Current accreditation status
Melbourne Veterinary School is accredited with AVBC, RCVS and AVMA COE. Full status details are listed below:
- AVBC: Accredited (next site visit scheduled for 2030)
- RCVS: Accredited for a Shorter Period (focused accreditation revisit completed in 2025)
- AVMA COE: Accredited (next site visit scheduled for 2028).
What are the different accreditation levels?
The Melbourne Veterinary School is accredited by the AVBC, RCVS and AVMA as part of a cyclical program of review and as part of an industry commitment to consistent international standards. Under the AVBC, veterinary schools are accredited according to the following scale:
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Granted to a veterinary school that has no deficiencies in any of the Standards of Accreditation and is granted for a period of up to seven years. Veterinary schools with a status of “Accredited” submit annual reports to monitor continued compliance.
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Granted to a veterinary school with one or more minor deficiencies that have minimal or no effect on student learning or safety, that can be reasonably be addressed in one year.
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Upon request, AVBC conducts “Reasonable Assurance” evaluations and site visits for new veterinary schools using the methodology followed for established accredited veterinary schools. AVBC may grant “Reasonable Assurance”, indicating that there is a reasonable assurance of future accreditation of a developing veterinary school.
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If a school granted “Reasonable Assurance” is making adequate progress in complying with the Standards of Accreditation, “Provisional Accreditation” may be granted. If, after a full site visit, the AVBC determines that the school is in compliance with each standard, an accreditation status will be granted.
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Granted to a school that has one or more major deficiencies in one or more AVBC Standards. Major deficiencies have more than minimal impact on student learning or safety. This is not an adverse decision, and the school provides AVBC with a plan outlining steps to correct deficiencies and timetable for completion.
If at or before the end of a two-year period, deficiencies have been corrected and there is evidence to support full compliance, the school may be granted Accredited status for the reminder of the accreditation cycle.
More information on AVBC accreditation standards is available on the AVBC website. The RCVS and AVMA have a similar accreditation scale.
What is being done to ensure accreditation is maintained?
The Melbourne Veterinary School constantly reviews and optimises the DVM program to ensure it is of the highest quality in teaching and experience for our students. Part of these reviews also ensure the program aligns with the three major accreditation bodies, the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC), the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
The School is "Accredited" with AVBC and AVMA, and “Accreditation for a Shorter Period” with the RCVS.
As part of the accreditation process, we are required to address the identified minor deficiencies within one year and provide the accreditation agencies with regular progress reports. A minor deficiency is not an adverse finding and has minimal or no effect on student learning or safety.
To ensure the best outcomes for our students and continuing accreditation, we work in partnership with industry and government agencies to provide real world clinical opportunities for final year veterinary students in population health management of Australia’s major production and companion animal species.
Beyond accreditation requirements we always work to introduce forward focused curriculum and experiences, preparing the next generation of veterinary practitioners and leaders.
What does accreditation mean?
American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education
Accreditation from the AVMA COE means that the University of Melbourne Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is recognised in the United States and Canada, making our graduates eligible to sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) – a prerequisite for all veterinarians who seek to practise in North America.
Find out more in our Guide to the NAVLE, including our students' passing rates in previous years.
Australasian Veterinary Boards Council
The Melbourne Veterinary School is recognised by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council through the Veterinary Schools Accreditation Advisory Committee (VSAAC), making Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) graduates eligible for registration with the Veterinary Surgeons' Board in each state and territory in Australia, and in New Zealand.
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK)
The University of Melbourne Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for the purposes of registration to practise veterinary medicine in the UK, and countries in Asia that accept degrees recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The latter includes Singapore and Hong Kong.
Contact us
If you have further questions about our accreditation, please contact us.