8Endorsement of registration as a specialist practitioner

8 Endorsement of registration as a specialist practitioner

(1) If the Board is satisfied that a veterinary practitioner has—

(a) been granted general registration under section 6; and

(b) has satisfactorily completed a post-graduate qualification in a branch of veterinary surgery or medicine recognised by the Board; and

(c) has practised in, or is currently practising in, that branch of veterinary surgery or medicine—

the Board may grant or refuse to grant an endorsement of the general registration of the veterinary practitioner to the effect that the veterinary practitioner is qualified to practise as a veterinary specialist in the branch of veterinary surgery or medicine that is specified by the Board in the endorsement.

(2) An applicant for general registration or a registered veterinary practitioner may apply to the Board for an endorsement as a specialist practitioner under this section.

(3) An application must be—

(a) in writing in a form approved by the Board and accompanied by evidence of the qualifications and experience that the applicant claims qualify him or her for the endorsement as a specialist practitioner; and

(b) accompanied by the fee determined by the Board.

S. 8(3A) inserted by No. 103/2003 s. 48, amended by No. 48/2010 s. 50.

(3A) The Board may refuse to grant an endorsement of the general registration of the veterinary practitioner on the ground that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(e), the period for which the applicant is not entitled to re‑apply for the endorsement has not expired.

(4) The Board—

(a) may require the applicant to provide further information or material in respect of the application; and

S. 8(4)(b) amended by Nos 69/2009 s. 54(Sch. Pt 2 item 54), 6/2018 s. 68(Sch. 2 item 131.2).

(b) may require that information in the application be verified by a statutory declaration.

(5) The Board may have regard to the advice of any person or persons about the applicant's training, qualifications, experience or expertise in the branch of veterinary practice in which the applicant is seeking specialist registration.

S. 8(6) amended by No. 71/2014 s. 26.

(6) The Board must ensure that, if any branch of veterinary surgery or medicine is recognised by the Board for the purposes of endorsement of registration as a specialist practitioner under this section, the endorsement is notified in a relevant publication circulating among veterinary practitioners generally.