Applying for Registration

For an overview of registration requirements for each of the different classes/forms of registration, please refer to this flowchart. 

To assist you in preparing your application for submission, please refer to the following checklists of submission requirements (Registration Requirements) specific to the class/form of registration being sought.  For more information about each class of registration, please see “Classes of Registration”. 

Application Steps: 

Important: An application for registration is not considered “active” until the CVBC has received (at minimum) BOTH the notarized Application Form and payment of the Application for Registration fee.  All other submissions can follow.     

1. Create Applicant Account: To apply for registration, begin by creating an online “Applicant Account” within the CVBC registrant portal by following this link and selecting “Create an Account”. The system will send a verification email to the email address you provide to activate your account.   

Note: If you have held registration with the CVBC previously, skip this step to avoid account duplication. 

2. Complete Application Form: Once you have activated your account, log in,  select “Applications” then “Registration” on the left sidebar menu, and follow instructions to complete the CVBC’s online Application for Registration. 

Note 1: If you are currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction, you may be eligible for registration in BC under provisions of labour mobility agreements.  See this page for more information. Labour mobility-eligible applicants should complete THIS version of the Application for Registration Form. 

Note 2: If you have previously held registration with the CVBC, complete this pdf version of the Application for Registration Form instead of completing the online version. 

3. Notarize application form and submit to CVBC: Once you have completed all steps of the application and reviewed the information you have provided, complete the following steps:  

FIRST: “Print” the completed Application Form;  

SECOND: “Save and File” to finalize your entries; 

THIRD: Arrange to sign the printed Application Form in front of and have it witnessed by a Notary Public or Commissioner of Oaths.   

FOURTH: Promptly submit your Application Form to the CVBC office – your completed form must be received by the office within 30 days of being signed and notarized.   

The notarized form can be submitted either: 

• • • electronically to the CVBC by scanning it and sending it by email to registration@cvbc.ca, or  

• • • as a hard copy to the CVBC office: 

College of Veterinarians of British Columbia 
Registration Department 
#210 – 10991 Shellbridge Way, 
Richmond, BC  V6X 3C6 

If sending your Application Form +/- supporting documents as hard copies, it is advisable to use a verifiable/trackable method of delivery (eg. courier, XpressPost, registered mail) to ensure timely and secure delivery of your documents.   

Important: The CVBC office is not open to the public for any purpose, including to accept in-person application submissions.   

4. Supporting Documents:  

Checklists of required submissions specific to the class/form of registration being sought are available here. In addition to submitting their notarized Application Forms, applicants must arrange for all required supporting documents to be sent to the CVBC.  Submission formats: 

• Electronic Submissions by Applicant:
  Supporting documents may be scanned and sent electronically by email to registration@cvbc.ca.  Any documents submitted this way must be scans of copies that have been certified as ‘true copies’ by a Notary Public in Canada.  (ie. a scanned document is never an ‘original’ document).  Certification date of copies of supporting documents cannot predate the CVBC’s receipt of the application for registration (= Form + Fee) by more than 30 days [exception: certified copies of diplomas or transcripts are valid for 1 year]. 
• Originals Sent Directly by Issuing Bodies:
  The CVBC will accept electronic copies (sent by email) or hard copies (by mail) sent directly to the CVBC by the issuing bodies (eg. licensing bodies sending letters of standing, National Examining Board sending your CQ, etc), so long as the source is verifiable as the issuing body. Letters of standing must be current (ie. must not predate the application by more than 30 days). 
• Applicant submission by delivery service:
  Applicants may also submit their supporting documents to the CVBC office by post or courier.  This could include both copies of supporting documents that have been ‘certified true’ by a Notary Public in Canada may also be sent to the CVBC by post or courier, and/or  original versions of supporting documents.  
  If considering sending original documents, applicants must understand that the CVBC will not arrange for the return of original documents to the applicant.  Therefore, sending document originals may not always be an appropriate option depending upon the document in question.
  Whenever sending hard copies of documents to the CVBC, applicants are advised to use a verifiable/trackable form of delivery to ensure the parcel’s timely and secure arrival to minimize risk of loss/delay.  
  Reminder: The CVBC office is not open to the public for any purpose, including to accept in-person application submissions.   

5. Payment of Applicable Fees: 

Upon submission of your application to the CVBC, an electronic invoice will be created and made available in your applicant account for the relevant fees.  Payment must be received in Canadian funds and can be made online by credit card, or payment may be submitted by cheque or money order to the CVBC office, made payable to “College of Veterinarians of British Columbia” (include a reference to the application invoice number and/or applicant name) 

6. Bylaw & Ethics Seminar & Exam:  

[This is not a requirement for applications for registration in the Temporary class] 

To be granted access to the Bylaw & Ethics Seminar and Exam, the CVBC must first receive (at minimum) the following from the applicant: 

• Notarized Application Form 

• Proof of identification (2 pieces of government-issued ID, at least one of which has a photo) 

• Payment of: 

• • Application for Registration Fee 

• • Bylaw & Ethics Exam Fee. 

Applicants must achieve a score of at least 70% on the exam. Should an applicant fail the exam, they will be required to complete the seminar again before being granted a second attempt of the exam. 

The Bylaw & Ethics Seminar & Exam are discussed more fully here. 

7. Registrar review of applications 

Generally, an application will only be referred to the Registrar for a registration decision once all required submissions have been received.  In some instances, an incomplete application will be passed to the Registrar if the applicant has requested consideration by the Committee on one or more parts of their application such as a request for provisional registration pending correction of an application deficiency, or a waiver of a registration requirement in lieu of alternative information submitted by the applicant.