1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to veterinary medicine; regulating veterinary technicians, veterinary
1.3 assistants, and the practice of veterinary technology;amending Minnesota Statutes
1.4 2022, sections 156.001, by adding subdivisions; 156.07; 156.072, by adding a
1.5 subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 156.
1.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.7 Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 156.001, is amended by adding a subdivision
1.8 to read:
1.9 Subd. 5a.Direct supervision. "Direct supervision" means: (1) when a supervising
1.10 veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician is in the immediate area and within audible
1.11 or visual range of an animal and the veterinary assistant treating the animal; (2) the
1.12 supervising veterinarian has met the requirements of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship
1.13 under section 156.16, subdivision 12; and (3) the supervising veterinarian assumes
1.14 responsibility for the professional care given to an animal by a person working under the
1.15 veterinarian's direction.
1.16 Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 156.001, is amended by adding a subdivision to
1.17 read:
1.18 Subd. 7a.Licensed veterinary technician. "Licensed veterinary technician" means a
1.19 person licensed by the board under section 156.077.
1.20 Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 156.001, is amended by adding a subdivision to
1.21 read:
1.22 Subd. 10b.Remote supervision. "Remote supervision" means:
2.1 (1) a veterinarian is not on the premises but is acquainted with the keeping and care of
2.2 an animal by virtue of an examination of the animal or medically appropriate and timely
2.3 visits to the premises where the animal is kept;
2.4 (2) the veterinarian has given written or oral instructions to a licensed veterinary
2.5 technician for treatment of an animal and is available by telephone or other form of immediate
2.6 communication; and
2.7 (3) the timely entry of treatment provided by a veterinarian is documented into the
2.8 animal's medical record.
2.9 Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 156.001, is amended by adding a subdivision to
2.10 read:
2.11 Subd. 10c.Veterinary assistant. "Veterinary assistant" means an employee of a licensed
2.12 veterinarian who is not a licensed veterinary technician but is considered by the veterinarian
2.13 to be competent to administer medication or render auxiliary or supporting assistance under
2.14 supervision.
2.15 Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 156.001, is amended by adding a subdivision to
2.16 read:
2.17 Subd. 12.Veterinary technology. "Veterinary technology" means the science of
2.18 providing all aspects of professional medical care and treatment for animals as determined
2.19 by board regulation and under the appropriate supervision of a licensed veterinarian, with
2.20 the exception of diagnosis, prognosis, surgery, and prescription.
2.21 Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 156.07, is amended to read:
2.22 156.07 LICENSE RENEWAL.
2.23 Persons licensed under this chapter shall conspicuously display their license in their
2.24 principal place of business.
2.25 Persons now qualified to practice veterinary medicine or veterinary technology in this
2.26 state, or who shall hereafter be licensed by the Board of Veterinary Medicine to engage in
2.27 the practice of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology, shall periodically renew their
2.28 license in a manner prescribed by the board. The board shall establish license renewal fees
2.29 and continuing education requirements. The board may establish, by rule, an inactive license
2.30 category, at a lower fee, for licensees not actively engaged in the practice of veterinary
3.1 medicine or veterinary technology within the state of Minnesota. The board may assess a
3.2 charge for delinquent payment of a renewal fee.
3.3 Any person who is licensed to practice veterinary medicine or veterinary technology in
3.4 this state pursuant to this chapter, shall be entitled to receive a license to continue to practice
3.5 upon making application to the board and complying with the terms of this section and rules
3.6 of the board.
3.7 Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 156.072, is amended by adding a subdivision to
3.8 read:
3.9 Subd. 6.Veterinary technicians. A credentialed veterinary technician duly admitted
3.10 to practice in any state, commonwealth, territory, or district of the United States or province
3.11 of Canada that desires permission to practice veterinary technology in this state shall submit
3.12 an application to the board on a form furnished by the board. The board shall review an
3.13 application for transfer if the applicant supplies proof of:
3.14 (1) credential to practice in a United States or Canadian jurisdiction; and
3.15 (2) active engagement in the practice of veterinary technology for at least three of the
3.16 five years preceding the application, full-time teaching of veterinary technology in an
3.17 approved or accredited college for at least three of the five years preceding the application,
3.18 or any combination thereof.
3.19 Sec. 8. [156.077] LICENSED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS.
3.20 Subdivision 1.Licensure; practice. (a) The board shall issue a license to practice
3.21 veterinary technology to an applicant who satisfies the requirements in this section and
3.22 those imposed by the board in rule. A licensed veterinary technician may practice veterinary
3.23 technology. Unless authorized to practice veterinary technology by the board, a person may
3.24 not practice veterinary technology or use the title "veterinary technician" or the abbreviation
3.25 "LVT."
3.26 (b) The board may adopt by rule additional licensure requirements or definitions for
3.27 veterinary technicians.
3.28 Subd. 2.Applicants; qualifications. Application for a license to practice veterinary
3.29 technology in this state shall be made to the board on a form furnished by the board and
3.30 accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the board that the applicant is at least 18 years of
3.31 age, is of good moral character, and has met the following requirements:
4.1 (1) graduated from a veterinary technology program accredited or approved by the
4.2 American Veterinary Medical Association or Canadian Veterinary Medical Association;
4.3 (2) received a passing score for the Veterinary Technician National Examination;
4.4 (3) received a passing score for the Minnesota Veterinary Technician Jurisprudence
4.5 Examination; and
4.6 (4) completed a criminal background check.
4.7 Subd. 3.Required with application. A completed application must contain the following
4.8 information and material:
4.9 (1) the application fee set by the board, which is not refundable if permission to take the
4.10 jurisprudence examination is denied for good cause;
4.11 (2) proof of graduation from a veterinary technology program accredited or approved
4.12 by the American Veterinary Medical Association or Canadian Veterinary Medical
4.13 Association;
4.14 (3) affidavits from at least two licensed veterinarians and three adults who are not related
4.15 to the applicant that establish how long, when, and under what circumstances the references
4.16 have known the applicant and any other facts that may enable the board to determine the
4.17 applicant's qualifications; and
4.18 (4) if the applicant has served in the armed forces, a copy of the applicant's discharge
4.19 papers.
4.20 Subd. 4.Temporary alternative qualifications. The board shall consider an application
4.21 for licensure submitted by a person before July 1, 2024, if the person provides evidence
4.22 satisfactory to the board that the person:
4.23 (1) is a certified veterinary technician in good standing with the Minnesota Veterinary
4.24 Medical Association; or
4.25 (2) has at least 4,160 hours actively engaged in the practice of veterinary technology
4.26 within the previous five years and a letter of recommendation from a licensed veterinarian
4.27 who is in good standing with the board and was associated with the license applicant during
4.28 that period.
5.1 Sec. 9. [156.078] VETERINARY ASSISTANTS.
5.2 (a) A veterinary assistant may only administer medication or render auxiliary or
5.3 supporting assistance under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or licensed
5.4 veterinary technician.
5.5 (b) This section does not prohibit:
5.6 (1) the performance of generalized nursing tasks ordered by the veterinarian and
5.7 performed by an unlicensed employee on inpatient animals during the hours when a
5.8 veterinarian is not routinely on the premises; or
5.9 (2) under emergency conditions, an unlicensed employee from rendering lifesaving aid
5.10 and treatment to an animal in the absence of a veterinarian if the animal is in a life-threatening
5.11 condition and requires immediate treatment to sustain life or prevent further injury.
5.12 Sec. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.
5.13 This act is effective July 1, 2023.
