§ 5-25-1. Chapter title — Creation of board of veterinary medicine. This chapter shall be known and cited as the “Veterinary Practice Act.” Within the division of professional regulation of the department of health, there shall be a board of veterinary medicine to assist the division in regulating the practice of veterinary medicine administered by […]
§ 5-25-10. Qualifications for licensure. Any applicant for licensure shall submit to the department written evidence on forms furnished by the department that the applicant meets all of the following requirements: (1) Is a graduate of a school or college of veterinary medicine recognized and accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and by the […]
§ 5-25-11. Licensing of veterinarians. (a) By examination. The applicant is required to pass, with a grade determined by the division, an examination approved by the division; upon payment of an examination fee as set forth in § 23-1-54, every candidate who passes that examination and in the opinion of the division meets the qualifications […]
§ 5-25-12. Expiration and renewal of licenses. (a) The certificate of every person licensed as a veterinarian under the provisions of this chapter expires on the first day of May of each even-numbered year. On or before the first day of March of each two-year (2) period, the department shall mail an application for renewal […]
§ 5-25-13. Emergency services. (a) Every veterinary practice shall provide some form of referral for emergency veterinary services when a veterinarian is not available. That referral, at the minimum, shall be a combination of a posted sign at the veterinary practice entrance and access to emergency veterinary services through the veterinary practice main telephone number. […]
§ 5-25-14. Grounds for denial, revocation, or suspension of license. The division has the power to deny, revoke, or suspend any license issued under this chapter or otherwise discipline a licensee upon proof of the following: (1) Conviction of a felony; and conviction of a crime arising out of the practice of veterinary medicine; (2) […]
§ 5-25-15. Procedure for discipline of veterinarians. (a) When a written allegation is filed with the division charging a person with having been guilty of any of the actions specified in § 5-25-14, the division of professional regulation shall immediately investigate those charges. (b) In the event the investigation reveals reasonable grounds for believing that […]
§ 5-25-16. Appeal from a final decision or ruling of the division of professional regulation or the director of the department of health. Any person aggrieved by any final decision or ruling of the division or the director has a right to appeal as provided in chapter 35 of title 42. History of Section.P.L. 1985, […]
§ 5-25-17. Immunity from liability for gratuitous emergency care. (a) No veterinarian licensed under the provisions of this chapter or members of the same profession duly licensed to practice in other states of the United States, who voluntarily and gratuitously and other than in the course of his or her employment or practice renders emergency […]
§ 5-25-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter: (1) “Animal” means any animal other than humans and includes, by way of illustration, not limitation, fowl, birds, fish, livestock, and reptiles, wild or domestic, living or dead. (2) “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health. (3) “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department […]
§ 5-25-3. Board — Composition — Appointment and terms of members. The governor shall appoint a board of veterinary medicine. The board shall be composed of six (6) members whose terms of office shall extend for three (3) years and until a successor is appointed. Five (5) members of the board shall be veterinarians licensed […]
§ 5-25-3.1. Receipts. The proceeds of any fees collected pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited as general revenues. History of Section.P.L. 1986, ch. 455, § 1; P.L. 1995, ch. 370, art. 40, § 11.
§ 5-25-4. Board — Qualifications of members. Five (5) members of the board shall: (1) Be residents of this state and licensed to practice within this state for at least five (5) years prior to appointment; and (2) Be actively engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine for at least five (5) of the seven […]
§ 5-25-5. Disposition of fees collected. All fees or funds collected under this chapter shall be paid into the state general treasury. History of Section.P.L. 1985, ch. 531, § 2.
§ 5-25-6. Board and department — Powers and duties. (a) The board is authorized to recommend to the department and director of health for his or her approval, the adoption, and from time to time, the revision, of any rules and regulations not inconsistent with law that are necessary to enable the department to carry […]
§ 5-25-7. Practice of veterinary medicine defined. (a) Any person shall be regarded as practicing veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry within the meaning of this chapter when he or she does any of the following, either directly or indirectly: (1) Represents himself or herself as engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, veterinary surgery, or […]
§ 5-25-7.1. Record of animals receiving veterinary services. (a) A veterinarian subject to the provisions of this chapter shall keep a written record, or a computerized record able to produce a printed copy, of all animals receiving veterinary services, and provide a summary of that record to the owner of animals receiving veterinary services, when […]
§ 5-25-8. Penalty for unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine. Any person who is not lawfully authorized to practice veterinary medicine and is not registered or exempt from registration, as defined in this chapter, who practices or attempts to practice veterinary medicine or who holds himself or herself out to the public as a practitioner of […]
§ 5-25-9. Prosecution of violations. Complaints for the violation of the provisions of this chapter may be made by the director of the department of health, the administrator of the division of professional regulation, the executive director or authorized agent of the board of veterinary medicine, or any person including a member of the board […]
