Veterinarian (ANZSCO 234711)
Updated
What a Veterinarian does
Diagnoses, treats and prevents animal diseases, ailments and injuries. Registration or licensing is required.
- Also called
- Veterinary Surgeon
- Specialisations
- Veterinary Parasitologist, Veterinary Pathologist
Key facts
- ANZSCO code
- 234711
- Skill level
- 1Bachelor degree or higher
- Assessing authority
- AVBC
- National shortage
- Shortage
Visa options
Occupation eligibility is one requirement; each visa page links to the rest.
Points-tested
- Subclass 189 Skilled IndependentVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 190 Skilled NominatedVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 491, state or territory nominatedVia MLTSSLEligible
- Subclass 491, family sponsoredVia MLTSSLEligible
Employer-sponsored
Main tasks
- treating animals medically and surgically, and administering and prescribing drugs, analgesics, and general and local anaesthetics
- determining the presence and nature of abnormal conditions by physical examination, laboratory testing and through diagnostic imaging techniques including radiography and ultrasound
- performing surgery, dressing wounds and setting broken bones
- rendering obstetric services to animals
- participating in programs designed to prevent the occurrence and spread of animal diseases
- inoculating animals against, and testing for, infectious diseases and notifying authorities of outbreaks of infectious animal diseases
- performing autopsies to determine cause of death
- advising clients on health, nutrition and feeding, hygiene, breeding and care of animals
- may provide professional services to commercial firms producing biological and pharmaceutical products
- may specialise in the treatment of a particular animal group or in a particular specialty area such as cardiology, chiropractic, dermatology or critical care
Shortage by state
- NationalShortage
- ACTShortage
- NSWShortage
- NTShortage
- QLDShortage
- SAShortage
- TASShortage
- VICShortage
- WAShortage
State and territory nomination
For the 190 and 491, each state and territory also has its own occupation list.
Common questions
What does a Veterinarian do?
Diagnoses, treats and prevents animal diseases, ailments and injuries. Registration or licensing is required. Also called: Veterinary Surgeon. (ABS ANZSCO description.)
Is Veterinarian on the skilled occupation list?
Yes. Veterinarian (ANZSCO 234711) is on the Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) and Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) (lists in force from 14 December 2024). It is listed for the 186, 189, 190, 482, 491 and 494 visas.
What is the ANZSCO code for Veterinarian?
234711. Home Affairs uses ANZSCO codes for skilled visas.
How can a Veterinarian migrate to Australia?
The occupation lists Home Affairs publishes include Veterinarian for the Subclass 186, Subclass 189, Subclass 190, Subclass 482, Subclass 491 and Subclass 494 visas. Being on a list is one requirement among several; each visa's page links to Home Affairs for the rest.
Who assesses Veterinarian for an Australian visa?
AVBC, the skills assessing authority listed for 234711.
Is Veterinarian in demand in Australia?
Jobs and Skills Australia rated it "Shortage" nationally in its 2025 Occupation Shortage List, with ratings for each state and territory shown above.