NSW Prescription Requirements
Complete guide to veterinary prescription requirements in New South Wales
Overview
NSW veterinary prescriptions must comply with specific legal requirements under NSW Health pharmaceutical services regulations. Key requirements include the "For animal treatment only" notation, handwritten signatures on printed prescriptions, and specific validity periods. Scripter generates compliant prescription PDFs that meet all NSW formatting and content requirements—you simply print and sign them by hand.
Legal Prescription Forms
NSW recognizes these legal prescription formats:
- Paper prescriptions (handwritten)
- Printed computer-generated prescriptions (hand-signed)
- Conformant electronic prescriptions (e-prescriptions)
- Medication chart prescriptions
Scripter generates printed computer-generated prescriptions that you can print and sign by hand.
Required Fields
All veterinary prescriptions in NSW must include:
Patient Information
- Animal name
- Species
- Owner/client name
- Owner/client address
Medication Information
- Medicine name (generic or brand name)
- Strength/concentration
- Quantity to be supplied
- Dosage directions (clear instructions for administration)
- Number of repeats (if applicable)
- Repeat intervals (if applicable)
Prescriber Information
- Your full name
- Veterinary registration number
- Practice name
- Practice address
- Your signature (handwritten on printed prescriptions)
- Veterinary notation: "For animal treatment only"
Prescription Details
- Date of issue
- Unique reference number (Scripter automatically generates this)
Veterinary-Specific Requirements
All veterinary prescriptions in NSW must include the notation: "For animal treatment only"
This is a legal requirement to distinguish veterinary prescriptions from human prescriptions.
Prescription Format
Scripter generates prescriptions that meet NSW formatting requirements:
- Clear, legible text
- Professional layout
- All required fields prominently displayed
- Unique prescription reference number
- Space for your handwritten signature
Invalid Prescription Forms
The following are NOT legal prescriptions in NSW:
- Pre-populated prescription forms
- Prescriptions sent via websites or apps
- Images or photos of prescriptions
- Prescriptions with digital signatures only
- Electronic veterinary prescriptions (not yet permitted)
You must print Scripter prescriptions and sign them by hand before giving them to clients. Digital-only prescriptions are not yet legally valid in NSW.
Prescription Validity Periods
- Standard prescriptions: Valid for 12 months from date of issue
- Schedule 8 medicines: Valid for 6 months from date of issue
- Schedule 4 Appendix D medicines: Valid for 6 months from date of issue
Schedule 8 Medications
For Schedule 8 controlled drugs, additional requirements may apply:
- Stricter record-keeping requirements
- Quantity limits
- Shorter validity periods
- Additional documentation
Consult the NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation for complete Schedule 8 requirements.
Repeats
When prescribing repeats:
- Clearly specify the number of repeats authorized
- Indicate appropriate intervals between repeats
- Each repeat extends the prescription's utility but not its validity period
- Pharmacists must record each dispensing
Record Keeping
You must maintain records of all prescriptions issued, including:
- Copy of the prescription or prescription details
- Date of issue
- Patient (animal) details
- Client details
- Medication prescribed
Scripter automatically maintains digital records of all your prescriptions. You can access these anytime from your prescription dashboard.
Scope of Practice
You can only prescribe medications that are:
- Within your scope of veterinary practice
- Appropriate for the condition being treated
- Properly prescribed following appropriate clinical examination
Using Scripter for NSW Prescriptions
Scripter simplifies compliance with NSW requirements:
Create Your Prescription
Enter all required patient, client, and medication details in the Scripter form.
Include "For Animal Treatment Only"
Scripter automatically adds this notation to all prescriptions. You can verify this in the prescription preview.
Review and Finalize
Check all details carefully. Once you set the status to "Active", the prescription is ready to export.
Export as PDF
Use the "Export PDF" function to generate a professional, compliant prescription document.
Print and Sign
Print the PDF and add your handwritten signature in the designated space.
Provide to Client
Give the signed prescription to your client to take to their chosen pharmacy.
Common Questions
Additional Resources
- NSW Health Pharmaceutical Services
- Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW
- NSW Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulation
Need Help?
If you have questions about NSW prescription requirements:
- Legal compliance questions: Contact the Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW
- Scripter functionality questions: Contact info@scripter.au
- Clinical questions: Consult your professional indemnity insurer or veterinary association