DONATE
BC Animal Owners Association
  • ABOUT US
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Mission & Objectives
  • THE PROBLEM
    • Unauthorized Practice
    • List of practices
  • THE SOLUTION
    • The Proposal
  • Support Us
    • Spread the word
    • DONATE
  • ABOUT US
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Mission & Objectives
  • THE PROBLEM
    • Unauthorized Practice
    • List of practices
  • THE SOLUTION
    • The Proposal
  • Support Us
    • Spread the word
    • DONATE

What is unauthorized practice?

Shape Divider - Style triangle_asymmetrical
The College of Veterinarians of BC has one of the broadest Scopes of Practice in Canada. Only a person properly registered by the CVBC as a veterinarian under the Veterinarians Act and the Bylaws may practice “veterinary medicine"2 in BC.
You’re probably thinking to yourself… what does that have to do with non-veterinary health therapies? That is a very good question!
  • The College of Veterinarians of BC definition of “veterinary medicine” is so broad that it considers any animal    therapy to be “unauthorized practice.” More simply stated: practicing veterinary medicine without a license.
  • Currently, non-veterinary animal health practitioners may only practice under appropriate supervision or delegation of a veterinarian.
  • Violators risk legal action by the CVBC, including financial penalty.
  • Many veterinarians do not want the liability associated with supervising or delegating care to a non-veterinary animal health practitioner.
  • Some veterinarians are unwilling to supervise or delegate care to non-veterinary animal health professionals.
  • Not all veterinarians are specifically educated in complementary healthcare modalities to effectively supervise practitioners, or to deliver these services themselves.
  • Veterinarians lack the time needed to supervise these modalities.
  • Supervision of a complementary practitioner by a veterinarian results in an additional cost to the animal owner, making it more expensive and often cost prohibitive. 
This has decreased access to these valuable non-veterinary animal therapies and caused some practitioners to practice in the shadows or at risk of penalty.
Picture
​Section 1 of the Veterinarians Act1 defines the term 'veterinary medicine' as follows: ​
In this Act: .......- "veterinary medicine” means the art and science of veterinary medicine, dentistry and surgery, and includes, whether or not for consideration, 
- (a) the diagnosis and treatment of animals for the prevention, alleviation or correction of disease, injury, pain, defect, disorder, or other similar condition, 
- (b) the provision of a service prescribed by regulation of the Lieutenant Governor in Council, & - (c) the provision of advice in respect of a matter referred to in paragraph (a) or (b).
Section 46 (2) of the veterinarians Act1 restricts the practice of veterinary medicine to those who are registered members of the College: 
​“A person who is not a registrant must not do any of the following: 
(a) perform, offer to perform, or imply that the person is entitled to perform, in British Columbia, any act described in the definition of "veterinary medicine II in section 1,·
(b) recover a fee or remuneration in any court in respect of the performance, in British Columbia, of any act described in the definition of "veterinary medicine" in section 1.”

Here's a list, with definitions,
of unauthorized practices...

read more
References
​1) Veterinarians Act- College of Veterinarians of BC
“Veterinarians Act.”, College of Veterinarians of BC, Published June 3, 2010. Current as of January 22, 2020,
READ
2) Unauthorized Practice of Veterinary Medicine in BC,
“Unauthorized Practice of Veterinary Medicine in BC,” College of Veterinarians of BC, Published January 2012 By: Dr. John Brocklebank, Deputy Registrar,
READ
Shape Divider - Style triangle_asymmetrical

BC Animal Owners Association represents animal owners who want freedom to access non-veterinary animal health practitioners who provide services that are complementary to veterinary care.

​GET UPDATES - News and actionable campaigns

Sign up
Follow Us on Facebook
Support Us
Donate
​Contact Us
PRIVACY POLICY & COOKIES
Site by sequoia design