You may apply for registration by completing a registration application form and creating an online registration application account. In order to complete the registration application process, you will need to provide certified copies (or if applicable, notarised copies) of the requested documents.
The following documents must accompany an application for registration:
- Registration Application Form
- Academic Qualification – A certified /notarised scanned copy is required. Alternatively, qualifications may be sent directly to the Council by the awarding education provider via email.
- Final Year Transcripts – A certified /notarised scanned copy is required. Alternatively, transcripts may be sent directly to the Council by the awarding education provider via email.
- Identification – A certified/ notarised scanned copy of an ID document issued in Ireland (e.g. an Irish passport or Irish national ID card) is acceptable. If using ID issued outside Ireland, a notarised copy is required.
- Evidence of Current Professional Status – Must be sent directly to the VCI by all competent authorities with which you are or have been registered. Letters/certificates cannot be more than three months old on the day of your registration with the Council.
*Please Note: Any international document presented for registration must be submitted as a notarised copy
Certified Documents
A certified copy means a copy of a document with an endorsement (signature, stamp and date) which states that an appropriate person has seen the original document and certifies that the copy of that document is a true copy of the original. The copy must be certified by an independent person other than the applicant, i.e. a Solicitor, a Garda Siochana, a Peace Commissioner, a Solicitor or a Commissioner for Oaths.
Notarised Documents
If your original qualification and transcripts were produced in a language other than English, then you are required to provide notarised translations of these documents in your application for registration. If your original qualification and transcripts were issued by an authority or body outside of Ireland, then you are also required to provide notarised translations of these documents in your application for registration.
A notarised document is one that has been authenticated by a notary public. A notary public is a public officer who serves the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with foreign or international documents. Documents notarised by a notary public are acceptable for use internationally.
A notary public must certify with a seal/apostille the execution in their presence of the authentication of a document. When you meet a notary, you will be required to prove your identity and place of residence. A notary public may only notarise documents in the country where their principal office is located, as appointed, for example in Ireland, a Notary Public is appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ireland, for a specific geographical location, i.e. Dublin, Meath, Wicklow etc.
Further information on finding a notary public in Ireland is available on website http://www.notarypublic.ie/, and in greater Europe on https://notaries-europe.com/.
Non-EU Qualifications
In order to be registered on the Register of Veterinary Practitioners, you must hold a qualification in veterinary medicine that is recognised for the purpose of registration by the Veterinary Council.
Qualifications in veterinary medicine that are not recognised by the Veterinary Council for the purpose of registration do not entitle a person to be registered to practise in the State.
For information on registrable qualifications, click here
Qualifications in Veterinary Medicine that are not Recognised
Persons who hold qualifications in veterinary medicine that are not recognised by the Veterinary Council are not entitled to be registered or to practise veterinary medicine in Ireland.
Persons who hold a primary qualification in veterinary medicine that is not recognised are entitled under Section 44 of the Act to apply to have their qualification assessed by the Council to determine if they can be deemed eligible for registration.
Upon the assessment of a qualification the Council may determine that a person is eligible or ineligible for registration. The Council may determine that an applicant must sit and pass the Veterinary Council’s registration examination in order to be deemed eligible for registration.
To apply to have your qualification assessed for the purpose of registration under Section 44 of the Act, please contact the office team by email to education@vci.ie
The Veterinary Council of Ireland Schedule of Fees can be viewed here.
Postal Registration
If you require a postal registration form to be issued to you, please advise us by email via registration@vci.ie or phone our office on 01 6684402.
For any queries relating to registration with the Veterinary Council please email registration@vci.ie or phone our office on 01 6684402.