The Veterinary Skills Training & Enhancement Program (VSTEP) is a joint venture of the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO), the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) and the Ontario Veterinary College of the University of Guelph (OVC). VSTEP wishes to be the primary source of education and re-training for internationally educated veterinarians wishing to pursue a rewarding and successful veterinary career.

    

In order to obtain an Ontario licence most internationally trained veterinarians must pass three examinations including the Basic and Clinical Sciences Exam (BCSE), the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) and the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE).

VSTEP will assist international veterinarians as they strive to

• prepare for and pass the NAVLE
• prepare for and pass the CPE
• become highly desirable, successful and employable professionals
• practice at a level that meets or exceeds Ontario standards

VSTEP participants will receive didactic and practical skills training from top faculty and seasoned practioners in

• pathology
  • anatomical and clinical
  • necropsy, hematology, urinalysis, microbiology, cytology, parasitology
• pharmacology and pharmacy
  • antimicrobials, anesthetics, other therapeutic classes, prescription writing, legislation
• radiology
  • techniques, interpretation, systems approach, four species
• anesthesia
  • pre-anesthetics, induction, maintenance, special cases, physiological impacts, charting
• surgery
  • preparation, asepsis, instrumentation, wound management, special procedures
• internal medicine
  • four species
  • multiple disciplines
  • case-based learning
• medical records management using S.O.A.P.
• clinical communication skills with live client interaction
• ethics and jurisprudence
• business skills
• animal production systems

Species emphasis will be on the dog, cat, horse and cow.

Application to VSTEP 2013 is limited to those internationally educated veterinarians who have successfully passed either the BCSE or the NAVLE. VSTEP will also consider applications from candidates enrolled in the American Association of Veterinary State Boards PAVE (Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence) who have passed the Qualifying Examination of that program.

Others who may be considered for VSTEP include veterinarians

• wishing to re-train or change career direction
• referred for remediation by regulatory bodies

In order to fully participate in VSTEP 2013 including any opportunities to perform surgery, participants must comply with the eligibility checklist to apply for a VSTEP Participant Restricted Licence issued by the CVO. Internationally trained veterinarians who successfully complete VSTEP and have passed the NAVLE may apply to the CVO for a VSTEP Graduate Restricted Licence with which they may practice veterinary medicine in Ontario under the supervision of another licenced veterinarian while awaiting their opportunity to sit the CPE.

VSTEP has been sponsored by the Government of Ontario.