(1)
| (b) | Different degrees, diplomas or certificates may be so prescribed in respect of different veterinary professions or para-veterinary professions. |
(2)
| (a) | Every university or other educational institution in the Republic granting degrees, diplomas or certificates which are prescribed in terms of subsection (1) shall furnish the council— |
| (i) | annually at the prescribed time with the prescribed particulars relating to the students who are enrolled there for such degrees, diplomas or certificates; |
| (ii) | at its request with full particulars as to the minimum age and standard of general education required of students, the courses of study, training and examinations required of students before such degrees, diplomas or certificates are granted, the results of such examinations conducted by it, and such other particulars regarding any matter mentioned in this subparagraph as the council may require. |
| (b) | If the council deems it expedient, it may designate a person to be present when the examinations for such degree, diploma or certificate are conducted. |
| (c) | A person so designated by the council— |
| (i) | may at all reasonable times enter upon the premises of a university or other educational institution concerned in order to be present when the examinations concerned are conducted; |
| (ii) | shall be afforded all reasonable assistance required by him or her to enable him or her to be present when the examinations concerned are conducted; and |
| (iii) | shall report his or her findings to the council. |
| (d) | The prescribing under subsection (1) of a degree, diploma or certificate granted after examination by a university or other educational institution in the Republic may be withdrawn by the Minister by regulation on the recommendation of the council if— |
| (i) | the university or other educational institution concerned fails or refuses to furnish any particulars requested by the council in terms of paragraph (a)(ii); or |
| (ii) | the council is of opinion that the courses of study, training or examinations required of students before the degree, diploma or certificate concerned is granted, no longer justify the prescribing of that degree, diploma or certificate. |
| (3) | A recommendation in terms of subsection (1) in respect of a degree, diploma or certificate granted after examination by a university or other educational institution situated outside the Republic shall only be furnished by the council if— |
| (a) | any such degree, diploma or certificate entitles the holder thereof to practise a corresponding veterinary profession or para-veterinary profession, as the case may be, in the country in which such university or other educational institution is situated; |
| (b) | by the laws of that country a person holding a corresponding degree, diploma or certificate prescribed under subsection (1) and granted after examination by a university or other educational institution situated in the Republic is qualified without further examination to practise a veterinary profession or a para-veterinary profession, as the case may be, in that country; and |
| (c) | the council is satisfied that possession of any such degree, diploma or certificate indicates a standard of knowledge not lower than that required for the acquisition of a corresponding degree, diploma or certificate granted after examination by any university or other educational institution situated in the Republic and prescribed under subsection (1). |
| (4) | Any degree, diploma or certificate granted by a university or other educational institution in the Republic and which entitles, under section 8 of the Veterinary Act, 1933 (Act No. 16 of 1933), the holder thereof to be registered under that Act, shall be deemed to be prescribed under subsection (1) of this section. |
(5)
| (a) | Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), the council may accept a degree, diploma or certificate not prescribed under that subsection, for the purposes of the registration of the holder thereof in terms of this Act to practise a veterinary profession or a para-veterinary profession, as the case may be. |
| (b) | A degree, diploma or certificate shall only be so accepted if— |
| (i) | the council is satisfied that the person concerned has sufficient knowledge and experience to enable him or her to practise the profession concerned in the Republic, for which purpose such person, except if the council expressly determines otherwise, shall pass an examination determined by the council; |
| (ii) | in the case of the contemplated registration as a veterinary specialist, it is a post-graduate qualification connected with the speciality in respect of which registration is desired and the council is satisfied that the person in question has sufficient knowledge and experience to enable such person to practise the profession concerned, for which purpose such person, except if the council expressly determines otherwise, shall pass an examination determined by the council. |
[Section 20(5)(b)(ii) substituted by section 7(a) of Act No. 10 of 2002]
| (c) | An examination referred to in paragraph (b) shall only be conducted after payment of such amount as may be determined by the council. |
[Section 20(5)(c) substituted by section 7(b) of Act No. 10 of 2002]
| (d) | The acceptance of a degree, diploma or certificate in terms of paragraph (a) in respect of a particular person— |
| (i) | shall not necessarily imply that it could be prescribed under subsection (1) or that, if obtained by any other person, it could also be accepted for the purposes of the registration in terms of this Act of such other person; |
| (ii) | shall be subject to such conditions as the council may in each case determine. |
| (e) | The council shall annually in the report referred to in section 17 specify the degrees, diplomas or certificates which during the year concerned were accepted in terms of this subsection, as well as the conditions subject to which they were so accepted. |
