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Regulatory Concept: Authorized Activities

The Veterinary Professionals Act introduces an authorized activity model for the practice of veterinary medicine in Ontario and outlines 17 authorized activities.

Authorized Activities

Regulatory concept in development.

Status: Regulatory concepts received general consensus at the Transition Council at its November 7 & 12, 2024 meetings. Prior to public consultation, the Transition Council will review all the proposed concepts again.

Overview 

The regulatory concept related to the authorized activity model is one of the most complex and multi-faceted aspects of the Transition Council’s work. The Veterinary Professionals Act introduces an authorized activity model for the practice of veterinary medicine in Ontario and outlines 17 authorized activities.

Veterinarians and veterinary technicians will both be licensed under the Veterinary Professionals Act. The practice of veterinary medicine will move away from an exclusive scope of practice model to an authorized activity model, similar to what's been in place in human health since the 1990s. 

Only individuals who are licensed as veterinary technicians with the College will be permitted to perform authorized activities either through a process known as initiation (where the veterinary technician begins to perform certain authorized activities without a veterinarian’s delegation or order) or under a veterinarian’s order (where a veterinary technician carries out authorized activities in accordance with a plan set by a veterinarian). 

The particulars related to initiation and order have been before the College’s Transition Council for review and consideration.

Introducing Authorized Activities