CVO Council approves new licensure pathway
July 10, 2025
Internationally educated veterinarians will soon be able to access a licence limited to their areas of competence in Ontario, following a decision by the Council of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO).
“Limited licensure is an exciting approach which enables us to assess internationally educated veterinarians and provide them with a licence that is limited to those areas where they demonstrate competency. We anticipate this licensure opportunity will improve the public’s access to veterinary care in Ontario.”
Dr. Jessica Retterath, President of the College
Traditionally, licensure pathways in Ontario require applicants to demonstrate broad competency across multiple species. This approach has been a barrier for internationally educated veterinarians who may have a more focused education or work experience. At its recent meeting, the Legacy Council unanimously approved limited licensure as a new pathway to licensure in Ontario. The CVO will be working towards implementing the new pathway in the months ahead.
“Assuring competence is fundamental to the work we do in regulating the veterinary profession. As veterinarians, we demonstrate our competency at licensure and throughout our careers. Our College worked with partners across North America to establish the North American Essential Competency Profile, which defines competencies necessary for the delivery of safe, quality veterinary medicine. That information has been key to the viability of the limited licensure model.”
Dr. Retterath
The College collaborated with veterinary regulators across Canada to develop new competency assessment tools that will permit experienced, internationally educated veterinarians to seek a limited licence in equine, production animal, or companion animal practice. The assessment tools were piloted throughout 2024 in Ontario and Alberta and the research concluded limited licensure is valid and viable as a competency-based assessment model. Each provincial veterinary regulator is being asked to consider adoption of limited licensure as a new pathway to the veterinary workforce.
“The public expects licensed veterinarians to practise competently. Limited licensure is an innovative solution that enables us to fulfill our mandate of public protection and support the public’s access to safe, quality veterinary medicine in Ontario.”
Dr. Retterath
The College is committed to managing the risks involved in the practice of veterinary medicine in Ontario and working to reduce any potential for harm to animals and to people. The College's Legacy Council is comprised of 13 elected veterinarians and five public members, appointed by the provincial government.