidates
The criteria under which the council may provide a person with limited registration, within this scope, despite that person not being otherwise eligible for registration as a veterinarian in New Zealand, are if council is satisfied:
(a) the applicant holds a primary veterinary science degree of not less than four years;
(b) the applicant has supplied evidence of having sat and passed the New Zealand or Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) preliminary veterinary examination;
(c) the applicant is enrolled to sit the next Final National Veterinary Examination staged by AVBC or the council;
(d) the applicant has been granted New Zealand citizenship or permanent resident status and has a permanent place of abode in New Zealand;
(e) the applicant can communicate in and understand English to the standard required for practising as a veterinarian in New Zealand;
(f) the applicant is fit to practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand;
(g) the applicant is or was registered as a veterinarian in his or her country of origin and is in good standing status in that jurisdiction and any other jurisdictions they have practised in;
(h) that the purpose of the limited registration is to allow the applicant to gain practical experience under direct veterinary supervision prior to sitting the next Final National Veterinary Examination staged by AVBC or the council;
(i) that there is a named veterinarian, approved by council, who is responsible for overseeing the supervised work experience in each practice, who has provided sufficient details for council to assess the adequacy of the proposed supervised preparation programme and is prepared to report to council on a three monthly basis; and
(j) that the applicant, proposed overseer and veterinary supervisors will abide by the supervisory and conditions of this scope.
Note
1The changes relate to minor edits: An increase in the time frame for registration in the scope relating to particular skills for a restricted period from three calendar months to six calendar months, and the addition of three new limited registration scopes - Restricted Purpose Scope, Postgraduate Training Scope, and Time Limited Scope for New Zealand National Veterinary Examination candidates.