Licensing guide · British Columbia

How to Become a Veterinarian in British Columbia

Last checked 5 sources checkedNOC 31103

Do you need a licence?

Licence required

You must be registered with the College of Veterinarians of BC to work as a veterinarian in British Columbia or to use a protected title.

Protected titles
veterinarian
Show the source
“A veterinarian must be registered to practice in any province/territory in which they will be practising veterinary medicine.”

From cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/labour-mobility-applicants, checked October 10, 2026.

At a glance

Licence status
Licence required See the source
Routes
Annual fees

Your roadmap

Every route is listed. Follow the one that matches where you trained.

Trained in Canada

  • 2 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total
  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $7,980

  1. Create an online applicant account in the CVBC registrant portal and activate it through the verification email sent to you.

    Source
    “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.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  2. Log in to your account and complete the CVBC's online Application for Registration, which must be notarized.

    • Application for Registration Fee: $682.50 (required for ALL applications)
      Source
      “Application for Registration Fee required for ALL applications $650 + 5% GST = $682.50 Must be paid before application will be managed as an “active” application by the CVBC”
      cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration
    Source
    “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.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  3. Arrange for all required supporting documents to be sent to the CVBC, either as notarized certified copies sent by you or as originals sent directly by the issuing bodies.

    Source
    “In addition to submitting their notarized Application Forms, applicants must arrange for all required supporting documents to be sent to the CVBC.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  4. Pay the applicable fees in Canadian funds by credit card online or by cheque or money order to the CVBC office.

    Source
    “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”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  5. Gain access to the Bylaw & Ethics Seminar and Exam after the CVBC receives your notarized application form, proof of identification, and payment of the application and exam fees, and achieve a score of at least 70% on the exam.

    • Bylaw & Ethics Examination Fee: $472.50 (not required for TEMP applicants)
      Source
      “Bylaw & Ethics Examination Fee not required for TEMP applicants $450 + 5% GST = $472.50 Must be paid before access will be granted to the Bylaw & Ethics Seminar & Exam”
      cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration
    Source
    “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.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  6. Once all required submissions have been received, the application is referred to the Registrar for a registration decision.

    Source
    “Generally, an application will only be referred to the Registrar for a registration decision once all required submissions have been received.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

Listed fees for this route

2 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $7,980 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

Official page for this route

Licensed in another province

  • 4 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $7,980

  1. Submit a completed and notarized Application for Registration (Labour Mobility Applicant).

    Source
    “you will need to: Submit a completed and notarized “Application for Registration (Labour Mobility Applicant)””
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/labour-mobility-applicants

  2. Submit the items and complete the requirements listed on the Application Checklist for Labour Mobility-eligible applicants provided as page 2 of the application form.

    Source
    “Submit the items and complete the requirements listed on the Application Checklist for Labour Mobility-eligible applicants (provided as page 2 of the Application form)”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/labour-mobility-applicants

  3. Once the application is complete, the Registrar reviews it to determine whether you are entitled to registration under the Labour Mobility Act and may require additional information or records.

    Source
    “Once a labour mobility application for registration is complete, it will be passed to the Registrar for review. The Registrar must determine whether or not the applicant is entitled to registration under the Labour Mobility Act, and for this purpose, the Registrar may require additional information or records”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/labour-mobility-applicants

  4. If the Registrar is not satisfied you are entitled to registration under the Labour Mobility Act, the application is referred to the Registration Committee, which may require further information and may impose terms, conditions or requirements if it directs registration.

    Source
    “If the Registrar is not satisfied that an applicant is entitled to registration under the Labour Mobility Act, then the application must be referred to the Registration Committee.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/labour-mobility-applicants

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with College of Veterinarians of BC

4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $7,980 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

Official page for this route

Trained outside Canada

  • 2 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total
  • 5 steps without a listed fee
  • Annual fees: $7,980

  1. Create an online applicant account in the CVBC registrant portal and activate it through the verification email sent to you.

    Source
    “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.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  2. Log in to your account and complete the CVBC's online Application for Registration, which must be notarized.

    • Application for Registration Fee: $682.50 (required for ALL applications)
      Source
      “Application for Registration Fee required for ALL applications $650 + 5% GST = $682.50 Must be paid before application will be managed as an “active” application by the CVBC”
      cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration
    Source
    “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.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  3. Arrange for all required supporting documents to be sent to the CVBC, either as notarized certified copies sent by you or as originals sent directly by the issuing bodies.

    Source
    “In addition to submitting their notarized Application Forms, applicants must arrange for all required supporting documents to be sent to the CVBC.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  4. If your veterinary education was not provided entirely in English, provide test results from one of the accepted English language tests.

    Source
    “If a veterinarian completed their veterinary education at a veterinary school where English was not the language of instruction, they will be required to demonstrate their proficiency in English.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/english-language-proficiency-elp

  5. Pay the applicable fees in Canadian funds by credit card online or by cheque or money order to the CVBC office.

    Source
    “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”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  6. Gain access to the Bylaw & Ethics Seminar and Exam after the CVBC receives your notarized application form, proof of identification, and payment of the application and exam fees, and achieve a score of at least 70% on the exam.

    • Bylaw & Ethics Examination Fee: $472.50 (not required for TEMP applicants)
      Source
      “Bylaw & Ethics Examination Fee not required for TEMP applicants $450 + 5% GST = $472.50 Must be paid before access will be granted to the Bylaw & Ethics Seminar & Exam”
      cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration
    Source
    “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.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

  7. Once all required submissions have been received, the application is referred to the Registrar for a registration decision.

    Source
    “Generally, an application will only be referred to the Registrar for a registration decision once all required submissions have been received.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration

Listed fees for this route

2 fees depend on your situation and are not in the total.

5 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Annual fees: $7,980 a year Paid every year, so not part of the one-time total. 1 fee depends on your situation and is not in the total.

Official page for this route

Other listed fees

The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.

Requirements

Conditions the regulator sets on top of the roadmap steps.

Other

  • You must possess satisfactory proficiency in the English language in reading, writing, listening and speaking, which is satisfied if your veterinary education was provided entirely in English.

    Source
    “The registration bylaws require an applicant to possess satisfactory proficiency in the English language (reading, writing, listening, speaking). A veterinarian who completed their veterinary education at a veterinary school where instruction was provided entirely in English has satisfied this requirement.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/english-language-proficiency-elp

  • To be eligible under labour mobility provisions, you must currently be registered to practise veterinary medicine in another Canadian jurisdiction.

    Source
    “Individuals who are currently registered to practise veterinary medicine in another Canadian jurisdiction may be entitled to equivalent registration with the CVBC under the provisions of Chapter 7 of the Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) and BC’s Labour Mobility Act.”
    cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/labour-mobility-applicants

Already licensed in another province?

Direct transfer

A veterinarian currently registered in another Canadian jurisdiction may be entitled to equivalent registration with the CVBC under the Labour Mobility Act, and if the Registrar concludes they are entitled, registration must be granted.

Source
“If the Registrar concludes that the applicant is entitled to registration under the Labour Mobility Act, then registration must be granted.”
cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/labour-mobility-applicants

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Veterinarians of BC

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Veterinarians of BC

Exams

Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Veterinarians of BC

Language tests

No minimum test score stated by the regulator Check with College of Veterinarians of BC

Exemptions: The English language proficiency requirement is satisfied if you completed your veterinary education at a school where instruction was provided entirely in English.

Source
“A veterinarian who completed their veterinary education at a veterinary school where instruction was provided entirely in English has satisfied this requirement.”
cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/english-language-proficiency-elp

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Veterinarians of BC

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with College of Veterinarians of BC

Demand and pay

Job Bank figures for NOC 31103, Veterinarians. Wages for 2023-2024 in Canadian dollars an hour; outlook for 2025-2027.

Job Bank wages and outlook in British Columbia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
British Columbia $35.58 $60.00 $86.54 Moderate (3 of 5)
Canada $34.15 $60.00 $84.13 —

Wages by region and job outlook in British Columbia

Wages in every province and territory

Veterinarians in other provinces and territories

Regulated in 8 of the other 12 jurisdictions checked so far. The rules differ from one place to the next.

Compare veterinarian licensing across Canada

Sources checked

Pages read on October 10, 2026.

  1. Labour Mobility Applicants – College of Veterinarians of BC cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/labour-mobility-applicants · fetched October 10, 2026
  2. Applying for Registration – College of Veterinarians of BC cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/applying-for-registration · fetched October 10, 2026
  3. English Language Proficiency (ELP) – College of Veterinarians of BC cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/english-language-proficiency-elp · fetched October 10, 2026
  4. Application and New Registration – Fees Summary – College of Veterinarians of BC cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/application-and-new-registration-fees-sum... · fetched October 10, 2026
  5. Cancellation and Pathways back to Registration  – College of Veterinarians of BC cvbc.ca/for-veterinarians/maintaining-registration/cancellation-and... · fetched October 10, 2026

Frequently asked questions

1

Do you need a licence to work as a veterinarian in British Columbia?

Yes. Registration with the College of Veterinarians of BC is required to practise in British Columbia, and to use the title veterinarian.

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