ARTICLE 2.5. Registered Veterinary Technicians [4836 - 4845.5]
( Heading of Article 2.5 amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 60, Sec. 16. )
(a) The board shall adopt regulations establishing animal health care tasks and an appropriate degree of supervision required for those tasks that may be performed only by a registered veterinary technician or a licensed veterinarian.
(b) The board also may adopt regulations establishing animal health care tasks that may be performed by a veterinary assistant as well as by a registered veterinary technician or a licensed veterinarian. The board shall establish an appropriate degree of supervision by a registered veterinary technician or a licensed veterinarian over a veterinary assistant for any tasks established under this subdivision and the degree
of supervision for any of those tasks shall be higher than, or equal to, the degree of supervision required when a registered veterinary technician performs the task.
(c) The board may adopt regulations, as needed, to define subdivision (c) of Section 4840, including, but not limited to, procedures for citations and fines, in accordance with Section 125.9.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 239, Sec. 4. (AB 1839) Effective January 1, 2013.)
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a registered veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant may administer a drug, including, but not limited to, a drug that is a controlled substance, under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian when done pursuant to the order, control, and full professional responsibility of a licensed veterinarian. However, no person, other than a licensed veterinarian, may induce anesthesia unless authorized by regulation of the board.
(b) A veterinary assistant may obtain or administer a controlled substance pursuant to the order, control, and full professional responsibility of a licensed veterinarian, only if he or she meets both of the following
conditions:
(1) Is designated by a licensed veterinarian to obtain or administer controlled substances.
(2) Holds a valid veterinary assistant controlled substance permit issued pursuant to Section 4836.2.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (b), if the Veterinary Medical Board, in consultation with the Board of Pharmacy, identifies a dangerous drug, as defined in Section 4022, as a drug that has an established pattern of being diverted, the Veterinary Medical Board may restrict access to that drug by veterinary assistants.
(d) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Controlled substance” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 11007 of the Health
and Safety Code.
(2) “Direct supervision” has the same meaning as that term is defined in subdivision (e) of Section 2034 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(3) “Drug” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 11014 of the Health and Safety Code.
(4) “Indirect supervision” has the same meaning as that term is defined in subdivision (f) of Section 2034 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(e) This section shall become operative on the date Section 4836.2 becomes operative.
(Repealed (in Sec. 24) and added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 515, Sec. 25. (SB 304) Effective January 1, 2014. Pursuant to subd. (e), this section became operative on July 1, 2015, the operative date of Section 4836.2. Note: Section 4836.2 first became operative on July 1, 2015, in its form as amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 395.)
(a) Applications for a veterinary assistant controlled substance permit shall be upon a form furnished by the board.
(b) The board may suspend or revoke the controlled substance permit of a veterinary assistant after notice and hearing for any cause provided in this subdivision. The proceedings under this section shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions for administrative adjudication in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the board shall have all the powers granted therein. The board may deny, revoke, or suspend a veterinary assistant controlled substance permit, or, subject to terms and conditions deemed appropriate
by the board, issue a probationary veterinary assistant
controlled substance permit, for any of the following reasons:
(1) The employment of fraud, misrepresentation, or deception in obtaining a veterinary assistant controlled substance permit.
(2) Chronic inebriety or habitual use of controlled substances.
(3) The applicant or permitholder has been convicted of a state or federal felony controlled substance violation.
(4) Violating or attempts to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisting in or abetting the violation of, or conspiring to violate, any provision of this chapter, or of the regulations adopted under this chapter.
(5) Conviction of a crime
substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of veterinary medicine,
veterinary surgery, or veterinary dentistry, in which case the record of the conviction shall be conclusive evidence.
(c) (1) As part of the application for a veterinary assistant controlled substance permit, the applicant shall submit to the Department of Justice fingerprint images and related information, as required by the Department of Justice for all veterinary assistant applicants, for the purposes of obtaining information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal convictions and state or federal arrests and information as to the existence and content of a record of state or federal arrests for which the Department of Justice establishes that the person is free on bail or on the person’s own recognizance pending trial or appeal.
(2) When received, the Department of Justice shall forward to the Federal Bureau of Investigation requests for federal summary criminal history information that it receives pursuant to this section. The Department of Justice shall review any information returned to it from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and compile and disseminate a response to the board summarizing that information.
(3) The Department of Justice shall provide a state or federal level response to the board pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of Section 11105 of the Penal Code.
(4) The Department of Justice shall charge a reasonable fee sufficient to cover the cost of processing the request described in this subdivision.
(d) The
board shall request from the Department of Justice subsequent notification service, as provided pursuant to Section 11105.2 of the Penal Code, for persons described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c).
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 723, Sec. 19. (SB 816) Effective January 1, 2024.)
(a) Every person who has been issued a veterinary assistant controlled substance permit by the board pursuant to Section 4836.2 who changes his or her mailing or employer address shall notify the board of his or her new mailing or employer address within 30 days of the change. The board shall not renew the permit of any person who fails to comply with this section unless the person pays the penalty fee prescribed in Section 4842.5. An applicant for the renewal of a permit shall specify in his or her application whether he or she has changed his or her mailing or employer address and the board may accept that statement as evidence of the fact.
(b) This section shall become operative on the date Section
4836.2 becomes operative.
(Added by Stats. 2013, Ch. 515, Sec. 28. (SB 304) Effective January 1, 2014. Pursuant to subd. (e), this section became operative on July 1, 2015, the operative date of Section 4836.2. Note: Section 4836.2 first became operative on July 1, 2015, in its form as amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 395.)
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a registered veterinary technician or a veterinary assistant may collect blood from an animal for the purpose of transferring or selling the blood and blood component products to a licensed veterinarian at a registered premises, under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian when done pursuant to the order, control, and full professional responsibility of a licensed veterinarian.
(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Blood and blood component products” has the same meaning as that term is defined in Section 4920.
(2) “Direct
supervision” has the same meaning as that term is defined in subdivision (e) of Section 2034 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(3) “Indirect supervision” has the same meaning as that term is defined in subdivision (f) of Section 2034 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations.
(Added by Stats. 2021, Ch. 752, Sec. 2. (AB 1282) Effective January 1, 2022.)
The board shall take action pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 4875) of this chapter against any veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state who permits any registered veterinary technician or veterinary assistant to perform any animal health care services other than those allowed by this article.
(Added by renumbering Section 4836.5 by Stats. 2021, Ch. 752, Sec. 3. (AB 1282) Effective January 1, 2022.)
The board may revoke or suspend the registration of a registered veterinary technician in this state after notice and hearing for any cause provided in this article. The proceedings under this article shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions for administrative adjudication in Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the board shall have all the powers granted therein. The board may revoke or suspend a certificate of registration for any of the following reasons:
(a) The employment of fraud, misrepresentation or deception in obtaining a registration.
(b) Conviction of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions and duties of a registered veterinary technician in which case the record of such conviction will be conclusive evidence.
(c) Chronic inebriety or habitual use of controlled substances.
(d) For having professional connection with or lending one’s name to any illegal practitioner of veterinary medicine and the various branches thereof.
(e) Violating or attempts to violate, directly or indirectly, or assisting in or abetting the violation of, or conspiring to violate, any provision of this chapter, or of the regulations adopted under this chapter.
(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 60, Sec. 21. Effective July 6, 1995.)
Effective with the 1976 renewal period, if the board determines that the public health and safety would be served by requiring all registrants under the provisions of this article to continue their education after receiving such registration, it may require, as a condition of renewal, that they submit assurances satisfactory to the board that they will, during the succeeding renewal period, inform themselves of the developments in the field of animal health technology since the issuance of their certificate of registration by pursuing one or more courses of study satisfactory to the board or by other means deemed equivalent by the board.
The board shall adopt regulations providing for the suspension of registration at the end of each annual renewal period until compliance with the assurances provided for in this section is accomplished.
(Amended by Stats. 1975, Ch. 762.)
(a) For purposes of this article, a registered veterinary technician means a person who has met the requirements set forth in Sections 4841.4 and 4841.5, has passed the examination described in Section 4841.4, and is registered by the board.
(b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2011.
(Amended (as added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 80, Sec. 5) by Stats. 2010, Ch. 538, Sec. 16. (AB 1980) Effective January 1, 2011.)
No person shall use the title “registered veterinary technician” or “veterinary technician,” or any other words, letters, or symbols, including, but not limited to, the abbreviation “R.V.T.,” with the intent to represent that the person is authorized to act as a registered veterinary technician, unless that person meets the requirements of Section 4839.
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 538, Sec. 17. (AB 1980) Effective January 1, 2011.)
(a) Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants are approved to perform those animal health care services prescribed by law under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state.
(b) Registered veterinary technicians may perform animal health care services on those animals impounded by a state, county, city, or city and county agency pursuant to the direct order, written order, or telephonic order of a veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state.
(c) Registered veterinary technicians may apply for registration from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration
that authorizes the direct purchase of sodium pentobarbital for the performance of euthanasia as provided for in paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 4827 without the supervision or authorization of a licensed veterinarian.
(d) Registered veterinary technicians may act as an agent of the supervising veterinarian in establishing the veterinarian-client-patient relationship for the purposes of administering preventive or prophylactic vaccines or medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites in accordance with subdivision (b) of Section 4826.7.
(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 882, Sec. 3. (SB 669) Effective January 1, 2024.)
Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants shall not perform the following health care services:
(a) Surgery.
(b) Diagnosis and prognosis of animal diseases.
(c) Prescribing of drugs, medicine, and appliances.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 239, Sec. 8. (AB 1839) Effective January 1, 2013.)
Under conditions of an emergency, a registered veterinary technician may render such lifesaving aid and treatment as may be prescribed under regulations adopted by the board pursuant to Section 4836. Such emergency aid and treatment if rendered to an animal patient not in the presence of a licensed veterinarian may only be continued under the direction of a licensed veterinarian. “Emergency” for the purpose of this section, means that the animal has been placed in a life-threatening condition where immediate treatment is necessary.
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 429, Sec. 11. (SB 547) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Any registered veterinary technician registered in this state who in good faith renders emergency animal health care at the scene of the emergency, or his or her employing veterinarian or agency authorized under Section 4840.9, shall not be liable for any civil damages as the result of acts or omissions by a registered veterinary technician rendering the emergency care. This section shall not grant immunity from civil damages when the registered veterinary technician is grossly negligent.
(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 60, Sec. 26. Effective July 6, 1995.)
(a) A registered veterinary technician who has been examined by the board in the area of radiation safety and techniques may operate radiographic equipment under the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(b) (1) A veterinary assistant who has been trained in the area of radiation safety and techniques may operate radiographic equipment under the direct supervision of a registered veterinary technician or a licensed veterinarian.
(2) The responsible managing licensee of a veterinary premises shall maintain records of the training described in paragraph (1).
A veterinary assistant for whom records of this training do not exist shall not operate radiographic equipment.
(3) The training records described in paragraph (2) shall be made available to the board upon request and at the time of any inspection of the veterinary premises.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 239, Sec. 9. (AB 1839) Effective January 1, 2013.)
Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants may be employed by any veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state or by any governmental agency which employs veterinarians. However, the employer must be fully aware of the provisions of this article as stated by regulations adopted by the board pursuant to Section 4836.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 239, Sec. 10. (AB 1839) Effective January 1, 2013.)
Any person performing any of the tasks designated by the board pursuant to Section 4836 and any person representing himself or herself as a registered veterinary technician in this state, shall hold a valid unexpired certificate of registration as provided in this article.
(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 60, Sec. 29. Effective July 6, 1995.)
(a) This article shall not apply to students in the clinical portion of their final year of study in a board-approved California veterinary technology program who perform the job tasks for registered veterinary technicians as part of their educational experience, including students both on and off campus acting under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian in good standing, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 4848.
(b) The board shall adopt regulations defining the parameters of supervision required for the students described in subdivision (a).
(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 538, Sec. 19. (AB 1980) Effective January 1, 2011.)
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a graduate of a recognized veterinary college shall not perform animal health care tasks otherwise performed by a registered veterinary technician unless the graduate has obtained licensure or registration as otherwise required under this chapter.
(b) If, on or before January 1, 2020, a graduate of a recognized veterinary college has performed animal health care tasks otherwise performed by a registered veterinary technician, the graduate shall discontinue performing such duties on or after January 1, 2020, unless the graduate is issued a license or registration as otherwise required under this chapter.
(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 571, Sec. 29. (SB 1480) Effective January 1, 2019.)
(a) The board, by means of examination, shall determine the professional qualifications of all applicants who wish to register as veterinary technicians in California. A registration shall not be issued to anyone who has not demonstrated their competency by examination.
(b) Subject to subdivision (d), the examination for veterinary technicians shall consist of a national licensing examination.
(c) For examination purposes, the board may make contractual arrangements on a sole source basis with organizations furnishing examination material as it may deem desirable and shall be exempt from Section 10115
of the Public Contract Code.
(d) The national licensing examination shall be implemented upon availability of the computerized examination on or after January 1, 2011.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 631, Sec. 8. (AB 1535) Effective January 1, 2022.)
To obtain registration as a registered veterinary technician, the applicant shall furnish satisfactory evidence of one of the following:
(a) Graduation from, at minimum, a two-year curriculum in veterinary technology, in a college or other postsecondary institution approved by the board, or the equivalent thereof, as determined by the board. In the case of a private postsecondary institution, the institution shall also be approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Proof of graduation shall be submitted directly to the board by the college, other postsecondary institution, or American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
(b) Education or a combination of education and clinical
practice experience, as determined by the board.
(c) Education equivalency certified by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence for Veterinary Technicians. The certificate of education equivalence shall be submitted directly to the board by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 631, Sec. 9. (AB 1535) Effective January 1, 2022.)
The board may deny an application to take a written and practical examination for registration as a registered veterinary technician if the applicant has done any of the following:
(a) Committed any act which would be grounds for the suspension or revocation of registration under this chapter.
(b) While unregistered, committed, or aided and abetted the commission of, any act for which a certificate of registration is required by this chapter.
(c) Knowingly made any false statement in the application.
(d) Been convicted of a crime substantially related to the qualifications, functions and duties of a registered veterinary technician.
(e) Committed any act that resulted in a revocation by another state of his or her license, registration, or other procedure by virtue of which one is licensed or allowed to practice veterinary technology in that state.
(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 60, Sec. 31. Effective July 6, 1995.)
The board shall issue a certificate of registration to each applicant who passes the examination. The form of the certificate shall be determined by the board.
(Added by Stats. 1974, Ch. 1223.)
All funds collected by the board under this article shall be deposited in the Veterinary Medical Board Contingent Fund.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 467, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2005.)
(a) Each individual registered by the board shall biennially apply for renewal of his or her license or registration on or before the last day of the applicant’s birthday month. The application shall be made on a form provided by the board.
(b) The application shall contain a statement to the effect that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony, has not been the subject of professional disciplinary action taken by any public agency in California or any other state or territory, and has not violated any of the provisions of this chapter. If the applicant is unable to make that statement, the application shall contain a statement of the conviction, professional discipline, or violation.
(c) The board may, as part of the renewal process, make necessary inquiries of the applicant and conduct an investigation in order to determine if cause for disciplinary action exists.
(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 1007, Sec. 1.)
Every person registered by the board under this article who changes their mailing address shall notify the board of their new mailing address within 30 days of the change. The board shall not renew the registration of any person who fails to comply with this section unless the person pays the penalty fee prescribed in Section 4905. An applicant for the renewal of a registration shall specify in their application whether they have changed their mailing address and the board may accept that statement as evidence of the fact.
(Amended by Stats. 2022, Ch. 28, Sec. 6. (SB 1380) Effective January 1, 2023.)
The board shall approve all schools or institutions offering a curriculum for training registered veterinary technicians. Application forms for schools requesting approval shall be furnished by the board. Approval by the board shall be for a two-year period. Reapplication for approval by the board shall be made at the end of the expiration date.
(Amended by Stats. 1995, Ch. 60, Sec. 33. Effective July 6, 1995.)
Except as otherwise provided in this article, an expired certificate of registration may be renewed at any time within five years after its expiration on filing of an application for renewal on a form prescribed by the board, and payment of all accrued and unpaid renewal fees. If the certificate of registration is renewed more than 30 days after its expiration, the registrant, as a condition precedent to renewal, shall also pay the delinquency fee prescribed by this article. Renewal under this section shall be effective on the date on which the application is filed, on the date all renewal fees are paid, or on the date on which the delinquency fee, if any, is paid, whichever occurs last.
(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 306, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2002.)
A person who fails to renew his certificate of registration within five years after its expiration may not renew it, and it shall not be restored, reissued, or reinstated thereafter, but that person may apply for and obtain a new certificate of registration if:
(a) He or she is not subject to denial of registration under Section 480.
(b) No fact, circumstance, or condition exists which, if the certificate of registration were issued, would justify its revocation or suspension.
(c) He or she takes and passes the examination, if any, that would be required of him or her if he or
she were then applying for a certificate of registration for the first time, or otherwise establishes to the satisfaction of the board that, with due regard for the public interest, he or she is qualified to be a registered veterinary technician.
(d) He or she pays all of the fees that would be required of him or her if he or she were applying for the certificate of registration for the first time.
The board may, by regulation, provide for the waiver or refund of all or any part of the examination fee when a certificate of registration is issued without an examination pursuant to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 395, Sec. 12. (SB 1243) Effective January 1, 2015.)
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board may, in its sole discretion, issue a probationary registration to an applicant subject to terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the board, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Continuing medical, psychiatric, or psychological treatment.
(2) Ongoing participation in a specified rehabilitation program.
(3) Abstention from the use of alcohol or drugs.
(4) Compliance with all provisions of this chapter.
(b) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and for purposes of this section, when deciding whether to issue a probationary registration, the board shall request that an applicant with a dismissed conviction provide proof of that dismissal and shall give special consideration to applicants whose convictions have been dismissed pursuant to Section 1203.4 or 1203.4a of the Penal Code.
(2) The board shall also take into account and consider any other reasonable documents or individual character references provided by the applicant that may serve as evidence of rehabilitation as deemed appropriate by the board.
(c) The board may modify or terminate the terms and conditions imposed on the probationary registration upon receipt of a petition from the applicant or registrant.
(d) For purposes of issuing a probationary license to qualified new applicants, the board shall develop standard terms of probation that shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) A three-year limit on the individual probationary registration.
(2) A process to obtain a standard registration for applicants who were issued a probationary registration.
(3) Supervision requirements.
(4) Compliance and quarterly reporting requirements.
(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 675, Sec. 5. Effective January 1, 2009.)
(a) Notwithstanding Sections 4837 and 4842.6 or any other provision of law, the board may revoke, suspend, or deny at any time a registration under this article on any of the grounds for disciplinary action provided in this article. The proceedings under this section shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the board shall have all the powers granted therein.
(b) The board may deny a registration to an applicant on any of the grounds specified in Section 480.
(c) In addition to the requirements provided in Sections 485 and 486, upon denial of an application for registration, the board shall provide a statement of reasons for the denial that does the following:
(1) Evaluates evidence of rehabilitation submitted by the applicant, if any.
(2) Provides the board’s criteria relating to rehabilitation, formulated pursuant to Section 482, that takes into account the age and severity of the offense, and the evidence relating to participation in treatment or other rehabilitation programs.
(3) If the board’s decision was based on the applicant’s prior criminal conviction, justifies the board’s denial of a registration and conveys the reasons why the prior criminal conviction is substantially related to the qualifications, functions, or duties of a registered veterinary technician.
(d) Commencing July 1, 2009, all of the following shall apply:
(1) If the denial of a registration is due at least in part to the applicant’s state or federal criminal history record, the board shall, in addition to the information provided pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (c), provide to the applicant a copy of his or her criminal history record if the applicant makes a written request to the board for a copy, specifying an address to which it is to be sent.
(A) The state or federal criminal history record shall not be modified or altered from its form or content as provided by the Department of Justice.
(B) The criminal history record shall be provided in such a manner as to protect the confidentiality and privacy of the applicant’s criminal history record and the criminal history record shall not be made available by the board to any employer.
(C) The board shall retain a copy of the applicant’s written request and a copy of the response sent to the applicant, which shall include the date and the address to which the response was sent.
(2) The board shall make that information available upon request by the Department of Justice or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(e) Notwithstanding Section 487, the board shall conduct a hearing of a registration denial within 90 days of receiving an applicant’s request for a hearing. For all other hearing requests, the board shall determine when the hearing shall be conducted.
(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 675, Sec. 6. Effective January 1, 2009.)