Your professional development, sorted
Staying current in veterinary practice is not just a registration requirement. It is how you grow, specialise and lead in your field. As an AVA member, you have everything you need to make that happen in one place.
From accredited webinars and online courses to conferences, workshops and peer learning, AVA membership gives you access to a rich and constantly expanding library of professional development. Every activity you complete through the AVA is automatically recorded in your personal CPD tracker, taking the headache out of compliance and keeping you confidently on top of your requirements all year round. And when you need it, your full CPD record is available as an exportable report at the click of a button.
Less admin. Less stress. More time doing the work that matters.
CPD made simple
CPD is compulsory for registered veterinarians across all Australian states and territories. The nationally agreed minimum is 60 points over a rolling three-year cycle, a standard the AVA helped shape through its work with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC).
Meeting that requirement has never been easier. When you engage with AVA learning and events, your points are captured automatically. No chasing certificates, no manual data entry, no scrambling at audit time.
How the points system works
CPD activities fall into two categories.
Structured activities are formally organised with a defined purpose and duration, covering conferences, accredited courses, workshops and assessed distance learning. These typically carry a higher points allocation and require a certificate as evidence.
Unstructured activities are equally valid and cover the broader range of professional learning you undertake day to day, including reading journals, mentoring students, participating in clinical rounds or serving on a professional committee. These are self-logged, with appropriate evidence retained by you.
The full CPD points table sets out every eligible activity type, the points allocation for each and what evidence is required.
Structured Activities
Structured face-to-face
| Activity | Points : hours | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Conferences and seminars | 1 : 1 | Certificate |
| Formal presentation to peers | 4 : 1 | Copy of paper or marketing material (first presentation only) |
| Talks to community or schools | 2 : 1 | Signature of organiser or copy of paper (first presentation only) |
Structured hands-on practical
| Activity | Points : hours | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Workshops and wetlabs | 2 : 1 | Certificate |
Structured written and distance learning
| Activity | Points : hours | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation scheme by examination | 4 : 1 | Evidence of accreditation or accreditation certificate |
| APAV courses | 1 point per unit or chapter | Certificate or letter of results |
| Assessed audio, visual or computer-based courses | 1 : 1 | Certificate or letter of results |
| Correspondence courses | 1 : 1 | Certificate or letter of results |
| Quizzes based on presentations or journal papers | 1 point per quiz per presentation or paper | Completed quiz and results |
| Written assessment tests | 1 : 1 | Certificate or letter of results |
Unstructured Activities
Unstructured face-to-face
| Activity | Points : hours | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical review project | Up to 10 points | Evidence of attendance and documentation of relevance to CPD |
| Clinical rounds | 1 : 2 | Evidence of attendance and documentation of relevance to CPD |
| Mentoring undergraduate students | 1 per day | Evidence of attendance and documentation of relevance to CPD |
| Mentoring or being mentored (postgraduate, specialist or college candidates) | 1 : 1 | Evidence of attendance and documentation of relevance to CPD |
| Representative in professional organisation (e.g. committees, AVA Policy Advisory Council) | 1 : 2 | Evidence of attendance and documentation of relevance to CPD |
| Small group learning | 1 : 2 | Evidence of attendance and documentation of relevance to CPD |
Unstructured written and distance learning
| Activity | Points : hours | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Journal publication (peer reviewed) | 1 : 1 | Copy of first page of paper |
| Journal publication (non peer reviewed) | 1 : 1 | Copy of first page of paper |
| Refereeing a peer reviewed journal | 1 : 1 | Copy of letter from editor |
General unstructured activities
| Activity | Points : hours | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Journal publication (peer reviewed) | 1 : 1 | Copy of first page of paper |
| Journal publication (non peer reviewed) | 1 : 1 | Copy of first page of paper |
| Refereeing a peer reviewed journal | 1 : 1 | Copy of letter from editor |
Unstructured points allocation table (UN)
| Activity | Points : hours | Evidence required |
|---|---|---|
| Un-assessed audio, visual or computer-based courses | 1 : 2 | Evidence of activity |
| Private reading (journals, textbooks) | 1 : 2 | Name, journal, author and pages |
| Mentoring undergraduate students | 1 per day | Signature of student |
| Mentoring postgraduate, specialist or college candidates | 1 : 1 | Signature of student |
| Being mentored (postgraduate, specialist or college candidates) | 1 : 1 | Signature of student |
| Representative in professional organisation (e.g. committees, AVA Policy Council) | 1 : 2, capped at 8 points per triennium | Evidence of attendance |
| Participation in moderated e-list (e.g. ACVSc, Countdown Downunder) | 1 : 1 | Submission of transcript |
CPD benefits included with your membership
- Access a broad and growing catalogue of webinars, online courses, conferences and workshops, many included as part of your membership
- Earn CPD points automatically when you attend AVA and AVA-approved events
- Log additional activities yourself, including unstructured learning like journal reading, mentoring and committee work
- Upload evidence and supporting documentation directly to your record
- Track your structured and unstructured points in real time against your three-year target
- Generate a CPD statement instantly, any time you need it
Learn more about CPD points
Registration is managed independently by the Veterinary Surgeons Board in each state and territory. The AVA does not share your CPD records or status with any veterinary board.
The nationally agreed minimum is 60 points over a rolling three-year cycle, a standard developed through the AVBC with the AVA contributing on behalf of members. Individual jurisdictions may vary slightly, so it is worth checking with your state or territory board or visiting the AVBC website.
Most activities that develop your professional skills in a veterinary context are eligible, from conference attendance and accredited courses through to journal reading, mentoring and committee participation. The CPD points table has a full breakdown by category, including points allocation and evidence requirements.
Points from AVA-run and AVA-approved events are added to your CPD record automatically by the Education team, as long as you provide your member number to the event organiser. All other activities can be logged yourself through your CPD tracker at any time.
AVA-approved activity points are verified and noted on your CPD statement. For activities you log yourself, your records and uploaded evidence will appear on your statement and can be used if your board requests an audit.
Yes, and your CPD tracker makes this straightforward. You can upload certificates, assessment results and any other supporting documentation directly to your record, so everything is in one place if your board ever asks for it.
Your local Veterinary Surgeons Board may audit your CPD records. Keeping your tracker up to date and uploading evidence as you go means you will always be ready if that happens.
If you wish to maintain your registration, your jurisdiction’s CPD requirements still apply. We’d recommend contacting your state or territory board directly for guidance on any modified requirements for non-practising registrants.