Veterinary Technician Scope of Practice

Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee. The board of veterinary medicine (board) is required to promulgate rules establishing certain veterinary medicine tasks that a licensed veterinarian may delegate to veterinary technicians and veterinary technician specialists and the recommended level of supervision for the tasks.

A licensed veterinarian may delegate tasks pursuant to the board's rules after first establishing a veterinarian-client-patient relationship with an animal or group of animals and the owner of the animal or animals. The licensed veterinarian is required to provide an appropriate level of supervision of the veterinary technician or veterinary technician specialist in accordance with applicable rules of the board. If there are not applicable rules related to the specific veterinary task that is being delegated, the veterinarian may delegate the task based on the assessment of the veterinary medical care being provided, the experience, education, and training of the person providing the care, and in compliance with all state and federal laws.

Beginning on January 1, 2026, the bill authorizes a veterinary technician to receive a veterinary technician specialist designation as part of the veterinary technician's registration, grants title protection for veterinary technician specialists, and prohibits the unauthorized practice as a veterinary technician specialist by a person who does not have a veterinary technician specialist designation.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)