Frequently Asked Questions
1. General & Membership FAQs
SAVA is a voluntary professional association that advocates for veterinarians, provides resources, CPD, legal support, and member benefits. The SAVC is the statutory regulatory body governing veterinary and para-veterinary professions in South Africa; registration with the SAVC is legally mandatory to practice.
SAVA membership is open to qualified veterinarians, veterinary students studying towards a recognized BVSc/BVMCh degree, and registered para-veterinary professionals (such as veterinary nurses, technologists, and physiotherapists) through relevant member categories and special interest groups.
You can apply or renew directly through the SAVA online member portal. Subscriptions can be paid annually or via monthly debit orders.
SAVA offers structured pricing based on your professional stage, including Student (Free), New Graduate / CCS, Full Practicing Member, Senior/Retired Member, and Non-Practicing categories. Detailed fee structures are updated annually on our fees page.
2. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) FAQs
SAVA offers multiple ways to earn accredited CPD points, including online quiz modules published in VetNews, attendance at SAVA national and regional congresses, branch evening lectures, and Special Interest Group (SIG) workshops.
CPD points earned through SAVA-organized activities, VetNews quizzes, and congresses are automatically logged into your personal SAVA member profile, allowing you to easily generate a CPD summary report for your statutory SAVC submissions.
3. Practice, Regulatory & Legal FAQs
Active SAVA members in good standing can apply for VetProtect, SAVA’s specialized professional indemnity insurance program tailored to South African veterinary practice risks.
SAVA’s Medicines Committee (Medco) provides members with up-to-date guidance notes, dispensing protocols, and advice on medicine scheduling, availability, and legal compliance. Log in to the member portal to download practice guides.
Yes. SAVA operates an Ethics & Mediation Committee to help members resolve professional disputes or client complaints constructively before escalation to statutory bodies.
4. Student & Early Career FAQs
Yes! Undergraduate veterinary students studying at an accredited institution (such as the University of Pretoria's Onderstepoort faculty) can register for free student membership for the entire duration of their degree.
SAVA provides dedicated resources, employment contract guidelines, locum classifieds, and transition support through the SAVA Young Members Group to help final-year students prepare for their CCS year and early clinical practice.
5. Public & Pet Owner FAQs
Use SAVA’s interactive "Find a Vet" search tool on our homepage to locate SAVA-registered veterinary practices, emergency clinics, and specialists across South Africa.
SAVA runs Community Veterinary Clinics (SAVA-CVC), a public benefit initiative supporting primary healthcare and vaccination drives in low-income communities. For emergency rescue or cruelty reports, please contact your local SPCA or municipal animal welfare organization.
SAVA has an ethics committee that oversees complaints and provides advice on what to do and how to take the case to the SAVC. Send us an email and we can assist.