WESTERN AUSTRALIA
VETERINARY NURSE REGISTRATION

Please be aware that in Western Australia, it is a requirement under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1960 that all student/trainee veterinary nurses studying for a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing must apply online for authorisation as a trainee veterinary nurse before they perform any prescribed duties as a student veterinary nurse. 

To apply online you will need to go to the Board’s website https://www.vsbwa.org.au/.  From there, click on the veterinary nurses tab and select “Trainee Veterinary Nurse Authorisation Application” from the dropdown menu.  On clicking the “Apply Now” button you will be guided through the process of establishing an account and submitting an application.

Student veterinary nurses may perform those duties and veterinary services only in the presence of, and under the immediate and direct personal supervision of, a registered veterinary surgeon.

Currently, Western Australia (WA) is the only state to approve veterinary nurses to perform acts of veterinary surgery. Students enrolled in the Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing  must be authorised by the Veterinary Surgeons Board (VSB), as trainee veterinary nurses to be permitted to perform duties that are prescribed in Regulations 65 and 66 of the Veterinary Surgeons Regulations 1979.

Please be advised that as at 1 January 2020 the period of authorisation as a trainee veterinary nurse will change.  Trainee veterinary nurses will be required to renew their authorisation annually on or before 31 December at a fee of $28 per calendar year.

There will be no change to the period of authorisation for trainee veterinary nurses who are already authorised by the Board.