The Chamber of Veterinarians of a federal state (also known as the State Chamber of Veterinarians) is the legal professional representation of all veterinarians living and working in this federal state. Every practicing veterinarian is a compulsory member of the state chamber responsible for their area of activity. The legal basis for this is the state-specific chamber law for the medical professions (Medical Professions Act, Medical Professions Chamber Act, etc.).
The veterinary chambers are also the point of contact for veterinary assistants and animal owners.

The Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons is a corporation under public law and is subject to state supervision. The executive body is the chamber assembly of all veterinarians, which elects the board and various committees from among its members. The tasks of the veterinary chambers are in particular

• to safeguard the common professional interests of all chamber members in accordance with the interests of the general public,
• to monitor the fulfillment of the professional duties of the chamber members
• to promote quality assurance in veterinary medicine and the continuing professional development of chamber members, to regulate their further training and to certify additional qualifications,
• to work towards a good professional relationship between the chamber members, to settle disputes between chamber members and between them and third parties arising from the practice of the profession and to set up arbitration boards to examine treatment errors,
• to establish welfare facilities for members of the Chamber and their family members,
• to draw up opinions and expert reports for authorities and courts on all issues relating to the profession and the specialist area of the chamber members and to appoint experts to draw up expert reports,
• to work towards adequate veterinary care for the population,
• to support the public veterinary service in the fulfillment of its duties.