To get Cat5 in WA you have to have Cat4 and a Cat4 reptile for at least 1 year and if wanting vens you need to do a venomous snake course to show DEC you are ready for Cat5 and to get written approval from their local shire, though if you only want to keep non-venomous category 5 species (Olive, sand monitor and heath monitor) then you do not need shire approval.
Then they will come over to your place for a inspection ($$) to see if you have the right requirments.
Upgrade of Pet Herpetofauna Keeper’s Licence to Category 5.
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) policy on the upgrading of pet herpetofauna Keeping licenses is as follows:-
(a) Licensees must have kept category 4 pet herpetofauna for at least 12 months and
(b) Licensees must have demonstrated full compliance of all licence conditions following the issue of the category 4 licence.
The former pre-requisite of owning category 4 herpetofauna for at least 12 months is to enable keeper’s to gain experience in reptile and amphibian keeping before progressing to the more difficult to look after category 5 animals.
The latter pre-requisite of licence condition compliance is to ensure that licensees become familiar with Departmental requirements allowing them to keep reptiles and amphibians. Amongst these requirements is the need for licensees to complete quarterly return forms accurately and correctly, and also to ensure they are forwarded to this Department on time. Barring the very first quarterly return (which may have been received late &/or incorrectly filled out), Departmental policy will be that licensees must have submitted correctly completed returns on time for at least 3 successive quarterly periods.
Any person wishing to keep venomous category 5 herpetofauna must also obtain prior written approval from their local shire. Where applicants wish to keep non-venomous category 5 species then no specific shire approval is required, however, all licensee’s must comply with relevant local government by-laws.
A DEC Wildlife Officer will need to interview applicants in order to assess their suitability to keep category 5 pet herpetofauna. A Wildlife Officer will also complete an inspection of the applicant’s holding facilities. Interviews and inspections are conducted following shire approval (if relevant).
ApplicantR17;s intending to keep venomous category 5 herpetofauna will also need to provide details of their experience and ability to handle such animals.
