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.
The Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 (OLMA) was enacted to eliminate or reduce measures that restrict the ability of an individual who is practicing an equivalent scope of practice for an occupation in another jurisdiction to obtain a licence in Ontario when the individual is already certified in the same occupation by a regulatory authority of another Canadian province or territory.
A Labour Mobility Code is established under OLMA that governs how Ontario regulators, including the College of Veterinarians of Ontario, support mobility for out-of-province workers who are already certified by a regulatory authority in the same occupation. The Labour Mobility Code ensures that workers who are certified to practise by a regulatory authority in one province or territory will be able to be certified in the same occupation in Ontario without having to complete additional material training, experience, examinations or assessments; reducing barriers for those who wish to move freely throughout the country while continuing to practice their regulated profession.
How to apply
If you are licensed to practise veterinary medicine in another province or territory complete the licensing steps outlined below:
- Complete and submit an application form.
- Provide payment of the application fee.
- Submit the required licensure requirement documents:
- Identification
- Proof of name change (if applicable)
- Authorization to work in Ontario
- Proof of language proficiency (if applicable)
- An acceptable criminal record check
- Letter(s) of professional standing
- Proof of employment, appointment, or program enrollment (if applicable)
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 Charter.
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. Please contact our team at licensure@cvo.org for assistance with your application.
‘As of Right’ applications under the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009
As of January 1, 2026, veterinarians already licensed in another Canadian province or territory who meet eligibility criteria can apply to begin working in Ontario through the “As of Right” pathway. Amendments to the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 allow for eligible applicants to be deemed certified in Ontario and work for a one-time six-month period while completing their licensure requirements with the College.
If you are licensed to practise veterinary medicine in another province or territory and wish to pursue the “As of Right” pathway, you will be required to submit an application form, payment of the application fee, and licensure requirement documents. While the “As of Right” legislation allows for increased mobility for regulated professions in Canada, the College’s processing timelines for complete applications for licensure allows for labour mobility applicants to obtain licensure within a similar timeframe. If you are interested in the “As of Right” pathway, please contact our licensure team at licensure@cvo.org.
