Veterinary Medicine

Regulations of the Commissioner

Subpart 62 Veterinary Medicine

§62.1 Professional study of veterinary medicine.

1. As used in this section, acceptable accrediting organization shall mean an organization accepted by the department as a reliable authority for the purpose of accreditation of veterinary medical programs at the post-secondary level, applying its criteria for granting accreditation or approval in a fair, consistent, and non-discriminatory manner, such as an agency recognized for these purposes by the United States Department of education.
   
   
2. To meet the professional education requirement for licensure in this State, the applicant shall present evidence of:
   
   
   1. either:
      
      
      1. completion of not less than 60 semester hours of pre-professional post-secondary education satisfactory to the department, and completion of a curriculum of not less than four academic years in a veterinary medical program registered by the department or accredited or approved by an acceptable accrediting organization; or
         
         
      2. graduation from an unaccredited veterinary school and completion of combined post-secondary pre-professional and professional study which the department determines to be equivalent to the requirements described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph, including adequate clinical education as demonstrated by meeting the requirements in subdivision (c) of this section; and
         
         
   2. having received the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine, or the equivalent as determined by the department, from a school offering a professional program which meets the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subdivision.
      
      
3. A graduate from an unaccredited veterinary school may demonstrate adequate clinical education for the practice of veterinary medicine by:
   
   
   1. satisfactory completion of clinical education equivalent in purpose, content, experience, and length to the clinical training received by students in an accredited veterinary medical program, such as such clinical education obtained pursuant to a formal affiliation agreement between the unaccredited veterinary school and an accredited veterinary medical program; or
      
      
   2. receipt by the applicant of a certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates of the American Veterinary Medical Association attesting to satisfactory completion of clinical education for the practice of veterinary medicine; or
      
      
   3. for an applicant who has applied for licensure before July 28, 1995, satisfactory performance on a practical examination in clinical veterinary medicine the scope and content of which shall be determined by the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, provided that the applicant has completed all requirements for licensure by July 28, 1996. The passing score on the practical examination shall be reported on a pass/fail basis with the passing grade being an average of 75.0 as determined by the State Board for Veterinary Medicine. In order to determine this average, no section score shall be accepted with a grade less than 65.0, and not more than one section score with a grade less than 75.0. A candidate who fails the practical examination shall be reexamined in all sections.
      
      
4. An applicant who lacks not more than one year of academic study may complete the professional study requirement by providing evidence of:
   
   
   1. an acceptable internship in a veterinary college satisfactory to the department; or
      
      
   2. graduate study acceptable to the department.
      
      

§62.2 Professional licensing examinations.

1. The department may accept as meeting the requirements of all or part of the examination requirement scores satisfactory to the State Board for Veterinary Medicine on the National Board Examination for Veterinary Medicine and the Clinical Competency Test of the National Board Examination Committee for Veterinary Medicine.
   
   
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 59.2 of this Title, an applicant may be admitted to the professional licensing examinations in veterinary medicine at any time during or after the final year of professional study in a registered or accredited program of veterinary medicine.
   
   

§62.3 Endorsement.

For endorsement of a license to practice veterinary medicine issued by another state, the applicant shall present evidence of having met all the requirements of section 59.6 of this Title.

§62.4 Professional study for veterinary technicians.

To meet the professional education requirement, the applicant shall present evidence of satisfactory completion of a program of education for veterinary technology registered by the department or accredited by an accrediting organization acceptable to the department or the substantial equivalent thereof as determined by the department.

§62.5 Licensing examination for veterinary technicians.

1. Each applicant for licensure as a veterinary technician shall pass a written examination in the basic and clinical sciences. The department may accept grades acceptable to the State Board for Veterinary Medicine on the uniform examination in veterinary technology prepared by the Professional Examination Service, or other examination satisfactory to the State Board. The passing score on the written examination shall be 75.0 as determined by the State Board.
   
   
2. To be admitted to the professional licensing examination for veterinary technicians, the applicant shall have satisfied the professional education requirements for licensure set forth in section 62.4 of this Part, or shall be within his or her final six months of professional study in a program of education for veterinary technology registered by the Department or accredited by an accrediting organization acceptable to the department.

§62.6 Endorsement for veterinary technicians.

For endorsement of a license to practice veterinary technology issued by another state, the applicant shall present evidence of having met all the requirements of section 59.6 of this Title.

§62.7 Practice of veterinary technology.

1. Functions. The functions of a veterinary technician may include, but shall not be limited to:
   
   
   1. collecting of appropriate specimens and performing laboratory procedures in clinical pathology and histopathology;
      
      
   2. exposing radiographic film;
      
      
   3. preparing and administering medications on medical orders of the supervising veterinarian;
      
      
   4. assisting in medical procedures;
      
      
   5. inducing and maintaining anesthesia under the onsite supervision of the licensed veterinarian; and
      
      
   6. assisting in surgical procedures in the physical presence of the licensed veterinarian.
      
      
2. Supervision. The functions of a veterinary technician shall be performed pursuant to the direction and under the general supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Such general supervision shall not be construed to require the physical presence of the supervising veterinarian at the time and place where such services are performed except as required by this Part.