New para-vet rules set to be a game-changer for the professions

It is with great pleasure that we confirm that the new rules for our para-veterinary professions have been promulgated and took effect on 9 December 2022.

A source of particular pride is that animal health technicians (AHTs) may now open and run their own primary animal healthcare practices. We are confident this move will broaden access to primary healthcare services for animal owners and small-scale farmers in rural and underserviced areas, as well as creating much-needed new income streams for these professionals.

Furthermore, veterinary nurses may now also open their own practices, which we anticipate being largely in urban areas close to veterinary facilities that they will be contracted to. This is also excellent news, as it will enable vet nurses to offer recuperative and post-operative care to animal patients on their own premises, in consultation with veterinary surgeons.

The Council will be hosting workshops and webinars (which will later be available online) to unpack the implications of the updated and revised rules for each para-profession, including how to register para-veterinary facilities and what medications each para-professional may administer.

In the meantime, you can view the new rules here:

1. New rules for animal health technicians (AHTs): AHT rules

2. New rules for laboratory animal technologists (LATs): LAT rules

3. New rules for veterinary technologists: vet tech rules

4. New rules for veterinary nurses: vet nurse rules

Veterinary physiotherapy rules promulgated

The para-veterinary profession of veterinary physiotherapy is a relatively new one, and we are pleased to announce that the SAVC’s long-awaited rules relating to the practising of this profession in South Africa have been published in the Government Gazette and came into effect on 24 February 2023.

Those who are formally authorised by the Council to render veterinary physiotherapy services are now eligible to take the jurisprudence examination.

Here are the newly promulgated rules for the para-veterinary profession of veterinary physiotherapy