Title BPC — California Bus. & Prof. Code

(a) There is in the Department of Consumer Affairs a California Veterinary Medical Board in which the administration of this chapter is vested. The board shall consist of the following nine members: (1) Four licensed veterinarians, at least one of whom shall practice in equine or…

Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the California Veterinary Medical Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection…

(a) Each veterinarian member of the board shall be a bona fide resident of this state for a period of at least five years immediately preceding his or her appointment and shall have been a licensed veterinarian under this chapter and actually engaged in the practice of veterinary…

The members of the board shall hold office for a term of four years. Each member shall serve until the appointment and qualification of his or her successor or until one year shall have elapsed since the expiration of the term for which he or she was appointed, whichever first oc…

The Governor may, in his judgment, remove any member of the board for neglect of duty or other sufficient cause, after due notice and hearing.

The board shall elect a president, vice president, and any other officers of the board as shall be necessary, from its membership. The Attorney General shall act as counsel for the board and the members thereof in their official or individual capacity for any act done under the c…

(a) The board may appoint a person exempt from civil service who shall be designated as an executive officer and who shall exercise the powers and perform the duties delegated by the board and vested in them by this chapter. (b) This section shall remain in effect only until Janu…

The executive officer of the board may administer oaths or affirmations upon matters pertaining to the business of the board. Any person willfully making any false oath or affirmation is guilty of perjury.

Each member of the board shall receive a per diem and expenses as provided in Section 103.

Five members of the board constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the board.

The board may in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, adopt, amend, or repeal rules and regulations that are reasonably necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter. The board may hold meetings that are necessary for the transaction…

The board shall keep an official record of its meetings, and it shall also keep an official register of all applicants for licenses. The register shall be prima facie evidence of all matters contained therein.

The board may at any time inspect the premises in which veterinary medicine, veterinary dentistry, or veterinary surgery is being practiced. The board’s inspection authority does not extend to premises that are not registered with the board. Nothing in this section shall be const…

The enforcement of Sections 4809.5 and 4854 of this chapter is a function exclusively reserved to the California Veterinary Medical Board and the state has preempted and occupied this field of enforcing the cleanliness and sanitary requirements of this chapter.

The board shall establish a regular inspection program that will provide for random announced or unannounced inspections of veterinary premises. The board shall make every reasonable effort to ensure veterinary premises are inspected in a timely manner.

(a) The board shall establish an advisory committee to assist, advise, and make recommendations for the implementation of rules and regulations necessary to ensure proper administration and enforcement of this chapter and to assist the board in its examination, licensure, and reg…

As used in this chapter: (a) “Board” means the California Veterinary Medical Board. (b) “Multidisciplinary committee” means the Veterinary Medicine Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee established pursuant to Section 4809.8. (c) “Regulations” means the rules and regulations set f…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Veterinary Medicine Practice Act.”

It is unlawful for any person to practice veterinary medicine or any branch thereof in this State unless at the time of so doing, such person holds a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked license as provided in this chapter.

These definitions shall govern the construction of this chapter as it applies to veterinary medicine. (a) “Client” means the individual or individuals who represent to the veterinarian that they are the owner or owners of the animal patient at the time that the services are provi…

A person practices veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry, and the various branches thereof, when the person does any one of the following: (a) Represents oneself as engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, veterinary surgery, or veterinary dentistry in any of its bra…

A veterinarian who on his or her own initiative, at the request of an owner, or at the request of someone other than the owner, renders emergency treatment to a sick or injured animal at the scene of an accident shall not be liable in damages to the owner of that animal in the ab…

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a veterinarian, registered veterinary technician, or a veterinary assistant working under the supervision of a veterinarian, may provide veterinary care and treatment for any animal restricted pursuant to Section 2118 of the Fish and Ga…

(a) Notwithstanding any law, a veterinary technician, veterinary assistant, and veterinary assistant controlled substances permitholder registered in this state shall wear a name tag identification in at least 18 point type in any area of the veterinary premises that is accessibl…

(a) A California-licensed veterinarian at premises registered in accordance with Section 4853 that is located within a 25-mile radius of any condition of emergency specified in Section 8558 of the Government Code may, in good faith, do both of the following in addition to any oth…

Notwithstanding any other law, a licensed veterinarian, registered veterinary technician, or veterinary assistant controlled substance permitholder under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian may compound drugs for animal use pursuant to Section 530 of Title 21 of the Code o…

(a) A veterinarian shall not prescribe, dispense, or administer a drug, medicine, application, or treatment of whatever nature for the prevention, cure, or relief of a wound, fracture, bodily injury, or disease of animals unless a veterinarian-client-patient relationship exists o…

(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Private animal shelter” means a not-for-profit organization that has tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, whose purpose and practice is, in whole or significant part, the ca…

(a) An onychectomy, tendonectomy, surgical claw removal, or declaw on any feline or any procedure to otherwise alter a feline’s toes, claws, or paws to prevent or impair the normal function of the feline’s toes, claws, or paws shall be performed solely for a therapeutic purpose. …

(a) Nothing in this chapter prohibits any person from: (1) Practicing veterinary medicine as a bona fide owner of one’s own animals, except for the procedures specified in Section 4826.8. This exemption applies to the following: (A) The owner’s bona fide employees. (B) Any person…

All veterinarians actually engaged and employed as veterinarians by the state, or a county, city, corporation, firm or individual are practicing veterinary medicine and shall secure a license issued by the board.

Any license granted to any person to practice veterinary medicine, or any branch thereof, in this State issued under any preceding act relating to veterinary medicine shall remain in force until the renewal fee becomes due and thereafter so long as the holder complies with the pr…

(a) Each time a veterinarian initially prescribes, dispenses, or furnishes a dangerous drug, as defined in Section 4022, to an animal patient in an outpatient setting, the veterinarian shall offer to provide, verbally, in writing, or by email to the client, a consultation that in…

(a) This chapter does not apply to: (1) Veterinarians while serving in any armed branch of the military service of the United States or the United States Department of Agriculture while actually engaged and employed in their official capacity. (2) Veterinarians holding a current,…

(a) If a licensee under this chapter has reasonable cause to believe that a dog has been injured or killed through participation in a staged animal fight, as prescribed in Section 597b of the Penal Code, it is the duty of the licensee to promptly report that fact to the appropria…

Whenever any licensee under this chapter has reasonable cause to believe an animal under its care has been a victim of animal abuse or cruelty, as prescribed in Section 597 of the Penal Code, it shall be the duty of the licensee to promptly report it to the appropriate law enforc…

(a) An attending or on-call veterinarian at a rodeo event shall, pursuant to Section 596.7 of the Penal Code, report to the board any animal injury at the event requiring veterinary treatment within 48 hours of the conclusion of the rodeo. (b) A veterinarian, other than a veterin…

Any person, who violates or aids or abets in violating any of the provisions of this chapter, is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500), nor more than two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by impris…

(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 esta…

(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 t…

(a) To obtain a veterinary assistant controlled substance permit in California, an individual shall satisfy the following requirements: (1) Complete and submit an application furnished by the board. (2) Pay the applicable fees specified in Section 4905. (3) Pursuant to Section 14…

(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. Th…

(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…

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 se…

For purposes of this article, “registered veterinary technician” means a person who has met the requirements set forth in Section 4841.5 and is registered by the board.

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 veteri…

(a) Registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants are approved to perform animal health care services not otherwise prohibited by law under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed or authorized to practice in this state. (b) (1) Registered veterinary technicians …

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.

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 pre…

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 res…