How to apply
Each province or territory has its own veterinary regulatory body and their own governing legislation. Labour mobility agreements between Canadian provinces and territories enable some applicants to apply for Ontario licensure without additional training, examinations or assessments. You do not have to give up your licence from another province or territory to obtain licensure in Ontario.
If you are licensed to practice veterinary medicine in another province or territory:
You can provide a copy of your degree in veterinary medicine and National Board Exam results;
You will need to successfully complete the CVO Jurisprudence Exam; and
You will need to provide a letter of standing from your current jurisdiction and from any other jurisdiction where you held or currently hold licensure.
You may not begin to practise veterinary medicine until you are licensed with the College and have received written confirmation and a licence number.
Here to assist you
We understand that applying for a licence to practice veterinary medicine is a significant step in your career, and we want to support you with clear information about our processes in accordance with our service commitment.
When you submit an application for licensure, our staff review it carefully and will strive to contact you with information about the outstanding requirements within five business days. Once you meet all the requirements for a particular licence, it can be approved and processed within two business days.
We look forward to assisting you with the licensing process and answering any questions you have. Contact our team at licensure@cvo.org if you would like to make an appointment to meet with us.
Licensure steps for applicants licensed in Canada:
Licence Types: The College offers seven different licence types. Please review licence types to understand your options for licensure.
The first step is to complete the application form. If you are a new applicant or have submitted an application in the past, please submit an online licensure application. If you currently hold a licence with the CVO, please submit a licensure application (PDF).
The following must be submitted with your application form:
- complete the CVO Jurisprudence confidentiality declaration
- provide payment for the licence application fee and CVO Jurisprudence Exam fee
- attach your identification document and legal work authorization (if already obtained)
You will receive an email from College staff within five business days to let you know that the application has been received.
Applicant Portal – online application
Licensure Application (PDF)
The next step is to submit all required documents that are applicable to the licence type you are seeking.
- name change information (if required)
- veterinary medicine degree or transcripts
- language proficiency (if required)
- examination and assessment pathway results (if required)
- suitability to practise information
See licensure requirements for detailed information about each of the requirements and how you may submit this documentation to the College.
Licensure Requirements
Next, applicants are required to successfully complete the jurisprudence exam if it is a requirement for the licence type you are seeking. You will receive an e-mail confirming your eligibility to take the CVO Jurisprudence Exam. Please review the Jurisprudence Exam information page for details about the exam.
Licence Fee
