Veterinary Professionals Act
The Veterinary Professionals Act modernizes the regulation of the veterinary profession in Ontario. The Transition Council supports the development of the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario (CVPO) by proposing regulations and determining by-laws and standards.
Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024
Get to know the Veterinary Professionals Act
While the Veterinary Professionals Act is now law, it is not yet in full effect. The College is in the transition stage. The Transition Council is reviewing regulatory concepts and drafting by-laws for the new framework. The earliest the new model could be in place is currently estimated to be January 2026.
The College acknowledges all our partners in this process, in particular the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association and the Ontario Association of Veterinary Technicians whose support and collaboration were fundamental to achieving the new legislation.
The Veterinary Professionals Act represents the biggest update to the regulation of veterinary medicine in Ontario in over 30 years. The new legislation:
- enables the one profession, two professionals approach to veterinary medicine, including veterinary technicians as licensed members
- moves to an authorized activity model, similar to what is in place in human health care
- permits veterinarians to perform all authorized activities
- permits veterinary technician members to perform most authorized activities through initiation, order, or delegation
- permits veterinarians to delegate authorized activities to auxiliaries, including those who are not licensed with the College
- limits use of the titles veterinary technician, veterinary technology and registered veterinary technician to individuals who are licensed with the College
- recognizes intraprofessional (veterinarian and veterinary technician) and interprofessional (veterinary professionals and other non-veterinary animal care providers) collaboration in providing animal care
recognizes non-veterinary animal care providers, including chiropractors, pharmacists, farriers, artificial insemination technicians and other human-based practitioners who have taken additional training in animal care
