The Veterinary Council has reviewed its registration fees and the fees for renewal of registration on the Register for veterinary practitioners, veterinary nurses, and for registered veterinary premises must increase for 2026. The Veterinary Council’s registration fees were last revised four years ago in 2021, for the registration period commencing in January 2022. This year, the Veterinary Council has made the difficult decision to increase registration fees in light of inflation and increased operational costs.

How much is the increase?

The Veterinary Council’s 2026 Annual Registration Renewal of Registration fees have increased. The Annual Renewal of Registration fee for veterinary practitioners has increased from €505 to €550 and the fee for veterinary nurses has increased from €225 to €245. Payment of the registration renewal fee enables retention on the register in the new practising year, permitting those registered to continue to practise their profession in the State in 2026 from 1 January to 31 December.

Why is the fee being increased?

The Veterinary Council’s Registration Renewal fees for veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses have remained at the same level since 2022. The increase in the annual renewal fees for veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses is an increase of c. 8.9% which is approximately half the 17.5% rate of Consumer Price Inflation which was recorded in Ireland, from January 2022 to September 2025. The Veterinary Council is also improving its services and processes. Our VCI elections in Autumn 2025 was convened virtually enabling broader participation from the electorate. Over recent years, all persons registered with the Veterinary Council will have benefited from
updates to the annual renewal process. The Veterinary Council has updated its registration renewal process by updating software to facilitate a smoother and more efficient renewal of registration process for all Registrants. The Veterinary Council have introduced an online portal to enable all Registrants to discharge their renewal fee online and offering a customised electronic renewal of registration software, in an effort to facilitate a faster and more convenient renewal process for each Registrant. The Veterinary Council have also incurred increased legal costs as a result of cases before the High Court in recent years. This is in addition to the Veterinary Council playing its part in a broader context, from refining internal processes, reviewing the Code of Conduct, to offering guidance on various areas of practice to include guidance for the veterinary nursing profession and on registrant welfare and wellbeing.

Does the Veterinary Council provide a service to the Veterinary Practitioners and Veterinary Nurses?

The role of the Veterinary Council as an independent statutory body is as regulator to the veterinary professions. Its function is to act in the public interest to regulate and manage the veterinary professions, in the interests of animal health and welfare and public health. The Veterinary Council’s Annual Renewal of Registration and Premises Accreditation Scheme (PAS) processes are provided for in sections 34 and 108 (1) of the Veterinary Practice Act 2005 for the purposes of promoting the highest standards of veterinary care, regulating the practise of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the state in the public interest and protecting the health, safety and welfare of animals in the interests of animal health and welfare and public health. In acting as regulator to the veterinary professions, the reputation and standing of the professions
benefits in turn. These benefits accrue from ensuring consistent standards across educational programmes and continuing professional development, to the standards expected as set out in the Code of Professional Conduct, maintaining standards of veterinary premises, and protecting the reputation of the professions through disciplinary action where required. While our express role is not to provide services to the professions, there are benefits to any profession derived from regulation. Regulation is a necessary element for any profession, maintaining public confidence in
the profession and protecting the titles, professional standing, and reputations of those practising within it.

Is the role of the Veterinary Council to represent the veterinary profession?

The role of any regulator is to regulate in the public interest, not to represent the collective interests of the professions. Reference is often made to other countries where self-regulation operates in varying models. For example, in the UK the Royal College of veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is both the regulator and the representative body for Veterinary Surgeons. In Ireland, the Regulator is separate and distinct from any representative body, with the Veterinary Council governed by the functions and powers
enshrined in Statutory legislation, the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, as amended.
In some European countries, state professional boards frequently offer CPD sessions, advice, magazines/publications, social events etc., however, the model of professional regulation in Ireland differs. All of the professions have regulatory bodies founded in legislation, setting out their functions and purpose in the public interest. Doctors are regulated by the Medical Council, Pharmacists by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, Solicitors by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority and so on.
The role and statutory function of the Veterinary Council in Ireland, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, is set out in statutory legislation, the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, as amended. While the Veterinary Council operates under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine it is a financially independent statutory body.

Is the money put to good use for the benefit of the veterinary professions?

Indirectly yes – a Regulator does not work expressly on behalf of the profession, nor to represent or to benefit the profession, however there are indirect benefits to the profession as a result of regulation.
All professional regulators are funded by fees levied on those persons regulated for services provided by the Regulator. Ultimately regulation exists to benefit the public in ensuring standards are adhered to across any profession, however this in turns protects the reputation and standing of
the profession.

How do I know what the Veterinary Council does with the monies collected each year?

The Veterinary Council is required by law to produce an Annual Report every year, which sets out the activities and functions for the year and also to produce a set of financial statements provided by an external auditor. All of this information is available to the public and accessible on the Veterinary Council’s website: 2024-Annual-Report.pdf

Can I pay my renewal fee in instalments?

Payment by instalment is not permitted. Section 33 (3) of the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, as amended stipulates that the Council may refuse to act or permit any acts of veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing be carried out in respect of that fee is payable unless the fee is paid in full. The Veterinary Council understands, however, that there are number of financial services providers who offer flexible payment plans to facilitate Registrants who may wish to pay their fees back over the course of the year.

Does the Veterinary Council spend money on legal fees and disciplinary matters?

Under the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, as amended, the Veterinary Council is responsible for examining complaints, conducting inquiries and where appropriate, imposing sanctions in relation to veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses.
Fitness to Practise Committee hearings are adversarial in that the Veterinary Council acts as prosecutor with the veterinary practitioner or veterinary nurse as defendant. Given that the outcome of such processes may have an impact on constitutional rights such as the right to a good name, right to earn a livelihood, applying principles of natural justice and fair procedures to these processes is imperative. The criminal standard of proof applies and significant input from external solicitors, Counsel and experts is required in progressing a case to a hearing.
The Veterinary Council is also an enforcement authority under the Act and can carry out investigations where it has reasonable cause to suspect that an offence under the Act has occurred or is occurring. There are a number of options open to the Veterinary Council following an investigation, including the prosecution of offences under the Act.
Hearings and investigations carry significant legal costs, and all of these costs must be borne from the total income collected annually, the majority of which is derived from registration fees.

Why does the Veterinary Council have an Office in Lansdowne Road?

Thanks to the foresight and generosity of former members of the veterinary profession, Professors T.A. Killarney and P.A. McGeady the Veterinary Council offices on 53 Lansdowne Road were purchased in the 1960’s and gifted to the Veterinary Council. The Veterinary Council is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the period building. Works commissioned over the last year to the VCI offices at 53 Lansdowne Road have been financed from the VCI capital reserves, monies segregated and confined for use for specific purposes, such as building works. These reserves are not available for day to day budgetary expenses and annual fee income is not being used for such works to 53 Lansdowne Road.

What happens if I do not renew my registration?

To practise veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing in Ireland, it is a legal requirement to be registered with the Veterinary Council. Therefore, if a person does not renew their registration in a practice year, they are no longer entitled to practise their profession in the Republic of Ireland. On the 31 March each year, persons who have not engaged with their annual renewal process are removed from the Register, with notification of their removal issued to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in accordance with the Act. Not retaining your name on the Register may have
implications for your professional indemnity insurance, your practise, the registration of a premises, and any related veterinary work you may intend to undertake.

I am abroad or have left practice in the Republic of Ireland and do not wish to renew my Registration.

Any person who is not practising veterinary medicine or veterinary nursing in Ireland can voluntarily remove their name from the Veterinary Council Register at any time. Voluntary removal from the Register also obviates any CVE requirements for the period a person is not registered. Application for restoration to the Register can be made at any time and is a straight-forward process.

Please contact registration@vci.ie where we can assist you further with any queries.

Has the Certificate of Suitability (COS) Renewal Fee been increased?

The fee to renew a Certificate of Suitability (COS) under the Council’s Premises Accreditation Scheme (PAS) has also increased. This is a fee for the certification and registration of a veterinary practice premises for a four-year cycle.
Previously, all premises were charged the same fee of €1250 regardless of the type of premises classification. The new COS fee model introduces differentiated fees according to premises classification. This ensures that fees are proportionate to the complexity and regulatory requirements associated with each classification type and cross-subsidisation between premises types is avoided.

Classification Four Year COS Renewal Fee

Registered Veterinary Office €1,600
Registered Veterinary Clinic €1,700
Registered Veterinary Hospital €2,300
Registered Veterinary Facility €2,000
Registered Mobile Veterinary Unit €1,600
Registered Mobile Veterinary Unit (Charity) €1,600

The fee ensures costs are covered in relation to a four-year registration period and the inspection of the premises by independent authorised officers who are instructed by the Veterinary Council to ensure compliance with the PAS Standards.
The Veterinary Council carries out routine revisit inspections to approximately 25% of registered veterinary premises annually. The Council contracts a team of independent authorised officers, or “Premises Assessors”, to carry out inspections at registered premises in the State on a regular basis, ensuring appropriate standards in veterinary premises in the State in the public interest. Premises Assessors are trained regularly by the Council to ensure competency in carrying out inspections on behalf of the Council and all associated training costs are covered by the Council. The updated process for the renewal of a COS enables Certificate Holders the option to complete and submit the renewal application form electronically to facilitate a faster and more convenient COS Renewal application process in 2025.

Why is the PAS fee increasing?

The COS fee has been revised to ensure the ongoing effectiveness and sustainability of the Council’s Premises Accreditation Scheme. The previous fee level no longer reflected the cost of operating the Premises Accreditation Scheme, which encompasses application processing, premises inspections, compliance monitoring, Premises Assessor training and administrative support over a four-year period.
Since the fee was last set in 2022, the costs of staffing, inspections, information management systems, and quality assurance have risen. In parallel, inspection protocols and regulatory expectations have been strengthened to maintain high standards of animal health and welfare and public health. Ensuring that these standards are consistently upheld requires appropriate resourcing, both in terms of staff expertise and operational capacity. Additionally, the revised fees are structured in an effort to make the Premises Accreditation Scheme financially self-sufficient. This ensures that the regulatory function is funded directly through COS fees, without reliance on subsidy from other areas of work. By aligning income with the actual costs
of service delivery, the Premises Accreditation Scheme can continue to operate on a stable, sustainable basis and invest in maintaining and improving service quality.
The Veterinary Council will continue to revise the Premises Accreditation Scheme on an ongoing basis and for the duration the 2026-2029 PAS period, ensuring that it remains fit for purpose. The PAS has been reviewed and updated a number of times since its inception to reflect the developments that have occurred in veterinary practice and in veterinary premises.

The new and updated Scheme will commence on 1 January 2026 and will run for a cycle of four years, ending on 31 December 2029. Please note that Certificate of Suitability fees may be eligible as a business tax deductible expense and guidance should be sought from financial advisors and/or Revenue Commissioners in this regard.

Can I pay the COS Renewal Fee in instalments?

A Certificate of Suitability (COS), issued until the end of the PAS Cycle on 31 December 2029, is issued for four years from 1 January 2026. To renew a COS, COS Holders must submit the COS Renewal Application Form in respect of the premises in addition to the 2026-2029 COS Renewal Fee. As the fee is required for the issue of a COS for the full four-year cycle, it is not possible to submit part of the fee for the renewal of a COS, and payment of the fee by instalments is not facilitated.

Can I get a refund if my premises closes during the four-year registration period?

Where a COS holder closes a premises prior to the end of the four-year licence period, they may apply for a pro-rata refund of the unused portion of the fee. This provision ensures that holders are not charged for periods when the premises is no longer in operation.

Conclusion

The Veterinary Council acknowledges that no increase in fees is welcome and many within the professions have varied circumstances. The Veterinary Council strives to do its best in ensuring it performs its functions in the public interest and to the benefit of the reputation of the veterinary professions. The Council cannot carry out its functions without income, derived from Registration fees, borne by the professions. These fees ensure the much-valued independence and objectivity of the Veterinary Council.
The Veterinary Council regulates the practice of the veterinary professions in Ireland, and in doing so, plays a vital role in safeguarding animal health and welfare, and safeguarding human health. Ultimately, through the role played by the Veterinary Council in the regulation of veterinary medicine, the Veterinary Council enhances animal and public health in Ireland. The fees paid by Registrants to the Veterinary Council enable it to perform its role in effectively regulating the veterinary professions, ensuring the highest standards of veterinary education and training, high standards of animal health and welfare, but also in protecting and advancing public and environmental health in Ireland.

The Veterinary Council is available to answer any further questions you may have and can be contacted by telephone on 01-6684402 or email info@vci.ie