Applicants /
Supervision for Restricted Licence Holders
Supervision for restricted licence holders in the process of completing an entry to practice pathway
Applicants in the process of completing an entry to practice pathway are able to gain practical experience before completion of the Clinical Proficiency Exam. Eligible applicants may be granted a Restricted licence under supervision.
Examples of eligible applicants are:
- Graduates of an acceptable unaccredited veterinary schools who have passed the Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE) and the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).
- Graduates of accredited veterinary schools who have successfully completed the NAVLE after previously failing the exam three or more times.
The Registration Committee must review all Restricted licence applications and considers these applications on a case-by-case basis. Please refer to the Registration Committee policy on Restricted licensure for additional information.
When an eligible applicant has passed the NAVLE, they would submit an application for licensure. Staff will review the application for a Restricted licence and will provide the applicant with a list of documents to be submitted and next steps. The application will be placed on the agenda of an upcoming Registration Committee meeting. Staff will communicate the Committee decision after the meeting.
Registration Committee dates can be found here.
Restricted licence with supervision:
The Registration Committee normally grants a Restricted licence with supervision for a period of 25 months. The conditions associated with this licence are:
Supervision undertaking:
A completed supervision agreement called an undertaking is signed by the Restricted licence holder and the primary supervisor at each veterinary practice and must be submitted to the College. The primary supervisor must be a licensed veterinarian in Ontario.
Level of supervision:
For someone who has not attempted the CPE: The first 480 hours of practise at each location must be under direct supervision.
For someone who has passed sections of the CPE: The Restricted licence holder may practise under indirect supervision for the areas of the CPE that they have passed. They must work under direct supervision for the areas of the CPE that they have not successfully completed.
Changing the supervision level:
A primary supervisor can change the supervision level if they determine that the Restricted licence holder can safely and competently carry out their clinical responsibilities and:
- and the Restricted licence holder has completed the mandatory 480 hours of practise under direct supervision; or
- and the Restricted licence holder has demonstrated that they have successfully completed sections of the CPE. Supervision can be changed in the areas of the CPE that have been successfully completed.
The supervisor may change the supervision level by submitting the completed Assessment Report to the College that indicates the new level of supervision. The supervisor does not need to wait until an Assessment Report is due to make this change.
Assessment Reports:
The primary supervisor is required to complete and submit an assessment report of the Restricted licence holder’s performance to the College every three months and/or on request. The Restricted licence holder and the primary supervisor will receive an email when an assessment is due.
Additional information related to supervision: :
- Registration Committee policy on Licensure with Supervision Condition (imposed by the Registration Committee) is a policy that sets out the College’s general expectation and processes for veterinarians engaged in a Registration Committee-imposed supervision arrangement. Note: The names of potential primary supervisors can be provided in advance so that their eligibility to act as supervisor can be reviewed.
- Registration Committee policy on Restricted Licensure
- Registration Committee application review
- Supervision levels: The Restricted licence holder’s public register record will indicate that the licence has a supervision condition. The specific supervision level information will not be displayed on the public register.
I have completed 480 hours at a practice and my supervision level has been modified to indirect supervision. If I move to a different practice with a new supervisor, what supervision level do I need to work under?
If you have not taken the CPE, then you will need to complete 480 hours under direct supervision before the new supervisor can consider providing a different level of supervision to you.
I have completed 480 hours at a practice and my primary supervisor has informed me that they have decided not to modify my supervision level even though I have achieved the 480-hour threshold. Is this allowed?
It is at the primary supervisor’s discretion to modify the supervision level. The primary supervisor must feel confident that you can safely and competently carry out your clinical responsibilities before initiating a change to the supervision level provided.
I have completed 480 hours at a practice and my supervision level has been modified to indirect supervision. My primary supervisor is leaving the practice and I will have a new primary supervisor. Do I have to complete the 480 hours under direct supervision again?
You can continue to practise under indirect supervision. You will need to complete a new supervision undertaking and submit this document to the College.