Source: http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/vetmed/article135.htm
Timestamp: 2013-05-20 03:15:19
Document Index: 107467065

Matched Legal Cases: ['§6700', '§6701', '§6702', '§6703', '§6704', '§6704', '§6705', '§6705', '§6706', '§6707', '§6708', '§6709', '§6711', '§6711', '§6711', '§6712', '§6713', '§6714', '§6700', '§6702', '§6704', '§6704', '§6705', '§6706', '§6707', '§6708', '§6709', '§6711', '§6711', '§6711', '§6712', '§6713', '§6714']

NYS Veterinary Medicine:Laws, Rules & Regulations:Article 135
/ Article 135
§6700. Introduction. | §6701.
Definition of practice of veterinary medicine. | §6702.
Practice of veterinary medicine and use of title "veterinarian". | §6703.
State board for veterinary medicine. | §6704.
Requirements for a professional license as a veterinarian. | §6704-a. Mandatory continuing education for veterinarians. | §6705.
Exempt persons. | §6705-a.
Emergency veterinarian service; limited liability. | §6706.
Corporate practice. | §6707.
Limited permits to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine. | §6708.
Definition of practice of veterinary technology. | §6709.
Practice of veterinary technology and use of title "veterinary technician". | §6711.
Requirements for a professional license as an veterinary technician. | §6711-a.
Limited permits to engage in the practice of veterinary technology. | §6711-b. Mandatory continuing education for veterinary technicians. | §6712.
Exempt persons. | §6713.
Special provisions. | §6714.
Treatment records. §6700. Introduction.
This article applies to the profession of veterinary medicine and veterinary
technology. The general provisions for all professions contained in article
The practice of the profession of veterinary medicine is defined as diagnosing,
treating, operating, or prescribing for any animal disease, pain, injury,
deformity or physical condition, or the subcutaneous insertion of a microchip
intended to be used to identify an animal. "Animal" includes every
living creature except a human being.
§6702. Practice of veterinary medicine and use
of title "veterinarian".
practice veterinary medicine or use the title "veterinarian".
A licensed veterinarian or a professional service corporation organized
for the practice of veterinary medicine may employ veterinary technicians
to assist them in the practice of their profession in such capacities
as are prescribed by law and as from time to time may be set by the commissioner
or the state board of veterinary medicine. A veterinarian or professional
service corporation may not employ veterinary technicians in a ratio exceeding
three technicians per supervising licensed veterinarian. Nothing in this
section shall be construed as prohibiting a veterinarian from employing
unlicensed lay persons for the performance of non-technical duties.
A state board for veterinary medicine shall be appointed by the board of
regents on recommendation of the commissioner for the purpose of assisting
the board of regents and the department on matters of professional licensing
and professional conduct in accordance with section sixty-five hundred eight
of this title. The board shall be composed of not less than seven veterinarians
licensed in the state and not more than two veterinary technicians licensed
in the state. An executive secretary to the board shall be appointed by
the board of regents on recommendation of the commissioner. The participation
of the licensed veterinary technicians shall be limited to issues concerning
the licensure of veterinary technology including but not limited to qualifications,
employment, scope of practice, and discipline.
§6704. Requirements for a professional license
as a veterinarian.
To qualify for a license as a veterinarian, an applicant shall fulfill
the following requirements: Application: file an application with the department;
Education: have received an education, including a doctoral degree
in veterinary medicine, in accordance with the commissioner's regulations;
Citizenship or immigration status: be a United States citizen or an
alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;
provided, however that the board of regents may grant a one-time three-year
waiver for a veterinarian who otherwise meets the requirements of this
article and who has accepted an offer to practice veterinary medicine in a county in the state which the department has certified as having a shortage of qualified applicants to fill existing vacancies in veterinary medicine, and provided further that the board of regents may grant an extension
of such three-year waiver of not more than one year;
Fees: pay a fee of two hundred sixty dollars to the department for
admission to a department conducted examination and for an initial license,
a fee of one hundred thirty-five dollars for each reexamination, a fee
of one hundred thirty dollars for an initial license for persons not requiring
admission to a department conducted examination, and a fee of two hundred
ten dollars for each triennial registration period.
§6704-a. Mandatory continuing education for veterinarians.Effective January 1, 2011
Each veterinarian, licensed pursuant to this article, required to register
triennially with the department to practice in this state shall
comply with the provisions of the mandatory continuing education requirements,
Veterinarians who do not satisfy the mandatory continuing education requirements
shall not practice until they have met such requirements and have been
issued a registration or conditional registration certificate.
Veterinarians shall be exempt from the mandatory continuing education
requirement for the triennial registration period during which they are first
licensed. In accordance with the intent of this section, adjustments to the
mandatory continuing education requirement may be granted by the department
for reasons of health, certified by a physician, for extended active duty with
the armed forces of the United States, or for other good cause acceptable to
the department which may prevent compliance. Veterinarians engaged on a full-time
basis in the teaching of veterinary medicine at a veterinary education program
registered by the department or accredited or approved by an acceptable accrediting
organization shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.
A licensed veterinarian not engaged in professional practice shall
licensee who returns to the practice of veterinary medicine shall notify
the department prior to reentering the profession and shall meet such
mandatory continuing education requirements as shall be prescribed by
regulation of the commissioner.
shall complete a minimum of forty-five hours of acceptable formal continuing
education, a maximum of twenty-two and one-half hours of which may be self-instructional
coursework acceptable to the department. Any veterinarian whose first registration
date following the effective date of this section occurs less than three years
from such effective date, but on or after January first, two thousand twelve,
shall complete continuing education hours on a prorated basis at the
rate of one and one-quarter hours per month for the period beginning
January first, two thousand twelve up to the first registration date
education requirements shall not be issued a triennial registration
conditional registration certificate is issued as provided in subdivision
three of this section, or until he or she has otherwise met the requirements
of this section. The individual licensee shall determine the selection of courses
or programs of study pursuant to subdivision four of this section.
for such a conditional registration shall be the same as, and in addition to,
the fee for the triennial registration. The duration of such conditional registration
shall be determined by the department. Any licensee who is notified of the
denial of registration for failure to submit evidence, satisfactory to
the department, of completion of required continuing education and who
practices veterinary medicine without such registration, may be subject
to disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section sixty-five hundred ten
As used in this section, "acceptable formal continuing education"
shall mean formal programs of learning which contribute to professional
practice of veterinary medicine which are offered by sponsors of veterinary continuing education approved by the department, in consultation
with the state board for veterinary medicine, to fulfill the mandatory
continuing education requirement. Sponsors of veterinary continuing
education shall include state or national professional associations
established to further the veterinary professions, and shall include any
affiliates of such associations including local veterinary medical societies and generally recognized state, national and international veterinary conferences at which professional continuing education is a major
component of such conferences, as well as universities and colleges
offering programs leading to licensure in the veterinary medical
professions. Sponsors of veterinary medicine continuing education shall
file an application with the department and pay a fee of nine hundred
The mandatory continuing education fee shall be established by the
department, and shall be payable on or before the first day of each
triennial registration fee required by section sixty-seven hundred four
The following persons under the following limitations may practice
veterinary medicine within the state without a license: Any commissioned veterinary medical officer serving in the
United States armed forces or in the United States Agricultural
Research Service while so commissioned, provided such practice
is limited to such service;
Any veterinarian who is licensed in another state or country
and who is meeting a veterinarian licensed in this state for
purposes of consultation provided such practice is limited to
such consultation;
Any veterinarian who is licensed in a bordering state and
who resides near a border of this state, provided such practice
is limited in this state to the vicinity of such border and provided
such veterinarian does not maintain an office or place to meet
patients or receive calls within this state;
Any intern or resident who practices veterinary medicine in
any college in this state offering a program in veterinary medicine
registered by the department, and who is a graduate of a school
of veterinary medicine accredited in any state or country, provided
such practice is limited to such duties as intern or resident
and is under the supervision of a licensed or otherwise authorized
Any faculty member who is a graduate of a school of veterinary
medicine accredited in any state or country and whose practice
of veterinary medicine is incidental to his or her course of
instruction while serving as a faculty member in a veterinary
college offering a program registered by the department;
Any student who engages in clinical practice under supervision
of a licensed or otherwise authorized veterinarian in a school
of veterinary medicine in this state registered by the department.
Any dentist duly licensed in this state who provides dental
care to an animal at the request and under the immediate personal
Any student enrolled and in good standing in a school of veterinary
medicine approved by the commissioner, who practices under the
general supervision of a veterinarian licensed and registered
under this article; provided however, that only such students
who have completed at least two and one-half years in an approved
veterinary program and completed all core didactic training may
assist in diagnosis, treatment and surgery in such practice,
assisting in diagnosis and surgery be under the immediate
personal supervision of such veterinarian;
assisting in treatment be under the direct supervision
of such veterinarian; and
only one such student shall be supervised, as specified
in clauses (a) and (b) of this subdivision, by one such
Any employee of a not-for-profit pound, shelter, duly incorporated
society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, humane society
or dog or cat protective association may insert a microchip for
the purposes of identification of any animal being held for adoption
A veterinary graduate of an approved program engaging in clinical
practice under the supervision, but not necessarily direct personal
supervision, of a licensed veterinarian, provided the graduate
has passed the required state licensing examination and applied
and paid a fee for the licensing. This exemption shall not extend
beyond sixty days after graduation.
A physician duly licensed to practice medicine in this state,
who is board certified in an area of human medicine equivalent to the
required veterinary specialty in cases in which a veterinary specialist
in the area of medicine required for such animal's care does not exist,
is not available, or cannot be procured in a timely fashion, who
provides medical care to a gibbon or siamang (Hylobatidae, Hylobates
sp.), orangutan (Hominidae Pongindae, Pongo sp.), chimpanzee (Hominidae,
Homininae Pan. sp.), gorilla (Hominidae, Homininae, Gorilla sp.),
macaque (Cercopithecidea, Cercopithecinae, Macaca sp.), baboon
(Cercopithecidae, Cercopithecinae, Papio sp., Theropithecus sp.,
Mandrillus sp.), langur (Cercopithecidae, Colobinac, Presbytis sp.,
Trachypithecus sp.), colobus monkey (Cercopithecidae, Colobinae, Colobus
sp.) or guenon (Cercopithecidae, Cercopithecinae, Cercopithecus sp.)
held by a facility accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium
Association at the request of and under the immediate personal
supervision of a licensed veterinarian who has personally diagnosed the
condition to be treated or who has specifically delegated such duties to
the physician and who evaluates the services provided by such physician.
* Any person certified and currently registered as a certified
euthanasia technician pursuant to subdivision three of section three
hundred seventy-four of the agriculture and markets law or any person
undergoing training for such certification where such training is
conducted in accordance with the requirements of such section, provided
that such practice is limited to such certification or training. [* NB Effective October 9, 2010]
§6705-a. Emergency veterinarian service;
limited liability. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of any general, special
or local law, any licensed veterinarian who voluntarily, and without
the expectation of monetary compensation, renders first aid or
emergency treatment to an animal that is ill or injured at the
scene of an accident or other emergency, outside of an animal hospital,
clinic, veterinarian's office or other place having proper and
necessary equipment for the practice of veterinary medicine, shall
not be liable for damages for injuries alleged to have been sustained
by such animal or for damages for the death of such animal alleged
to have occurred by reason of an act or omission in the rendering
of such first aid or emergency treatment unless it is established
that such injuries were or such death was caused by gross negligence
on the part of such veterinarian. Nothing in this section shall
be deemed or construed to relieve a licensed veterinarian from
liability for damages for injuries or death caused by an act or
omission on the part of a veterinarian while rendering professional
services in the normal and ordinary course of his or her business.
§6706. Corporate practice. No business corporation, other than a professional service
corporation organized under the business corporation law, shall
hereafter be organized for the practice of veterinary medicine;
no business corporation, other than a professional service corporation,
hereafter organized shall be granted a license to practice veterinary
medicine; and no business corporation, other than a professional
service corporation, hereafter organized shall provide veterinary
Any not-for-profit corporation may own property in connection
with an animal hospital or shelter provided that all veterinary
practice conducted in such facilities shall be performed by a
veterinarian licensed and registered under this article.
§6707. Limited permits to engage in the
practice of veterinary medicine. Permits limited as to eligibility, practice, and duration, shall
be issued by the department to eligible applicants as follows: Eligibility. The following persons shall be eligible for a
A person who fulfills all requirements for a license
as a veterinarian except those relating to the examination
and citizenship or permanent residence in the United States;
A foreign veterinarian who is in this country on a non-immigration
visa for the continuation of veterinary medical study in
a college of veterinary medicine.
Limit of practice. A permittee shall be authorized to practice
veterinary medicine only under the supervision of a licensed
veterinarian in accordance with regulations of the commissioner.
A licensed veterinarian shall supervise one permittee.
Duration. A limited permit issued pursuant to paragraph one
of subdivision one of this section shall be valid for one year
or until the individual has had the opportunity to take the state
veterinarian licensing examination and receive the results of
this examination, whichever shall occur first. It may be renewed
once at the discretion of the department if the permit holder
has not had a reasonable opportunity to take the state veterinarian
licensing examination during the period for which such limited
permit was originally issued. A limited permit may also be issued
or extended for not more than one year to afford an applicant
or permit holder a second opportunity to successfully complete
such examination if such applicant or permit holder has successfully
completed the written subjects and all except one of the practical
subjects of such examination. A limited permit issued pursuant
to paragraph two of subdivision one of this section shall be
valid for one year, and may be renewed at the discretion of the
department so long as the permit holder is a bona fide student
at a college of veterinary medicine, in this state.
Fees. The fee for each limited permit and for each renewal
shall be one hundred five dollars.
§6708. Definition of practice of veterinary
technology. The practice of the profession of veterinary technology is
defined as the performance of services within the field of veterinary
medicine by a person who, for compensation or personal profit,
is employed by or under the supervision of a veterinarian to
perform such duties as are required in carrying out medical orders
as prescribed by a licensed veterinarian requiring an understanding
of veterinary science, but not requiring professional service
as set forth in section sixty-seven hundred one of this article.
The commissioner shall promulgate regulations defining the
functions an veterinary technician may perform that are consistent
with the training and qualifications for a license as an veterinary
technician. The commissioner may further require that a licensee
may practice within an area of specialization only upon the successful
completion of an examination established for the purpose of establishing
competence in a specific area of practice in the field of veterinary
§6709. Practice of veterinary technology
and use of title "veterinary technician". Only a person licensed under sections sixty-seven hundred eleven
and sixty-seven hundred eleven-a of this article or exempted from
its provisions by section sixty-seven hundred twelve shall practice
veterinary technology or use the title "veterinary technician".
§6711. Requirements for a professional
license as an veterinary technician. To qualify for licensure as an veterinary technician, an applicant
shall fulfill the following requirements: Application: file an application with the department;
Education: have successfully completed a four-year course
of study in a secondary school approved by the board of regents
Have completed a college-level course of study in, and hold
a diploma from a school of veterinary science technology for
the training of animal health technicians, giving a course of
not less than eighteen months, registered by the department as
maintaining at the time, a satisfactory standard, or has completed
a college-level course of study determined by the department
to be the equivalent thereof;
Any person who submits an application prior to January first,
nineteen hundred eighty-three and who submits evidence of employment
by a veterinarian or a veterinary facility prior to that date
may be licensed on the basis of this experience if acceptable
in the discretion of the board in accordance with the commissioner's
regulations and upon the successful completion of the licensing
examination required by this section;
United States; provided, however that the board of regents may
grant a one-time three-year waiver for an animal health technician
who otherwise meets the requirements of this article and provided
further that the board of regents may grant an extension of such
three-year waiver of not more than one year;
Fees: pay a fee to the department for admission to the examination
and for initial licensure of eighty-five dollars, for each reexamination
forty-five dollars, and a fee of eighty dollars for each triennial
§6711-a. Limited permits to engage in
the practice of veterinary technology. Permits limited as to eligibility, practice, and duration, shall
be issued by the department to eligible applicants as follows: Eligibility. Persons shall be eligible for a limited permit
who fulfill all requirements for a license as a veterinary technician
except those relating to the examination and citizenship or permanent
Duration. A limited permit issued pursuant to subdivision
one of this section shall be valid for one year or until the
individual has had the opportunity to take the state veterinary
technician licensing examination and receive the results of this
examination, whichever shall occur first. It may be renewed once
at the discretion of the department if the permit holder has
not had a reasonable opportunity to take the state veterinary
technician licensing examination during the period for which
such limited permit was originally issued.
shall be fifty dollars.
§6711-b. Mandatory continuing education for veterinary technicians.Effective January 1, 2011
Each veterinary technician, licensed pursuant
to this article, required to register triennially with the department
to practice in this state shall comply with the provisions of the mandatory
continuing education requirements, except as set forth in paragraphs
(b) and (c) of this subdivision. Veterinary technicians who do not satisfy
the mandatory continuing education requirements shall not practice until
they have met such requirement and have been issued a registration or
conditional registration certificate.
Veterinary technicians shall be exempt from the mandatory continuing
they are first licensed. In accordance with the intent of this section,
adjustments to the mandatory continuing education requirement may be granted
by the department for reasons of health, certified by a physician, for
extended active duty with the armed forces of the United States, or for
other good cause acceptable to the department which may prevent compliance.
Veterinary technicians engaged on a full-time basis in the teaching of
veterinary medicine at a veterinary education program registered by the
department or an accrediting organization acceptable to the department
shall be exempt from the requirements of this section.
A licensed veterinary technician, not engaged in professional
practice shall be exempt from the mandatory continuing education
such status. Any licensee who returns to the practice of veterinary
technology shall notify the department prior to reentering the profession
and shall meet such mandatory continuing education requirements as shall
be prescribed by regulation of the commissioner.
education, a maximum of twelve hours of which may be self-instructional
coursework acceptable to the department. Any veterinary technician whose
first registration date following the effective date of this section occurs
less than three years from such effective date, but on or after January
first, two thousand twelve, shall complete continuing education hours
on a prorated basis at the rate of one and one-quarter hours per month
for the period beginning January first, two thousand twelve up to the
mandatory continuing education requirements shall not be issued a triennial
registration certificate by the department and shall not practice unless
and until a conditional registration certificate is issued as provided
in subdivision three of this section, or until he or she has otherwise
met the requirements of this section. The individual licensee shall determine
to a licensee who fails to meet the continuing education requirements
established in subdivision two of this section but who agrees to make
up any deficiencies and take any additional education which the department
may require. The fee for such a conditional registration shall be the
same as, and in addition to, the fee for the triennial registration. The
duration of such conditional registration shall be determined by the department.
Any licensee who is notified of the denial of registration for failure
to submit evidence, satisfactory to the department, of completion of required
continuing education and who practices veterinary technology without such
registration, may be subject to disciplinary proceedings pursuant to section
practice of veterinary technology which are offered by sponsors of
veterinary technician continuing education approved by the department,
in consultation with the state board for veterinary medicine, to fulfill
the mandatory continuing education requirement. Sponsors of veterinary
technician continuing education shall include state or national professional associations established to further the veterinary professions
and shall include any affiliates of such associations including local
veterinary medical societies and local veterinary technician societies
and generally recognized state, national and international veterinary
and veterinary technician conferences at which professional continuing
education is a major component of such conferences, as well as universities and colleges offering programs leading to licensure in the veterinary medical professions. Sponsors of veterinary technician continuing
education shall file an application with the department and pay a fee of
triennial registration fee required by section sixty-seven hundred eleven
§6712. Exempt persons. Nothing in this article shall be construed to affect or prevent
the following persons under the following limitations from practicing
veterinary technology within the state without a license: Technicians in the performance of more technical procedures
in a research facility, on animals owned by that institution
when such work is under the direct supervision of a qualified
Technicians in the military or naval service of the United
States, United States Department of Agriculture, the United States
Veterans Administration or the United States Public Health Service,
in the practice of such technical procedures in obedience to
the requirements of the laws of the United States, while engaged
in the performance of the actual duties prescribed under the
appropriate statutes of the United States;
Any student engaging in clinical practice under the supervision
of a licensed veterinarian in pursuance of an approved program
for the training of veterinary technology.
§6713. Special provisions. An unlicensed person may provide supportive services to a veterinarian,
including but not limited to administering oral or topical medications,
incidental to and/or concurrent with such veterinarian personally
performing a service or procedure, provided such supportive services
do not require a knowledge of veterinary science.
A certified emergency medical technician may perform endotracheal
intubation on an animal under the immediate personal supervision
of a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician
acting under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, in lieu
of the licensed veterinarian personally performing the procedure,
the emergency medical technician is enrolled in a course
in advanced emergency medical technology approved under
article thirty of the public health law in which pediatric
endotracheal intubation training is included;
the procedure is performed as part of pediatric endotracheal
intubation training in that course, after didactic and
manikin training in human intubation, and instruction in
animal anatomy and the proper method of animal intubation
have been received;
the procedure is medically indicated as part of treating
or operating for any non-emergency disease, pain, injury,
deformity, or physical condition of the animal; the procedure is performed only when the animal is properly
sedated or anesthetized;
the procedure is performed no more than once per animal
by no more than one certified emergency medical technician;
the animal owner, or where such owner is unknown, the
person having lawful charge or custody of the animal, consents
in writing to the performance of the procedure by a person
meeting the qualifications of this subdivision; and
records kept by the commissioner of health on courses
in advanced emergency medical technology meeting the requirements
of this subdivision indicate whether pediatric endotracheal
intubation training conducted in accordance with the provisions
of this subdivision was part of a course in advanced emergency
medical technology; provided, however, that this subdivision
shall not be construed to require endotracheal intubation
on animals, and the commissioner of health shall have discretion
to determine whether endotracheal intubation training on
animals shall be required for accreditation of such courses
or for certification of advanced emergency medical technicians. §6714. Treatment records. Upon written request from the owner of an animal which has
received treatment from or under the supervision of a veterinarian,
such veterinarian shall provide to such owner within a reasonable
time period a copy of all records relating to the treatment of
such animal. For the purposes of this section, the term "records" shall
mean all information concerning or related to the examination
or treatment of the animal kept by the veterinarian in the course
of his or her practice. A veterinarian may impose a reasonable
charge for providing copies of such records. A veterinarian may
make available to the owner either the original or a copy of
such record or document including x-rays, electrocardiograms
and other diagnostic tests and may impose a reasonable fee for
the reproduction of such copies.
A veterinarian licensed pursuant to this article, may disclose
records, as defined in this section, concerning a companion animal
as defined in section three hundred fifty of the agriculture
and markets law which has received treatment by such veterinarian
without the consent of the companion animal's owner under the
When a veterinarian reasonably and in good faith suspects
that a companion animal's injury, illness or condition
is the result of animal cruelty or a violation of any state
or federal law pertaining to the care, treatment, abuse
or neglect of a companion animal, the veterinarian may
report the incident and disclose records concerning the
companion animal's condition and treatment to the police,
duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty
to animals, peace officer, district attorney's office,
animal control officer, department of agriculture and markets,
other appropriate government agency, or any agent thereof.
When a veterinarian reasonably believes that disclosure
of records as defined in this section, is necessary to
protect the health or welfare of a companion animal, a
person or the public, the veterinarian may disclose such
records to the police, duly incorporated society for the
prevention of cruelty to animals, peace officer, animal
control officer, department of agriculture and markets,
A veterinarian acts in good faith within the meaning of this
section when he or she reasonably believes that his or her actions
are necessary to protect the health and welfare of the companion
animal or the public.
A veterinarian who reasonably and in good faith reports or
discloses records in accordance with this section shall be immune
from liability in the form of damages in any civil or criminal
proceeding on account of such reporting or disclosure.