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Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians (APAV)

What is APAV?

APAV is the national program designed to integrate private veterinary practitioners into the national animal health system to support the international standing of Australia's animal health service capability.

The program aims to have an internationally recognised process for accrediting non-government veterinarians for involvement in government and industry animal disease programs.

Animal Health Australia maintains a database of APAV accredited veterinarian's details to facilitate engagement of accredited veterinarians by governments or industries with responsibility for APAV operational programs. The APAV requires these agencies to conduct audits of the APAV veterinarians employed in their programs.

Why should Australia's private vets participate?

Accreditation under APAV provides the opportunity for private veterinarians to expand their services and participate in government sponsored programs such as Market Assurance Programs (MAP), Australian Veterinary Reserve (AVR) and the AQIS Accredited Export Veterinarian program (AAVet).

Initial APAV accreditation

To gain initial APAV accreditation requires enrolment and completion of the APAV Initial Accreditation Training Program. This is a distance learning program, consisting of a workbook and assessment items that the participants submit to State and Territory APAV coordinators for review.

After successful completion of the Initial Accreditation Training Program, you will receive official recognition as an Accredited Veterinarian.

You may then seek approval by a State, Territory or Commonwealth agency to carry out duties in relation to specific APAV Operational Programs. Responsible agencies may require further training specific to their APAV Operational Programs, be undertaken prior to approval being granted.

Once APAV accredited status is achieved, veterinarians can undertake further training to become "Approved" in one or more of the operational programs that are conducted by government agencies.

Veterinarians should read the booklet APAV Handbook - 2001 (266 KB) before commencing training.

Further APAV training

It is important to note that accreditation under APAV qualifies but does not entitle private veterinarians to become involved in operational activities. Further training and assessment in the requirements of specific operational programs must be successfully completed before provision of services can be approved by the Chief Veterinary Officer of the relevant jurisdiction. There are currently 8 recognised operational programs under the banner of APAV. They are:

Further Information

For further information please contact:

Ms Lilian Fox
Animal Health Australia
Ph: (02) 6203 3900
Fax: (02) 6232 5511
E-Mail: lfox@animalhealthaustralia.com.au

or to order an application form and handbook please fill in the Publications Order Form and send it back via email or fax.

Search for Accredited Vets

Visit the AHA National Database (password protected) to search for an accredited vet near you.

State Coordinator access to the database.

Page Updated: 16 June 2008

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