Returning to clinical practice after time away, or stepping into a new area of veterinary work, can be daunting.
Veterinary medicine moves quickly, guidelines evolve, and even familiar procedures can feel less certain after a period out of practice.
Many veterinarians find themselves in this position, whether coming back from parental leave, shifting from large animal to companion animal medicine, or simply looking to rebuild confidence in the fundamentals of general practice.
Recognising this challenge, the New Zealand Veterinary Association Te Pae Kīrehe developed the Companion Animal Veterinary Refresher to provide a structured yet flexible pathway to help veterinarians regain confidence and clinical fluency in small animal practice.
A practical solution to a common challenge
The Refresher offers accessible, online CPD that allows you to update your knowledge and clinical reasoning at your own pace.
Each module focuses on practical, real-world application, helping you reconnect not only with what to do, but also why and how to do it effectively in today’s clinical context.
Modules span the full range of companion animal general practice, including:
- anaesthesia
- surgery
- dentistry
- radiography and radiology
- emergency medicine
- ophthalmology
- reproduction
- lower urinary tract
- musculoskeletal disease
- renal
- endocrine
- clinical pathology
- dermatology
- neurology
- communication
- and more.
Supporting confidence and competence
Each module takes around 10 hours to complete and includes:
- printable notes
- slideshow summaries with interactive quiz questions
- practical case examples and key resources
- a short quiz to consolidate learning.
You can work through the full course or choose specific modules most relevant to your role or development goal.
This structure allows you to refresh core knowledge, build confidence, and adapt smoothly to the demands of modern companion animal practice, without stepping away from your existing commitments.
Why this matters
Confidence is closely tied to competence, and both can decline during periods away from clinical work. For practitioners re-entering the workforce or transitioning between fields, structured learning support can make a real difference – not only for professional assurance but also for team performance and patient care.
The NZVA Companion Animal Veterinary Refresher provides that support by helping veterinarians reskill, upskill, and grow within a trusted, evidence-based framework.
For more information, or to explore available modules, visit https://www.nzvaevents.org.nz/CAVRS
