Registration Decisions

A. Registrar Approval: 

The Registrar has the authority to grant registration to an applicant whose application satisfies all requirements for registration in the desired class of registration (as established in the bylaws). The Registrar does not have authority to deny an application for registration, nor to exercise discretion to deviate from the requirements of the Act or bylaws. 

The Registrar may require the applicant to provide any further information or records that the Registrar considers necessary for the purpose of determining whether or not all of the registration requirements have been met.  

If the Registrar is satisfied that the application meets all requirements for registration, then the Registrar must approve the applicant for registration. 

However, the Registrar must refer an application to the Registration Committee if: 

• the Registrar is not satisfied that the application meets all requirements for registration;    

• the applicant has specifically requested that the CVBC consider alternative submissions in support of a particular registration requirement (rather than what is required by the Act and bylaws); or 

• the applicant is requesting provisional registration pending correction of a deficiency in their application, the Registrar must refer their application to the Registration Committee.    

When an application will be referred to the Registration Committee, the applicant is notified of the referral and invited to provide any additional information that they think may be of value to the Registration Committee’s consideration. 

B. Referral to the Registration Committee 

Once the Registration Committee has reviewed a referred application, they may require further information or records from the applicant that they consider necessary to determine whether or not they are satisfied that the applicant should be granted their requested class (Private Practice, Specialty Private Practice, Public Sector or Temporary) and form (full, provisional, provisional supervised) of registration. 

The Registration Committee meets monthly whenever possible, generally on the 3rd Wednesday of the month.  Upcoming scheduled meeting dates are posted on the CVBC’s website.   To be included on the Committee’s agenda for consideration, an application must be complete no later than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled meeting. 

After considering the application and any additional information provided at their direction, the Registration Committee must either: 

• grant the applicant their requested class and form of registration, or  

• direct the matter to a registration hearing.  

C. Registration Hearings 

If the Registration Committee directs a registration hearing, the hearing will be conducted in accordance with the Veterinarians Act and as established in the Registration Committee’s policy for Registration Hearings. 

A hearing is adjudicated by a hearing panel appointed from amongst the membership of the Registration Committee.  The applicant and the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia are each parties to the hearing. 

The Registration Hearing Panel will be advised by independent legal counsel. The CVBC will be represented during the proceedings by outside legal counsel. Applicants are encouraged to consult with their own legal counsel. 

Hearing Outcomes: 

At the conclusion of a registration hearing, the Panel must arrive at one of three possible conclusions: 

• • to grant the requested class & form of registration; 

• • to refuse to register the applicant; or 

• • to grant the applicant registration but subject to one or more limits or conditions, including: 

• • requirement to complete additional training, education or examinations to the satisfaction of the committee; 

• • limiting duration of registration to a particular period of time/duration, as specified by the committee; 

• • registering the applicant in a different class of registration from which they applied, as specified by the committee; or 

• • imposing limits or conditions on the individual’s practise of veterinary medicine 

D. Appealing a Registration Decision 

An applicant may appeal a decision of the Registration Committee to the Supreme Court if the decision of the committee was to direct the Registrar to either: 

• refuse registration or 

• grant registration, but subject to one or more limits or conditions. 

An appeal must be commenced (by filing a petition with the Supreme Court) within 30 days from the date the order is received by the applicant by personal service or registered mail.  A petition appealing the decision must be served on the Registrar of the College of Veterinarians of BC within 14 days of its filing in the court registry.