An Act To Amend the Licensing Requirements for Veterinarians
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1505
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: SULLIVAN, SHOREY
Amends: 32 MRSA §4859, 32 MRSA §4861, 32 MRSA §4863, 32 MRSA §4863-A, 32 MRSA §4864, 32 MRSA §4865-A

12lst MAINE LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 1505 
H.P.1098 
House of Representatives, April 1,2003 
An Act To Amend the Licensing Requirements for Veterinarians 
Submitted by the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation pursuant to Joint 
Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative SULLIVAN of Biddeford. 
Cosponsored by Senator SHOREY of Washington. 
Printed on ~cyckd papt:r 
17l~ 
/J1.1Tbc~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 32 MRSA §4859, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 246, 
§11, is repealed. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §4861, as amended by PL 1997, c. 246, §§13 to 
18, is further amended to read: 
§4861. Application for license; qualifications and 
examination 
ABy A person desiring a 
license to practice veterinary 
medicine in this State shall make written application Ee--Ebe 
aea~a and pay the required licensure fee set under section 
4863-A. 
The application must show that the applicant holds a 
doctorate 
degree 
in 
veterinary 
medicine 
from 
an 
approved 
veterinary medicine program that is 
a--qr~-e--ef--<r--.. eEeFiBa~y 
sebeel recognized aBa-app~e .. ea by the Ame~ieaB-Vet;e~i:BaFy-Meaieal 
Asseeiat;ieB United States Department of Education and by the 
board, and is a person of good moral character and provide such 
other information and proof as the board may 
~el!l:ii~e lestablish by 
rule. 
~be-appli€a£ieB-ffil:i£~-~~~~~-B&&-~~&-&e-eHeeea 
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The 
board 
may 
a.dopt 
rules 
applicable to graduates of approved veterinary medicine programs 
by the Commissioner of Education and rules applicable to foreign 
educated graduates who can demonstrate equivalent education and 
training. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine 
technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375 t 
subchapter 
2-A. 
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I-A. 
Examinations. 
Examinations, 
written or practical, 
must be prepared to measure the competence of an applicant to 
engage in the practice of veterinary medicine. 
The board may 
require successful completion of an equivalency examination or 
assessment mechanism for foreign educated and trained applicants 
that is designed to evaluate educational equivalence, including 
clinical competencies and a command of the English language. 
The 
board 
may 
employ 
and 
cooperate 
and 
contract 
with 
an 
organization or consultant in the preparation, administration and 
grading of an examination, but shall retain sole discretion and 
responsibility for determining which applicants have successfully 
passed the examination. 
The applicant shall pay the required 
examination fee set under section 4863-A. 
2. 
Oral or practical examination. 
At its discretion, the 
board may orally or practically examine any person qualifying for 
licensure under this section. 
The examination may cover laws and 
rules relating to the practice of veterinary medicine. 
3. 
Temporary 
permit. 
The 
board 
may 
issue 
without 
examination a temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine in 
this 
State 
to 
a 
qualified 
applicant 
for 
license 
pending 
examination. 
A 
temporary 
permit 
issued 
pursuant 
to 
this 
subsection expires the day after the notice of results of the 
first examination given after the permit is issued. 
~ae-tee-fe~ 
tae-~~~~~~~r-waiea-~-B&&-eKeeea-~,--ffias~-~-~-ay 
tae-aea£aT The applicant shall pay the required temporary permit 
fee set under section 4863-A. 
All persons granted permits under this section shall furnish 
proof of liability insurance to cover the date of this permit. 
4. 
Permit for performance of relief veterinary service. 
The board may issue without examination a 
permit to perform 
relief veterinary service in this State to a qualified ~Faabl.ate 
e€-~~~~~-seHeelT-~~~~~~-a~~Fevea-by--~-AmeFiean 
VeteFinaFy--Meaieal--Asseeiatien person 
who 
holds 
a 
doctorate 
degree 
in 
veterinary 
medicine 
from 
an 
approved 
veterinary 
medicine 
program 
that 
is 
recognized 
by 
the 
United 
States 
Department of Education and by the board, and who holds a current 
license for the practice of veterinary medicine issued by another 
state, territory or district of the United States. 
The board may 
establish, by rule, the application process. 
The initial term of 
a permit issued under this subsection may not exceed 30 days. 
Extensions may be granted in the discretion of the board. 
~He 
€ee-~e£-~~~~~~-~~~r~B&a-maY-Re~-~£~~-~-&e-set 
sY-~He-~eaFaT The applicant shall pay the required relief permit 
fee set under section 4863-A. 
5. 
Licensure by endorsement. 
The 
board shall grant 
a 
license by endorsement to a veterinarian who: 
A. 
Has submitted a complete application; 
B. 
Has paid the application and license fees estaslisHea-ay 
tHe-seaFa set under section 4863-A; 
C. 
Is licensed in good standing in another state, United 
States territory or province of Canada or, if an applicant 
does 
not 
meet 
the 
definition 
of 
good 
s1:anding, 
as 
established by the board, the applicant shall provide, to 
the 
satisfaction of 
the 
board, 
that 
the 
applicant 
is 
qualified for licensure in the State and may practice under 
the restrictions and limitations on that license, and those 
limitations, if any, 
may include conditions of probation 
before the issuance of a license; 
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D-I. 
Has 
sucessfully passed an examination pursuant to 
subsection I-A pertaining to the practice of veterinary 
medicine as determined by board rule. 
The board may require 
the applicant to submit to an examination covering the laws 
and rules pertaining to the practice of veterinary medicine 
in this State; and 
E. 
Has actively practiced clinical veterinary medicine for 
3,000 hours during the 3 years preceding applicationf-aRQ~ 
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Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §4863, first and 2nd 1[1[, as amended by PL 1997, 
c. 246, §20, are further amended to read: 
All 
licenses 
expire 
annually 
on 
such 
date 
as 
the 
commissioner may designate, and may be renewed with the board by 
payment of 
a 
renewal fee 
es~aa±iSReQ--hy--~~-aea~Q set under 
section 4863-A. 
At least 30 days prior to the annual renewal 
date, 
the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation 
shall mail a notice to each licensee and registrant that the 
license or registration will-eKpiFe expires on the renewal date 
and provide a renewal application form for reregistration. 
Licenses may be reinstated up to 90 days after the date of 
expiration upon payment of a late fee 
e~-,$lg set under section 
4863-A in addition to the renewal fee. 
A person who submits an 
application for 
renewal 
more 
than 
days after the license 
renewal 
date 
is 
subject 
to 
all 
requirements 
governing 
new 
applicants under this chapter, except that the board may, giving 
due 
consideration 
to 
the 
protection 
of 
the 
public, 
waive 
examination if that renewal application is made within 2 years 
from the date of the expiration. 
In addition, the board may levy 
penalties for nonrenewal. 
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §4863-A is enacted to read: 
§4863-A. 
Fees 
The Director of the Office of Licensing and Registration 
within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation 
may establish by rule fees for purposes authorized under this 
chapter in amounts that are reasonable and necessary for their 
respective purposes, except that the fee for anyone purpose may 
not exceed $150 annually. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section 
are routine technical rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, 
subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 5. 32 MRSA §4864, sub-§12, 1fD, as amended by PL 1997, c. 
246, §23, is further amended to read: 
D. 
The continuance of a veterinarian directly or indirectly 
in the employ of or in association with any veterinarian 
after knowledge that such veterinarian is engaged in the 
violation of the provisions of this chapter; eF 
Sec. 6. 32MRSA§4864,sub-§13, as enacted by PL 1975, c. 477, 
§4, is amended to read: 
13. 
Lack of sanitation. 
Failure to maintain veterinary 
premises 
and equipment in a 
clean and sanitary condition as 
defined by the board in accordance with the sanitation provisions 
included in Title 7, section ~4§lT 3936; or 
Sec. 7. 32 MRSA §4864, sub-§14 is enacted to read: 
14. 
Violation. 
Violation of a provision of this chapter or 
a rule adopted by the board. 
Sec. 8. 32 MRSA §4865-A, sub·§10, 1fC, as amended by PL 1993, 
c. 404, Pt. A, §12, is further amended to read: 
C. 
Fraud or dishonesty in the application or reporting of 
any test for disease in animals, or making a false report of 
any contagious or infectious disease or while performing any 
other duties of a registered veterinary technicianT; and 
Sec. 9. 32 MRSA §4865-A, sub-§ll is enacted to read: 
11. 
Violation. 
Violation of a provision of this chapter or 
a rule adopted by the board. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends licensure requirements for veterinarians by 
granting authority for 
the 
Maine 
State 
Board 
of 
Veterinary 
Medicine 
to 
consider 
alternative 
pathways 
to 
licensure 
for 
foreign educated and trained applicants and to set criteria by 
rule. 
This bill makes technical adjustments to bring the Maine 
Veterinary Practice Act in line with other laws. 
It allows the 
Director of the Office of Licensing and Registration within the 
Department 
of 
Professional 
and 
Financial 
Regulation 
to 
set 
licensure fees instead of the State Board of Veterinary Medicine.