Legislative Reform

What does the Veterinary Professionals Act mean for RVTs?

The Veterinary Professionals Act, 2024 is a positive next step in acknowledging the evolving role of Registered Veterinary Technicians in the veterinary profession.

The legislation will enable RVTs to use their education and training to benefit animals, veterinary teams, and the public. The legislation will also ensure RVTs have a seat at the Council table where the profession is governed, increasing representation of RVTs’ interests and concerns.

Under the new legislation, RVT regulation will shift from the OAVT to a new regulatory college, The College of Veterinary Professionals, regulating veterinarians and RVTs together. This change will allow the OAVT to focus exclusively on its mandate as the professional association for RVTs.

What happens now that the Veterinary Professionals Act has passed?

The Act became law in June 2024 which was the first step towards creating and implementing a new regulatory framework for veterinary professionals. Following passage, the first step towards implementation was the creation of a Transition Council that has been working with the College of Veterinarians to develop new regulations governing our profession.

The Transition Council was established in August 2024 and consists of the current legacy College of Veterinarians of Ontario council members, which includes veterinarians and members of the public, and three RVTs appointed by the OAVT. For a full list of council members, please click here.

The Transition Council is currently creating the regulatory concepts as well as the rules governing the election of a new council, including RVTs, who will govern the profession moving forward.

What happens next in the modernization of veterinary regulation in Ontario?

Once the Transition Council has established the regulatory concepts a multi-phase consultation process will begin. The first phase of public consultations will focus on reviewing and providing comment on the regulatory concepts that were agreed to by Transitional Council as of January 29, 2025.

The first phase of consultations is now open to the public and feedback can be submitted through the College’s feedback form. RVTs are encouraged to learn about and comment on the regulatory concepts and will be supported to do so by the OAVT.

After the initial consultation period, the regulatory concepts will be shared with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness so that the concepts can become a full suite of regulations. Further consultation on the regulations drafted by the government and the rules governing elections will occur at a later date, and RVTs will be able to submit further feedback once the comment period has opened.

Once formally approved by the government, a coming into force date will be set, and the process for electing the new council will begin. The OAVT expects this process, including the new regulatory framework, to be complete by 2026*.

When will public consultations on regulations be taking place?

Consultations on the regulatory concepts developed by the Transition Council are now available for public comment through the form provided by the College of Veterinarians of Ontario. Public consultations will be available from the second week of February and will be open for sixty (60) days.

If you would like to participate in the public consultation process today, please use the consultation form.

What are regulatory concepts?

In developing the proposed regulations, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) advised that it would be beneficial for the Transition Council to focus on the development of regulatory concepts – instead of specific regulatory language – to reflect and support OMAFA as it conducts its work.

Regulatory concepts are the ideas behind regulations, while regulatory language is the specific words used to express those ideas in legal texts. The regulatory concepts are the underlying principles which will govern our work.

The OAVT encourages RVTs to carefully review all concepts being consulted on prior to submitting feedback and invite you to contact us at advocacy@oavt.org if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.

What are the regulatory concepts RVTs are being consulted on?

The Transitional Council decided on a list of five concepts that are now available for comment on the government’s regulatory registry.

The regulatory concepts have been formatted into five parts based on overarching themes. The five themes are:

1. Licensure
2. Authorized Activities
3. Regulatory Exemptions for Non-Members
4. Quality Team-Based Care
5. Administrative

To support members in participating in the consultation process the OAVT will be hosting multiple education and discussion sessions over the 60-day period. Beginning at our annual conference on February 28 we will invite members to join us in learning about the regulatory concepts, OAVT considerations on the issues presented and how to participate in the consultation process.

How can RVTs participate in the consultations?  

To support members in participating in the consultation process the OAVT will be hosting multiple education and discussion sessions over the 60-day period when consultations are open. Beginning at our annual conference on February 28, we will invite members to join us in learning about the regulatory concepts, OAVT considerations on the issues presented and how to participate in the consultation process.

After the annual conference, we will hold virtual sessions to cover the same content for anyone who was unable to attend at the conference. Please reach out to us at advocacy@oavt.org for more information or to register for a session.

RVTs can also participate by contributing to the OAVT submission through the member input form available here.

If you would like to participate in the public consultation process today, please use the consultation form.

How is the OAVT participating in the regulatory consultations?

The OAVT has been in regular contact with the College of Veterinarians throughout the development of the regulatory concepts. We have provided advice, recommendations and support to the College in the development of the current concepts and are pleased that they have been very open to collaboration throughout.

Now, with the formal consultation period underway the OAVT has been invited to share our feedback directly with the CVO and the Transition Council in writing. To inform our response we will be using our education sessions at the annual conference and virtually to hear from members about their concerns. The OAVT Board of Directors will then be tasked with determining the details of our consultation response and will work with OAVT staff to ensure that our response is detailed, accurate, reflective of member concerns and submitted to the College and Transition Council within the consultation period.

RVTs can also participate by contributing to the OAVT submission through the member input form available here.

When will the regulations be in effect?

Regulations will be determined in ongoing discussions and partnership between the College of Veterinarians, the Government of Ontario and the professionals who work every day in our industry, including RVTs. OMAFA will take the regulatory concepts agreed to by the Transition Council and use them to draft regulations.

Once draft regulations have been developed, they will be posted online for comment, and the OAVT will make a formal submission outlining our position on the draft proposal. We will be sure to keep our members informed as this process progresses and to facilitate your own participation in that phase of consultation.

The OAVT expects this process to be complete before the end of 2025 with regulations taking effect over the course of 2026*.

If there are specific regulations you would like to comment on or to see in place, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at advocacy@oavt.org.

When does RVT scope of practice expand under the new Veterinary Professionals Act?

While the scope of practice for veterinary professionals is defined through an authorized activities model within the new legislation, it has not yet come into force. Before RVTs can practice under the new model, regulations must be developed, reviewed and implemented by the government. These regulations will outline the specifics of how the authorized activities model applies to RVTs, DVMs, students and any other professional or person involved in the practice of veterinary medicine.

The OAVT expects the regulatory development process, including clear guidelines for RVTs’ defined scope of practice, to be complete before the end of 2025 with regulations taking effect over the course of 2026*.

Until the regulations come into effect, the current Veterinarians Act remains the legislation that RVTs must adhere to, and the OAVT remains the regulator of the RVT profession.

The OAVT will provide regular updates on this process as it continues and will advise RVTs of important dates as they become available.

What will happen to the OAVT once the changes in the Veterinary Professionals Act are implemented?

The OAVT will continue to play a crucial role as the professional association and voice of RVTs in Ontario. The mandate of the OAVT will shift to focus more on providing services and education for RVTs, as well as advocating on behalf of RVTs to the government and other stakeholders.

Like the role of RVTs, the mandate of the OAVT is evolving to serve our members better.

The OAVT values feedback from our members, and we encourage you to share your thoughts on how we, as an organization, can best support RVTs moving forward by emailing us at advocacy@oavt.org.

What is the difference between a professional association and a regulator?

The primary duty of the regulator is to serve and protect the public interest, governing the practice of RVTs and overseeing the profession. Meanwhile, the primary role of a professional association is to serve and advocate for their members with external stakeholders.

When the planned changes to modernize the regulation of veterinary medicine are implemented, the OAVT will transition from its current dual mandate to a single mandate organization. The sole purpose of the OAVT will be to act as the professional association for RVTs, where we will continue to accredit RVT educational programs in the province while expanding our focus on providing services for and advocating on behalf of our members.   

What is the difference between self-regulation and professional regulation?

In practice, the regulatory process between self-regulation and professional regulation has one main difference – who the regulator is. In this case, RVTs are currently self-regulated by the OAVT, but once the Veterinary Professionals Act is implemented, RVTs will be moving to professional regulation held by the new College of Veterinary Professionals. The new College of Veterinary Professionals has the authority to regulate both RVTs and veterinarians with oversight from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (formerly OMAFRA).

In principle, the difference between self-regulation and professional regulation is a significant increase in the recognition of a given profession. Professional regulation indicates the growth of a profession from one that was not considered on par with others who are professionally regulated to one seen as deserving of the same level of standing as others. The move from self-regulation to professional regulation is a very positive sign in the growth of a profession.

Are RVTs still able to make recommendations on the Veterinary Professionals Act?

No, the Veterinary Professionals Act received Royal Assent on June 6, 2024, making the Act legally binding within Ontario.

While the opportunity to submit recommendations on the contents of the Act has passed, consultations on regulatory concepts are open to RVTs from the second week of February 2025 for 60 days.

To support members in participating in the consultation process the OAVT will be hosting multiple education and discussion sessions over the 60-day period when consultations are open. Beginning at our annual conference on February 28, we will invite members to join us in learning about the regulatory concepts, OAVT considerations on the issues presented and how to participate in the consultation process.

After the annual conference, we will hold virtual sessions to cover the same content for anyone who was unable to attend at the conference. Please reach out to us at advocacy@oavt.org for more information or to register for a session.

RVTs can also participate by contributing to the OAVT submission through the member input form available here.

If you would like to participate in the public consultation process today, please use the consultation form.

How will the OAVT ensure the RVT voice is heard during this process?

The OAVT is committed to ensuring that the voice of RVTs is heard throughout this process. To support members in participating in the consultation process the OAVT will be hosting multiple education and discussion sessions over the 60-day period when consultations are open. Beginning at our annual conference on February 28, we will invite members to join us in learning about the regulatory concepts, OAVT considerations on the issues presented and how to participate in the consultation process.

After the annual conference, we will hold virtual sessions to cover the same content for anyone who was unable to attend at the conference. Please reach out to us at advocacy@oavt.org for more information or to register for a session.

RVTs can also participate by contributing to the OAVT submission through the member input form available here.

Finally, the OAVT will provide regular updates to RVTs about any ongoing work and opportunities for RVTs to share their thoughts and feelings throughout this process. We encourage open communication and invite you to contact us at advocacy@oavt.org if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.

When will RVTs become licensed with the College, and how much will it cost?

RVTs will be licensed through the College of Veterinary Professionals of Ontario, which will be established when the regulations and By-Laws governing veterinary professionals are in place. The OAVT expects the regulatory development process to be complete by the end of 2025 and implementation to take place over the course of 2026*.

With licensure available through the College, they will also establish costs. A fee structure will be developed as part of the transition process.

*timelines are an estimate and subject to change

The new Veterinary Professionals Act will distinguish for the first time between RVTs and the other non-credentialled staff who work in veterinary practices.

This change will formalize the one profession, two professionals model that is already widely in practice among modern veterinary teams. RVTs will finally be able to practice to the full scope of their training, enabling them to use their education and training to benefit animals, veterinary teams, and the public. The legislation will also ensure RVTs have a seat at the Council table where the profession is governed, increasing representation of RVTs’ interests and concerns.

And while change is good, we haven’t lost sight of all the hard work and amazing accomplishments of RVTs who got us to this point. We will continue to recognize and celebrate our past, while leveraging the platform that has been built to continue expanding the scope and recognition of our profession into the future.

Along with our partners at the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO) and the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA), we will continue to work alongside the government as regulations are developed.

We also hope you will use your voice to join us throughout this process to ensure that the government gets this right for RVTs. We want to know what you have to say about this new legislation and the future of our profession. Please share your feedback here.

 Questions? Email advocacy@oavt.org 

We will continue to post the latest updates and communications regarding modernizing veterinary medicine in Ontario here:

• The Transition Council released its regulatory concepts for public consultation on February 11, 2025. The OAVT emailed updates to members help them prepare for and participate in the public consultation process: February 5, February 11 
• As the Transition Council drafted its regulatory concepts, the OAVT kept members up to date on the issues affecting RVTs: January 7, January 23
• The OAVT has appointed three RVTs to the Transition Council. Read the press release here.
• The new Veterinary Professionals Act received Royal Assent on June 6, 2024. Read our press release here.
• The OAVT has been regularly updating its members through email on the progress of the Veterinary Professionals Act: May 10, April 29, March 28, March 15, March 7
• The Veterinary Professionals Act under the Enhancing Professional Care of Animals Act was announced on March 7th. See the OAVT press release. 
• The Ontario government has also released a press release and background information about the new bill. The full bill is available to read here.
• RVT Month 2023 Update from OAVT President Kirsti Clarida, RVT
• Based on member feedback, the OAVT responded to the discussion paper in Spring 2023. Read it here.
• The OAVT hosted multiple town hall meetings in Spring 2023 to help RVTs learn more and respond to the discussion paper. See more details here.
• The next phase of the consultation process to modernize the regulation of the veterinary profession in Ontario is now open. Read more here
• Listen to the February 2023 CVO podcast featuring John Stevens, Chief Executive Officer of the OVMA and Elise Wickett, OAVT Executive Director and Registrar discussing legislative reform.
• OMAFRA has announced the Veterinarians Act is now open for public consultation. Read more here.
• OAVT’s October 20, 2022 update to members
• OAVT 2022 Election Toolkit available here
• OAVT’s May 2022 update to members
• OAVT’s October 23, 2020 update to members
• Check out the OAVT’s updated timeline (2015-2020). This is an update to the 1967-2015 OAVT timeline found here.

Continue to check back for more resources to help you as the OAVT increases its advocacy efforts.

• The Different Roles of a Regulator, Professional Association and Union
• OAVT Member Advocacy Resources – Advocacy Tips
• OAVT Member Advocacy Resources – Understanding Ontario’s Provincial Government
• OAVT Member Advocacy Resources – How Government Decisions are Made