Pursuant to section 75(i) of the Veterinarians Act 2005, the following notice is given.
This notice prescribes the minimum standards for practising as a veterinarian in the areas of fitness to practise and the maintenance, examination, or improvement of the overall competence of a veterinarian to practise.
1. Fitness to Practise
A veterinarian must be fit in order to maintain his or her practising certificate and to practise as a veterinarian in New Zealand.
Matters that may bring a person's fitness to practise into question can include:
- the contracting of any addictive, mental or physical condition;
- any addictive or inappropriate taking of drugs or alcohol;
- a formal competence enquiry from an employer;
- an adverse finding in any disciplinary action by an employer or licensing or professional body; and
- a guilty finding in any criminal proceeding (including traffic offences involving alcohol or drugs for which the maximum penalty is not less than three months' imprisonment).
All persons are required to provide the council with a statement about their fitness to practise when they apply for registration or for a practising certificate.
The council may also examine a person (section 25(a)), require statutory declarations (section 25(b)), require other information (section 25(c)) and take various actions under specific, relevant sections of the Act.
2. Minimum Standards for Maintenance, Examination, or Improvement of the Overall Competence of a Veterinarian to Practise
(a) Recency of Practice
Veterinarians have the responsibility to ensure that they maintain their skills at the current minimum standards
(ie standards expected of a reasonable and competent practitioner).
For any person who has not worked as a veterinarian for five consecutive years, or has not worked as a veterinarian for five consecutive years in the area in which they intend to practise, the council may examine the person (sections 11(a) and 25(a)) and may if it is necessary place conditions upon the person's practising certificate (section 26(3)(c)).
(b) Continuing Professional Development
Veterinarians have the responsibility to ensure that they maintain their skills at the current minimum standards
(ie standards expected of a reasonable and competent practitioner).
The council requires veterinarians to record and report their professional development.
Under section 25, when considering an application for a practising certificate, the council may require the applicant to provide any document or information that the council considers, on reasonable grounds, is necessary to assess his or her application.
The council may use this section and section 26 where veterinarians have not reported on their professional development for more than two consecutive years.