Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland

What Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland does

The Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland is a statutory regulatory authority established in 1936 under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936, with sole legislative responsibility for regulating the practice of veterinary science in the state of Queensland, Australia. It operates administratively as part of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries under the Financial Accountability Act 2009, but maintains decision-making independence from government. The Board is governed by 6 members (a chairperson, 2 elected members, 3 ministerial nominees, and 1 consumer representative) and administered by 4 staff, and reports to the Queensland Minister for Primary Industries.

The Board's core functions are registration of veterinary surgeons and specialists, approval and inspection of veterinary premises, complaints handling, disciplinary processes, continuing professional development (CPD) oversight (60 units per 3-year cycle), and maintenance of a public register accessible via its website. Under the National Recognition of Veterinary Registration (NRVR) scheme administered in conjunction with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council, Queensland-registered veterinarians are deemed registered across all other Australian states and territories. The technology footprint is minimal: a public website with a searchable register database, downloadable PDF forms (in transition to an automated system), and the VetRegister newsletter. No proprietary platforms, APIs, or commercial software products are offered.

Revenue is generated entirely through statutory fees set by regulation, including annual veterinary registration fees (e.g., $307.72 for general veterinary surgeons, $124.18 for specialists, indexed +3.4% effective 1 July 2026), one-time application fees ($148.99–$230.85 depending on category), premises application fees ($279.85), and inspection fees ($839.78). The primary paying customer segments are registered veterinarians and veterinary premises operators, with the broader Queensland public (animal owners) served as non-paying beneficiaries via the public register and complaint channel.

Name

Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland

Legal name

Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland

Website

https://vsb.qld.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1936

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland is a statutory authority regulating veterinary practice in Queensland, Australia. It registers veterinary surgeons and specialists, approves veterinary premises, handles complaints, and maintains the public register of practitioners under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Licensing & Regulation

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615)

akta.pro primary industry

Veterinary Regulatory Authorities (Licensing, Compliance & Enforcement) (HLAMAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)

Keywords

• Veterinary regulation services
• Professional licensing authority
• Veterinary registration services
• Premises approval inspections
• Professional complaints handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Veterinary Registration Fees: Statutory fees charged for registration of veterinary surgeons and specialists. These include application fees and annual fees for various registration categories including first-time applicants, renewals, retired registrants, and restoration fees.
2. Premises Application and Inspection Fees: Fees charged for veterinary premises applications ($279.85) and inspections ($839.78 when written notice is given).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland is a statutory authority that regulates the practice of veterinary science in Queensland by registering veterinary surgeons and specialists, approving and inspecting veterinary premises, maintaining a public register of practitioners, investigating complaints, disciplining practitioners, and monitoring continuing professional development compliance. It is funded by statutory registration fees and premises application/inspection fees and operates within the Department of Primary Industries for administrative purposes.

Product overview

The Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland (VSBQ) is a statutory regulatory body, not a product company. It provides administrative and regulatory services including veterinary registration management, complaints handling, premises approval, continuing professional development (CPD) tracking, and consumer information services. The organization operates through its website offering downloadable PDF forms, online search capabilities for registered veterinarians and approved premises, guidelines and policies for practitioners, and the VetRegister newsletter. VSBQ does not offer a commercial product or software platform but provides regulatory services to veterinarians and consumers in Queensland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Veterinary Surgeon Registration Statutory registration service for veterinary surgeons in Queensland, covering first-time applications, annual renewals (1 December to 31 January), and restoration of lapsed registration. Required before legally practising veterinary science in Queensland. First-time applicant fee $148.99 plus annual fee $307.72.
• Veterinary Specialist Registration Registration for veterinarians recognised as specialists by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) through the Australasian College of Registered Veterinary Specialists (ACRVS). First-time applicant fee $186.21 plus annual fee $124.18.
• Veterinary Premises Approval and Inspection Approval and inspection service for veterinary premises including hospitals, clinics, surgeries, consulting rooms, and house call practices operating in Queensland. Premises application fee $279.85; inspection fee $839.78 when written notice is given.
• Public Register of Veterinarians and Approved Practices Searchable online public register of registered veterinarians and approved veterinary practices in Queensland, enabling consumers and practitioners to verify credentials and find approved practices.
• Complaints and Disciplinary Service Investigation and assessment of complaints about veterinarians and veterinary services, with disciplinary outcomes implemented by the Board and serious matters referred to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) for removal or suspension from the Register.
• New Graduate Registration Registration category for new graduates, with first-time application fee of $230.85.
• Limited Period Registration (New Zealand Registrants) Short-term registration for New Zealand-registered veterinarians seeking to practise in Queensland for up to 30 days, at a fee of $83.45.
• Retired Veterinary Surgeon Registration Continuing registration for retired veterinary surgeons, with an application fee of $153.86.
• Special Registration for University Research and Teaching Special registration pathway for overseas-qualified veterinarians to engage in research and teaching at the University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science or James Cook University Veterinary School under Section 19E of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Department of Primary Industries (Queensland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Board is part of the Department of Primary Industries for the Financial Accountability Act 2009. All Board officers are employees of the Department. The Queensland Minister for Primary Industries is responsible for administration of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936, though Board decisions are independent of government.
• Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAVBC determines which veterinary qualifications are recognized in Australia and New Zealand. The Board works with AVBC for the National Recognition of Veterinary Registration (NRVR) scheme and assessment of veterinary specialists through ACRVS.
• University of Queensland School of Veterinary ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial registration available for overseas-qualified veterinarians to engage in research and teaching at UQ under Section 19E of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936.
• James Cook University Veterinary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial registration available for overseas-qualified veterinarians to engage in research and teaching at JCU under Section 19E of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1936.
• Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerQCAT has the power to remove or suspend veterinarians from the Register. The Board refers serious matters to QCAT when conduct would warrant greater penalty than the Board can impose. Only QCAT can deregister veterinarians.
• Queensland OmbudsmanminorOthersConcerns about the Board's investigation and assessment process should be directed to the Queensland Ombudsman.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Veterinary Council of New Zealand: New Zealand's national veterinary regulator. Shares the AVBC framework and NRVR-style mutual recognition with Australian boards, performing equivalent registration, CPD, and complaints functions for vets practicing in NZ.

Direct peers

• Veterinary Board of Western Australia: Western Australian regulator of veterinary practitioners, performing equivalent licensing, premises inspection, and complaint-handling functions under state legislation and participating in the national AVBC framework.
• Veterinary Practitioners Board of the Northern Territory: NT-based veterinary regulator covering a smaller jurisdiction but performing the same core functions: practitioner registration, premises approval, complaints investigation, and disciplinary referrals.
• Veterinary Practitioners Board of New South Wales: Statutory regulator of veterinary practice in New South Wales under equivalent state legislation. Operates an almost identical mandate covering registration, premises approval, complaints, and disciplinary processes, making it the closest functional peer.
• Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia: South Australian statutory body regulating veterinary surgeons under state-specific legislation. Shares the same national NRVR reciprocity scheme and analogous registration, CPD, and disciplinary responsibilities.
• Veterinary Board of Tasmania: Tasmanian statutory veterinary regulator with substantially the same mandate as the Queensland Board — registration, premises approval, professional conduct, and CPD oversight — under Tasmanian legislation.
• Veterinary Board of Victoria: Victorian state regulator of veterinary practitioners, performing the same licensing, complaints, and premises-approval functions as the Queensland Board under the parallel Victorian Veterinary Practice Act framework.

Broad incumbents

• American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB): US association that coordinates veterinary licensing across US states (via the PAVE and VTNE programs). Analogous in function to AVBC, supporting state-level veterinary regulators with mutual recognition — a thematic peer to the Australian regulatory ecosystem in which VSBQ operates.
• Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC): Umbrella body that determines recognized veterinary qualifications across Australia and New Zealand and operates the NRVR scheme. Not a direct state regulator but the meta-regulator coordinating the work of all state boards including Queensland.
• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS): UK veterinary regulator performing registration, practice standards, and disciplinary functions at a national scale. Comparable in mandate though operating in a different jurisdiction and with broader national scope than a single Australian state board.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veterinary-surgeons-board-of-queensland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Veterinary Surgeons Board of Queensland