Title 52, Occupations and Professions

No person shall be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state unless the person: (1) Is a graduate of a veterinary college or a veterinary department of a university or college of good standing and repute. (2) Has satisfactorily passed the examination provided in ORS …

(1) A person desiring to practice veterinary medicine, dentistry or surgery in this state shall make a written application to the executive director of the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board for a license to practice. The application shall be on a form provided by th…

(1) An applicant for a license may be issued a temporary license by the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board who at the time of application: (a) Holds a valid current license to practice veterinary medicine in another state or territory of the United States; and (b) Ha…

(1) All applicants for a license shall be given a written examination which may, in the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board’s discretion, be supplemented by an oral examination to determine their knowledge of veterinary and comparative anatomy, physiology, histology, …

(1) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, an applicant for a license shall serve an internship of not less than one year following passage of the examination required under ORS 686.075 before receiving a license. The internship period may be served in any…

If upon an examination judged by the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board sufficiently comprehensive to enable the applicant to actively engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in this state, the applicant demonstrates a scientific and practical knowledge of the …

(1) A license or permit shall be renewed when the holder: (a) Requests renewal; (b) Pays a fee to the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board to be determined pursuant to ORS 686.255; and (c) Presents evidence of participation in approved professional educational activiti…

(1) With the consent of five members, the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board may discipline in accordance with ORS 686.150 any permit or license holder under this chapter for unprofessional or dishonorable conduct. (2) The board may discipline in accordance with ORS …

“Unprofessional or dishonorable conduct,” as used in this chapter, includes: (1) The fraudulent use or misuse of any health certificate, shipping certificate, brand inspection certificate, or other blank forms used in practice, that might lead to the dissemination of disease or t…

The Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board may refuse to issue or renew a license or permit if it finds that the applicant has committed any act or omission which if committed by a licensee or permittee would constitute unprofessional or dishonorable conduct under ORS 68…

(1) When the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board proposes to refuse to issue or renew a license or permit under ORS 686.110 (1)(c), 686.120 or 686.130 or proposes to discipline any permit or license holder in accordance with the provisions of ORS 686.150, opportunity …

If, pursuant to ORS 686.120 and 686.135, the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board determines that disciplinary action is necessary, the board may take any or all of the following actions: (1) Revoke, suspend or refuse to renew the license; (2) Place the person on proba…

(1) Subject to the provisions of ORS chapter 183 and subsection (2) of this section, the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board may impose a fine on any permit or license holder under this chapter for an administrative or clerical violation of this chapter or a rule adop…

(1) If a license is withheld, not renewed, or revoked for a violation of ORS 686.120 or 686.130, the practitioner may not again apply for a license until after a period of six months has elapsed, and then only by paying the regular examination fee, and again complying with the re…

(1) The Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board is authorized to appoint a committee of not less than three licensed, practicing veterinarians to investigate any charge made accusing any person of violating any of the provisions of this chapter, and to report to the board…

(1) There is created the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board, which shall carry out the purposes and enforce the provisions of this chapter. The board shall consist of eight members appointed by the Governor for a term of four years. Five members shall be licensed to …

There shall be elected by the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board at its first meeting from its members, a president who shall preside at all meetings. In the absence of the president, the members present shall elect a temporary chairperson, who shall preside at the m…

A member is entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495. [Amended by 1963 c.58 §1; 1967 c.191 §3; 1969 c.314 §87]

When it is considered necessary by the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board for the proper execution of the duties imposed upon it, the board may employ an investigator or other employees, with payment to such employees to be made out of the funds of the board. [Amende…

The Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board Account is established in the State Treasury, separate and distinct from the General Fund. All moneys received by the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board under this chapter shall be deposited into the account and are…

(1) The Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board may impose fees for the following: (a) License or permit issuance or renewal. (b) Examination for licensure. (c) Temporary license. (d) Duplicate license. (e) Veterinary technician license. (f) Delinquent renewal. (g) Applic…

(1) Upon the complaint of any resident of this state, or upon the board’s own initiative, the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board may investigate any alleged violation of this chapter. (2) While conducting an investigation, the board may: (a) Take evidence; (b) Take d…

If at any time the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board concludes that any person is violating the Oregon veterinary medical laws the board may, in its own name, bring an action to enjoin that person from continuing such practice. The action shall be commenced and pros…

Justice courts and circuit courts have concurrent jurisdiction of prosecutions for the violation of this chapter. [Amended by 1979 c.562 §31; 1993 c.491 §11]

All duties of a veterinary technician must be performed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board shall promulgate rules regarding the services a veterinary technician may perform, including, but not limited to: (1) Obta…

(1) All applicants for a veterinary technician license shall be given a written examination to determine their knowledge of animal care, handling, basic comparative mammalian health records, applied clinical laboratory procedures and basic animal diseases and such other subjects …

Upon application, accompanied by payment of the fee adopted by the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board by rule, the board shall issue a veterinary technician license to any applicant who furnishes satisfactory evidence that the applicant has met the requirements for l…

(1) Each veterinarian or veterinary technician licensed in this state shall satisfactorily continue professional education in subjects related to the practice of veterinary medicine or the duties of a veterinary technician in order to be eligible for the renewal of a license to p…

(1) A license to practice veterinary medicine or to act as a veterinary technician expires on December 31 or on such date as may be specified by rule of the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. The board shall give each person holding a license a notice of pending exp…

(1) As used in this section: (a) “Domestic animal” means an animal that has a keeper and is not livestock. (b) “Keeper” means the owner of a domestic animal or an agent of the owner who has apparent authority to secure care for the domestic animal. (c) “Livestock” means equines, …

(1) A veterinarian or veterinary technician is not civilly liable for the acts or omissions described in subsection (2) of this section if: (a) The animal has been brought to the veterinarian or veterinary technician by a person other than the owner of the animal; and (b) The vet…

The Legislative Assembly finds that there is a direct link between the problems of animal abuse and human abuse and further finds that for the purposes of identifying and prosecuting individuals who have committed crimes against animals, preventing further abuse of animals and pr…

(1) Except as provided in ORS 686.455, licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians may report to peace officers, animal control officers or officers of private organizations devoted to humane treatment of animals any animal that the veterinarian or veterinary technician kno…

As used in ORS 686.450 to 686.465 and 686.990 (3): (1)(a) “Aggravated animal abuse” means any animal abuse as described in ORS 167.322. (b) “Aggravated animal abuse” does not include: (A) Good animal husbandry, as defined in ORS 167.310; or (B) Any exemption listed in ORS 167.335…

(1) A veterinarian who has reasonable cause to believe that an animal with which the veterinarian has come in contact has suffered aggravated animal abuse, or that any person with whom the veterinarian has come in contact has committed aggravated animal abuse, shall immediately r…

(1) A law enforcement agency receiving a report of suspected aggravated animal abuse pursuant to ORS 609.654 or 686.455 shall investigate the nature and cause of the suspected aggravated animal abuse. (2) If the law enforcement agency finds reasonable cause to believe that aggrav…

A veterinarian who acts in good faith and has reasonable grounds for making a report of suspected aggravated animal abuse under ORS 686.455 is not liable in any civil or criminal proceeding brought as a result of making the report. [2003 c.275 §5] Note: See note under 686.450.

Unless state or federal laws relating to confidentiality or the protection of health information prohibit disclosure, a person licensed or certified under this chapter who has reasonable cause to believe that a licensee of another board has engaged in prohibited conduct as define…

The Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board may establish a certified Euthanasia Task Force and may assess application and certification fees against certified euthanasia technicians and their employers. The fees so assessed are continuously appropriated to the board to s…

(1) A veterinary facility may not offer services related to the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry, as described in ORS 686.030, unless the veterinary facility: (a) Registers with the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board; and (b) Designates a veterin…

(1) Violation of ORS 686.020 (1)(a) is a Class A misdemeanor. (2) In addition to any other sanction imposed by law, the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Examining Board may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for each violation of ORS 686.020 (1). (3) Failure to file a rep…