STATE STATUTES & CODES
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
CALIFORNIA STATUTES AND CODES
SECTIONS 4832-4845.5
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONS CODE
SECTION 4832-4845.5
4832. (a) The board shall establish an advisory committee on issues pertaining to the practice of veterinary technicians, that shall be known as the Registered Veterinary Technician Committee, hereafter referred to as the committee. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Veterinary Medical Board, in implementing this article, give specific consideration to the recommendations of the Registered Veterinary Technician Committee. (c) The committee shall consist of five members appointed by the board commencing January 1, 2009. Three members shall be registered veterinary technicians, one member shall be either a licensed veterinarian or an additional registered veterinary technician, and one member shall be a member of the public. Appointments shall be for a term of three years, and shall be staggered accordingly. (d) No member of the committee shall serve for more than two terms. The committee shall annually elect one of its members as chairperson. (e) The committee shall comply with Section 101.7. (f) The scope of the committee shall not exceed the authority provided under Section 4833. (g) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4833. (a) The committee shall advise and may assist the board in the examination of applicants for veterinary technician registration. The examination shall be held at least once a year at the times and places designated by the board. (b) The committee may investigate and evaluate each applicant applying for registration as a registered veterinary technician and may recommend to the board for final determination the admission of the applicant to the examination and eligibility for registration. (c) The committee may make recommendations to the board regarding the establishment and operation of the continuing education requirements authorized by Section 4838 of this article. (d) The committee shall advise and may assist the board in the inspection and approval of all schools or institutions offering a curriculum for training registered veterinary technicians. (e) The committee may advise and assist the board in developing regulations to establish animal health care tasks and the appropriate degree of supervision required for those tasks for registered veterinary technicians and for unregistered assistants. (f) The committee may advise and assist the board in developing regulations to define subdivision (c) of Section 4840, including, but not limited to, procedures for citations and fines, in accordance with Section 125.9. (g) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4834. (a) The board has the power to remove from office at any time any member of the committee for continued neglect of any duty required by this article, for incompetency, or for unprofessional conduct. (b) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4835. (a) Each member of the committee shall receive a per diem and expenses, as provided in Section 103. (b) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4836. (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 an unregistered 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 an unregistered 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. 4836.1. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a registered veterinary technician or an unregistered 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) 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. (c) This section shall remain in effect until January 1, 2012, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, which is enacted before January 1, 2012, deletes or extends that date. 4836.5. 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 unregistered assistant to perform any animal health care services other than those allowed by this article. 4837. 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. 4838. 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. 4839. (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. 4839.5. 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. 4840. (a) Registered veterinary technicians and unregistered 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 subdivision (d) of Section 4827 without the supervision or authorization of a licensed veterinarian. 4840.2. Registered veterinary technicians and unregistered 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. 4840.5. 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 to sustain life. 4840.6. 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. 4840.7. (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) An unregistered 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). An unregistered 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. 4840.9. Registered veterinary technicians and unregistered 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. 4841. 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. 4841.1. (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). 4841.4. (a) The board shall, by means of examination, determine the professional qualifications of all applicants who wish to register as veterinary technicians in California. No registration shall be issued to anyone who has not demonstrated his or her competency by examination. (b) Subject to subdivision (d), the examination for veterinary technicians shall consist of both of the following: (1) A national licensing examination. (2) An examination specific to the animal health care tasks limited to California registered veterinary technicians, as approved by the board. (c) The examinations may be given at the same time or at different times as determined by the board. 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. 4841.5. To be eligible to take the written and practical examination for registration as a registered veterinary technician, the applicant shall: (a) Be at least 18 years of age. (b) (1) Furnish satisfactory evidence of 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 and Vocational Education. (2) For purposes of this subdivision, education or a combination of education and clinical practice experience may constitute the equivalent of the graduation requirement imposed under this subdivision, as determined by the board. 4842. 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. 4842.1. 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. 4842.2. All funds collected by the board under this article shall be deposited in the Veterinary Medical Board Contingent Fund. 4842.5. The amount of fees prescribed by this article is that fixed by the following schedule: (a) The fee for filing an application for examination shall be set by the board in an amount it determines is reasonably necessary to provide sufficient funds to carry out the purposes of this chapter, not to exceed three hundred fifty dollars ($350). (b) The fee for the California registered veterinary technician examination shall be set by the board in an amount it determines is reasonably necessary to provide sufficient funds to carry out the purposes of this chapter, not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300). (c) The initial registration fee shall be set by the board at not more than three hundred fifty dollars ($350), except that, if the license is issued less than one year before the date on which it will expire, then the fee shall be set by the board at not more than one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175). The board may adopt regulations to provide for the waiver or refund of the initial registration fee where the registration is issued less than 45 days before the date on which it will expire. (d) The biennial renewal fee shall be set by the board at not more than three hundred fifty dollars ($350). (e) The delinquency fee shall be set by the board at not more than fifty dollars ($50). (f) Any charge made for duplication or other services shall be set at the cost of rendering the services. (g) The fee for filing an application for approval of a school or institution offering a curriculum for training registered veterinary technicians pursuant to Section 4843 shall be set by the board at an amount not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300). The school or institution shall also pay for the actual costs of an onsite inspection conducted by the board pursuant to Section 2065.6 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, including, but not limited to, the travel, food, and lodging expenses incurred by an inspection team sent by the board. (h) The fee for failure to report a change in the mailing address is twenty-five dollars ($25). 4842.6. (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. 4842.7. Every person registered by the board under this article who changes his or her mailing address shall notify the board of his or her 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 4842.5. An applicant for the renewal of a registration shall specify in his or her application whether he or she has changed his or her mailing address and the board may accept that statement as evidence of the fact. 4843. 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. 4843.5. 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. 4844. 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 such person may apply for and obtain a new certificate of registration if: (a) He 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 takes and passes the examination, if any, which would be required of him if he 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 is qualified to be a registered animal health technician. (d) He pays all of the fees that would be required of him if he 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 in those cases in which a certificate of registration is issued without an examination pursuant to the provisions of this section. 4845. (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. 4845.5. (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.
SECTION 4832-4845.5
4832. (a) The board shall establish an advisory committee on issues pertaining to the practice of veterinary technicians, that shall be known as the Registered Veterinary Technician Committee, hereafter referred to as the committee. (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Veterinary Medical Board, in implementing this article, give specific consideration to the recommendations of the Registered Veterinary Technician Committee. (c) The committee shall consist of five members appointed by the board commencing January 1, 2009. Three members shall be registered veterinary technicians, one member shall be either a licensed veterinarian or an additional registered veterinary technician, and one member shall be a member of the public. Appointments shall be for a term of three years, and shall be staggered accordingly. (d) No member of the committee shall serve for more than two terms. The committee shall annually elect one of its members as chairperson. (e) The committee shall comply with Section 101.7. (f) The scope of the committee shall not exceed the authority provided under Section 4833. (g) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4833. (a) The committee shall advise and may assist the board in the examination of applicants for veterinary technician registration. The examination shall be held at least once a year at the times and places designated by the board. (b) The committee may investigate and evaluate each applicant applying for registration as a registered veterinary technician and may recommend to the board for final determination the admission of the applicant to the examination and eligibility for registration. (c) The committee may make recommendations to the board regarding the establishment and operation of the continuing education requirements authorized by Section 4838 of this article. (d) The committee shall advise and may assist the board in the inspection and approval of all schools or institutions offering a curriculum for training registered veterinary technicians. (e) The committee may advise and assist the board in developing regulations to establish animal health care tasks and the appropriate degree of supervision required for those tasks for registered veterinary technicians and for unregistered assistants. (f) The committee may advise and assist the board in developing regulations to define subdivision (c) of Section 4840, including, but not limited to, procedures for citations and fines, in accordance with Section 125.9. (g) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4834. (a) The board has the power to remove from office at any time any member of the committee for continued neglect of any duty required by this article, for incompetency, or for unprofessional conduct. (b) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4835. (a) Each member of the committee shall receive a per diem and expenses, as provided in Section 103. (b) This section shall become inoperative on the July 1 following the initial appointment of a registered veterinary technician to the board, and on the January 1 following that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that becomes operative on or before that January 1, deletes or extends the dates on which it becomes inoperative and is repealed. 4836. (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 an unregistered 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 an unregistered 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. 4836.1. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a registered veterinary technician or an unregistered 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) 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. (c) This section shall remain in effect until January 1, 2012, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, which is enacted before January 1, 2012, deletes or extends that date. 4836.5. 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 unregistered assistant to perform any animal health care services other than those allowed by this article. 4837. 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. 4838. 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. 4839. (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. 4839.5. 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. 4840. (a) Registered veterinary technicians and unregistered 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 subdivision (d) of Section 4827 without the supervision or authorization of a licensed veterinarian. 4840.2. Registered veterinary technicians and unregistered 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. 4840.5. 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 to sustain life. 4840.6. 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. 4840.7. (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) An unregistered 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). An unregistered 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. 4840.9. Registered veterinary technicians and unregistered 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. 4841. 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. 4841.1. (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). 4841.4. (a) The board shall, by means of examination, determine the professional qualifications of all applicants who wish to register as veterinary technicians in California. No registration shall be issued to anyone who has not demonstrated his or her competency by examination. (b) Subject to subdivision (d), the examination for veterinary technicians shall consist of both of the following: (1) A national licensing examination. (2) An examination specific to the animal health care tasks limited to California registered veterinary technicians, as approved by the board. (c) The examinations may be given at the same time or at different times as determined by the board. 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. 4841.5. To be eligible to take the written and practical examination for registration as a registered veterinary technician, the applicant shall: (a) Be at least 18 years of age. (b) (1) Furnish satisfactory evidence of 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 and Vocational Education. (2) For purposes of this subdivision, education or a combination of education and clinical practice experience may constitute the equivalent of the graduation requirement imposed under this subdivision, as determined by the board. 4842. 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. 4842.1. 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. 4842.2. All funds collected by the board under this article shall be deposited in the Veterinary Medical Board Contingent Fund. 4842.5. The amount of fees prescribed by this article is that fixed by the following schedule: (a) The fee for filing an application for examination shall be set by the board in an amount it determines is reasonably necessary to provide sufficient funds to carry out the purposes of this chapter, not to exceed three hundred fifty dollars ($350). (b) The fee for the California registered veterinary technician examination shall be set by the board in an amount it determines is reasonably necessary to provide sufficient funds to carry out the purposes of this chapter, not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300). (c) The initial registration fee shall be set by the board at not more than three hundred fifty dollars ($350), except that, if the license is issued less than one year before the date on which it will expire, then the fee shall be set by the board at not more than one hundred seventy-five dollars ($175). The board may adopt regulations to provide for the waiver or refund of the initial registration fee where the registration is issued less than 45 days before the date on which it will expire. (d) The biennial renewal fee shall be set by the board at not more than three hundred fifty dollars ($350). (e) The delinquency fee shall be set by the board at not more than fifty dollars ($50). (f) Any charge made for duplication or other services shall be set at the cost of rendering the services. (g) The fee for filing an application for approval of a school or institution offering a curriculum for training registered veterinary technicians pursuant to Section 4843 shall be set by the board at an amount not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300). The school or institution shall also pay for the actual costs of an onsite inspection conducted by the board pursuant to Section 2065.6 of Title 16 of the California Code of Regulations, including, but not limited to, the travel, food, and lodging expenses incurred by an inspection team sent by the board. (h) The fee for failure to report a change in the mailing address is twenty-five dollars ($25). 4842.6. (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. 4842.7. Every person registered by the board under this article who changes his or her mailing address shall notify the board of his or her 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 4842.5. An applicant for the renewal of a registration shall specify in his or her application whether he or she has changed his or her mailing address and the board may accept that statement as evidence of the fact. 4843. 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. 4843.5. 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. 4844. 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 such person may apply for and obtain a new certificate of registration if: (a) He 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 takes and passes the examination, if any, which would be required of him if he 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 is qualified to be a registered animal health technician. (d) He pays all of the fees that would be required of him if he 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 in those cases in which a certificate of registration is issued without an examination pursuant to the provisions of this section. 4845. (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. 4845.5. (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.
California Forms by Issue
California Court Forms
California Law
CALIFORNIA STATE LAWS
CALIFORNIA STATE
> California Budget
> California Counties
> California Zip Codes
CALIFORNIA TAX
> California Sales Tax
CALIFORNIA LABOR LAWS
CALIFORNIA COURT
> California Rules Of Court
> Small Claims Court - California
CALIFORNIA AGENCIES
California Court Map
Tips