474.201 Purpose.—The Legislature finds that the practice of veterinary medicine is potentially dangerous to the public health and safety if conducted by incompetent and unlicensed practitioners. The legislative purpose in enacting this chapter is to ensure that every veterinarian practicing in this state meet minimum requirements for safe practice. It is the legislative intent that veterinarians […]
474.202 Definitions.—As used in this chapter: (1) “Animal” means any mammal other than a human being or any bird, amphibian, fish, or reptile, wild or domestic, living or dead. (2) “Board” means the Board of Veterinary Medicine. (3) “Client” means the owner or caretaker of an animal who arranges for its veterinary care. (4) “Department” means the Department of Business […]
474.203 Exemptions.—This chapter does not apply to: (1) Any faculty member practicing only in conjunction with teaching duties at a school or college of veterinary medicine located in this state and accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education. However, this exemption applies only to such a faculty member who does not hold a valid […]
474.204 Board of Veterinary Medicine.— (1) To carry out the provisions of this chapter, there is created within the department the Board of Veterinary Medicine consisting of seven members, who shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. (2) Five members of the board shall be licensed veterinarians. Two members of the board shall […]
474.205 Headquarters.—The board shall maintain its official headquarters in the City of Tallahassee. History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 79-228; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 15, 16, ch. 85-291; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
474.206 Authority to make rules.—The board has authority to adopt rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement the provisions of this chapter conferring duties upon it. History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 79-228; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 15, 16, ch. 85-291; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 145, ch. 98-200.
474.2065 Fees.—The board, by rule, shall establish fees for application and examination, reexamination, license renewal, inactive status, renewal of inactive status, license reactivation, periodic inspection of veterinary establishments, and duplicate copies of licenses, certificates, and permits. The fee for the initial application and examination may not exceed $650 plus the actual per applicant cost to the […]
474.207 Licensure by examination.— (1) Any person desiring to be licensed as a veterinarian shall apply to the department to take a licensure examination. The board may by rule adopt use of a national examination in lieu of part or all of the examination required by this section, with a reasonable passing score to be set by […]
474.211 Renewal of license.— (1) The department shall renew a license upon receipt of the renewal application and fee and an affidavit of compliance with continuing education requirements set by rule of the board. (2) The department shall adopt rules establishing a procedure for the biennial renewal of licenses. (3) The board may by rule prescribe continuing education, not […]
474.2125 Temporary license.— (1) The board shall adopt rules providing for the issuance of a temporary license to a licensed veterinarian of another state for the purpose of enabling her or him to provide veterinary medical services in this state for the animals of a specific owner or, as may be needed in an emergency as defined […]
474.213 Prohibitions; penalties.— (1) No person shall: (a) Lead the public to believe that such person is licensed as a veterinarian, or is engaged in the licensed practice of veterinary medicine, without such person holding a valid, active license pursuant to this chapter; (b) Use the name or title “veterinarian” when the person has not been licensed pursuant to […]
474.214 Disciplinary proceedings.— (1) The following acts shall constitute grounds for which the disciplinary actions in subsection (2) may be taken: (a) Attempting to procure a license to practice veterinary medicine by bribery, by fraudulent representations, or through an error of the department or the board. (b) Having a license or the authority to practice veterinary medicine revoked, suspended, […]
474.2145 Subpoena of certain records.—Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the department may issue subpoenas duces tecum requiring the names and addresses of some or all the clients of a licensed veterinarian against whom a complaint has been filed pursuant to s. 455.225 when the information has been deemed necessary and relevant to the […]
474.215 Premises permits.— (1) Any establishment, permanent or mobile, where a licensed veterinarian practices must have a premises permit issued by the department. Upon application and payment of a fee not to exceed $250, as set by rule of the board, the department shall cause such establishment to be inspected. A premises permit shall be issued if […]
474.216 License and premises permit to be displayed.—Each person to whom a license or premises permit is issued shall keep such document conspicuously displayed in her or his office, place of business, or place of employment, whether a permanent or mobile veterinary establishment or clinic, and shall, whenever required, exhibit said document to any member or […]
474.2165 Ownership and control of veterinary medical patient records; report or copies of records to be furnished.— (1) As used in this section, the term “records owner” means any veterinarian who generates a medical record after making a physical examination of, or administering treatment or dispensing legend drugs to, any patient; any veterinarian to whom records are […]
474.2167 Confidentiality of animal medical records.— (1) The following records held by any state college of veterinary medicine that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution: (a) A medical record generated which relates to diagnosing the medical condition […]
474.217 Licensure by endorsement.— (1) The department shall issue a license by endorsement to any applicant who, upon applying to the department and remitting a fee set by the board, demonstrates to the board that she or he: (a) Has demonstrated, in a manner designated by rule of the board, knowledge of the laws and rules governing the […]
474.2185 Veterinarians consent; handwriting samples; mental or physical examinations.—A veterinarian who accepts a license to practice veterinary medicine in this state shall, by so accepting the license or by making and filing a renewal of licensure to practice in this state, be deemed to have given her or his consent, during a lawful investigation of a […]
474.221 Impaired practitioner provisions; applicability.—Notwithstanding the transfer of the Division of Medical Quality Assurance to the Department of Health or any other provision of law to the contrary, veterinarians licensed under this chapter shall be governed by the impaired practitioner program provisions of s. 456.076 as if they were under the jurisdiction of the Division of […]
