suspension, revocation of license; continuing education.
(a) In order to obtain a license as a veterinary technician, the applicant shall do all of the following:
(1) Submit a complete notarized application on a form prescribed by the board setting forth
that the applicant meets all of the following qualifications:
veterinary technology from an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited
school or other school of animal veterinary technology approved by the board.
(2) Submit an application accompanied by an authenticated copy of the college transcript of
the applicant signed by the dean or the registrar of the school, college or university.
(3) Submit an application accompanied by a photograph of reasonable likeness of the
applicant taken within six months of the date of the application.
(4) Submit an application fee as prescribed by the board.
(b) Notification and penalty for non-renewal of licenses for veterinary technicians shall be applied as
provided in this article for veterinarians.
(c) The board may adopt the Veterinary Technician National Examination and passing criteria
prepared by the Professional Examination Service (PES), or any other veterinary technician national
examination as the sole veterinary technicians examination or in addition to a state examination at its
(1) Examination of applicants for licensing as veterinary technicians in Alabama shall be
held at a time, place, and date set by the board. Appropriate public notice of the time and place of
the examination shall be given at least 90 days in advance of the date set forth for the
(2) A passing score on the AVMA approved National Licensing Examination shall be
determined by the professional examination provider based on a national criterion which reflects
a passing score of at least 70 percent. Each applicant who passes the examination and meets all
other requirements for licensure prescribed by the board shall be granted a license as a veterinary
technician and shall be registered as such and a record kept by the board, and shall receive a
license in a form to be prescribed by the board.
(d) There shall be an annual renewal of each veterinary technician’s license and the renewal fee
established and published by the board.
(e) The supervising veterinarian may require a licensed veterinary technician to perform any task for
which he or she has been trained as delineated in the American Veterinary Medical Association’s
essential tasks list for veterinary technician teaching programs. The following tasks may be performed
under the level of supervision indicated unless specifically prohibited by regulation and the supervision
shall be under a licensed veterinarian currently registered to practice in this state, provided the
veterinarian makes examinations in a manner and frequency consistent with the accepted standard of care
for the condition of the patient and for the condition being treated:
(1) A licensed veterinary technician may perform the following tasks under the indirect
supervision of a veterinarian. If the animal is anesthetized, these tasks shall require the
direct supervision of a veterinarian:
(2) A licensed veterinary technician may perform the following tasks under the direct
supervision of a veterinarian:
injection, or by inhalation.
veterinarian prior to and following suture.
(3) An unlicensed assistant may perform the following tasks under the indirect supervision of a
licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician:
topical, or parental.
(4) An unlicensed assistant may perform the following tasks under the immediate supervision
of a licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician:
*Note from the Board (k. Euthanasia) is in direct violation of §34-29-131(c)
(f) Under the conditions of an emergency, a licensed veterinary technician may render the following
lifesaving aid and treatment:
(1) Application of tourniquets or pressure bandages, or both, to control hemorrhage.
(2) Administration of pharmacological agents and parenteral fluids shall only be performed
after direct communication with a veterinarian authorized to practice in this state and the
veterinarian is either present or in route to the location of the distressed animal.
(3) Resuscitative respiratory procedures.
(4) External cardiac massage.
(5) Application of temporary splints or bandages to prevent further injury to bones or soft
(6) Application of appropriate wound dressings and external supportive treatment in severe
(g) Any persons licensed or certified pursuant to this article who gratuitously and in good faith give
emergency treatment to a sick or injured animal at the scene of an accident or emergency shall not be
liable for damages to the owner of the animal in the absence of gross negligence.
(h) Any licensed veterinary technician who in good faith renders or attempts to render emergency
care at the scene of an accident or emergency to the human victim or victims thereof shall not be liable for
any civil damages as a result of any act or omission by the person in rendering or attempting to render the
(i) Any veterinary technician shall display his or her license at his or her place of employment as to
be easily accessible to the public or his or her clients.
(j) The board shall revoke the license of any veterinary technician convicted of or pleading nolo
contender to a felony, a crime involving moral turpitude, or who is guilty of one or more of the
(1) Soliciting patients from any practitioner of the healing arts.
(2) Willfully or negligently divulging a professional confidence or discussing a diagnosis or
treatment of a veterinarian without the express permission of the veterinarian.
(3) The habitual or excessive use of intoxicants or drugs.
(4) Fraud or misrepresentation in applying for or procuring a license to perform as a
veterinary technician or in applying for or procuring an annual registration.
(5) Impersonating another person licensed as a veterinary technician or allowing any person
to use his or her license as a technician.
(6) Abetting or aiding the practice of veterinary medicine by a person not licensed by the
(7) Gross negligence in the performance of duties, tasks, or functions assigned to him or her
by a licensed veterinarian.
(8) Manifest incapability or incompetence to perform as a veterinary technician.
(k) The board may revoke or suspend any license which they may have issued for violation of this article
relating to the practice of veterinary medicine or the conduct of veterinary technicians, or both, for the
violation of any of the administrative code of the board after notice and hearing proceedings, as provided
by section §34-29-79. Appeals from any adverse action of the board under this section shall be made to
the Circuit Court of Montgomery County.
(l) Any veterinarian who permits a veterinary technician to work and perform the duties of a licensed
technician in his or her office without having been issued a license or any licensed veterinary technician
working in a veterinary office without a license shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Nothing, however, in
this article shall be construed to prevent a student of veterinary technology from performing duties
necessary to complete course requirements from an accredited school or college of veterinary technology
while under the supervision of a competent instructor of veterinary medicine recognized by the Alabama
State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
(m) A minimum number of hours of continuing education shall be required yearly for license renewal
as provided by the administrative code of the board.
(n) Graduates of veterinary technology programs not accredited by the AVMA may become eligible
for licensure by meeting all of the requirements of the AVMA and successfully passing the AVMA
approved veterinary technician licensing examination.
(Acts 1986, No. 86-500, p. 956, §35; Acts 1989, No. 89-236, p. 310, §§3, 4; Acts 1997, No. 97-249, p.
431, §1; Acts 2006-590, p. 1596, §1; Acts 2010-536)