Title 27 — Professions and Occupations
22 chapters · 534 sections in this title.
27 V.I.C. § 171 Purpose of chapter
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In order to promote the public health, safety, and welfare by safeguarding the people of this Territory against unqualified or incompetent practitioners of veterinary medicine, the Legislature of the Virgin Islands declares that the practice of veterinary medicine is a privilege …
27 V.I.C. § 172 Definitions
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(1) When used in this chapter, these words and phrases have the following meanings:(1) “Accredited college of veterinary medicine” means any veterinary college, school, or division of a university or college that offers the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or its equivalen…
27 V.I.C. § 173 Practice of veterinary medicine
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(a) A person is regarded as practicing veterinary medicine within the meaning of this chapter who represents himself, directly or indirectly, publicly or privately, as a veterinary doctor or uses any title, words, abbreviation or letters in a manner or under circumstances that ma…
27 V.I.C. § 174 Veterinarian-client-patient relationship requirement
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(a) No person may practice veterinary medicine in the Virgin Islands except within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. (b) A veterinarian-client-patient relationship may not be established solely by telephonic or other electronic means.
27 V.I.C. § 175 Exemptions
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(a) This chapter may not be construed to prohibit:(1) A federal or local government employee from performing the employee’s official duties.(2) A student who is enrolled in:(A) an accredited college of veterinary medicine from performing duties or actions assigned by instructors …
27 V.I.C. § 176 Practice facility; names and levels of service
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(a) In order to accurately inform the public of the levels of service offered, a veterinary practice facility must use in its name one of the descriptive terms defined in subsection (b) of this section. The name of a veterinary practice facility must, at all times, accurately ref…
27 V.I.C. § 177 Virgin Islands Board of Veterinary Medicine; appointment, membership, organization
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(a) In order to properly regulate the practice of veterinary medicine, there is established a Board within the Department of Health to be known as the Virgin Islands Board of Veterinary Medicine. (b) The Board consists of seven members appointed by the Governor for terms of three…
27 V.I.C. § 178 Board meetings
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The Board shall meet at least quarterly each year at the time and place fixed by rules of the Board. Other necessary meetings may be called by the Board by giving notice as may be required by its rules. Except as may otherwise be provided, a majority of the Board constitutes a qu…
27 V.I.C. § 179 General powers of the Board
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(a) The Board shall:(1) Examine and determine the qualifications and fitness of applicants for a license to practice veterinary medicine in the Virgin Islands.(2) Adopt, promulgate, and enforce regulations relating to specific duties and responsibilities; certification, registrat…
27 V.I.C. § 180 Additional powers of the Board
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(a) In addition to the general powers set forth in § 179, the Board shall:(1) Fix minimum standards for continuing veterinary medical education for veterinarians and technicians, which shall be a condition precedent to the renewal of a veterinary license, limited license, veterin…
27 V.I.C. § 181 License required
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No person is allowed to practice veterinary medicine or practice as a veterinary technician in the Virgin Islands unless that person has been licensed by the Board.
27 V.I.C. § 182 Application for license qualifications
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(a) A person desiring a license to practice veterinary medicine in the Virgin Islands must make written application to the Board. (b) By way of application, an applicant must establish that he is a graduate of an AVMA-accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine or the h…
27 V.I.C. § 183 Examinations
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(a) The Board shall administer or cause to be administered at least two examinations annually and may hold such additional examinations as are necessary to avoid delay in issuing licenses to qualified applicants. The Board shall give public notice of the time and place for each e…
27 V.I.C. § 184 Temporary permit
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(a) The Board shall issue a temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine:(1) To a qualified applicant pending examination, provided that the temporary permit expires upon applicant’s failure to pass the examination;(2) To a nonresident veterinarian validly licensed in another…
27 V.I.C. § 185 License renewal
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(a) A license expires two years after its issuance, but may be renewed by application to the Board and payment of the renewal fee as established and published by the Board. (b) The Board shall establish the continuing education requirements that must be met for license renewal. T…
27 V.I.C. § 186 Continuing education
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The Board shall adopt regulations that provide for continuing education requirements for re-licensure and licensure by endorsement of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary technologists. Upon the passage of this chapter, a veterinarian is required to complete a mi…
27 V.I.C. § 187 Licensed veterinary technicians
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(a) No person shall assist in the practice of veterinary medicine under the direction, supervision and responsibility of a veterinarian as a veterinary technician, or veterinary technologists without first applying for and obtaining a certificate of qualification as a veterinary …
27 V.I.C. § 188 Veterinary technician and veterinary technologist; denial, suspension, or revocation of certificate or license
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(a) The Board may deny or suspend any registration or deny or revoke any certificate of qualification upon a finding that the applicant or veterinary technician or veterinary technologist:(1) solicited patients for any practitioner of the veterinary healing arts;(2) solicited or …
27 V.I.C. § 189 Discipline of licensees
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(a) Upon receipt of a written, sworn complaint, the Board may, after a fair hearing and by a majority vote, revoke or suspend a license pursuant to this chapter, or may otherwise discipline a person licensed under this chapter, or may deny a license for any of the following reaso…
27 V.I.C. § 189a Reinstatement
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On written application made to the Board showing cause justifying relicensing or reinstatement, a person whose license was suspended or revoked may, at the discretion of the Board, be relicensed or reinstated at any time without an examination by majority vote of the Board.
27 V.I.C. § 189b Appeal
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Any party aggrieved by a decision of the Board may appeal the matter to the Commissioner not later than 30 days after notification of the Board’s decision. The Commissioner shall act on the appeal not later than 30 days following receipt of the appeal. If the aggrieved is not sat…
27 V.I.C. § 189c Release of records
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(a) A veterinarian licensed by the Board shall release or authorize the release of rabies immunization records and other relevant treatment data of an animal under the veterinarian’s care to (i) a requesting physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner who is contemplati…
27 V.I.C. § 189d Reporting of animal cruelty
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(a) Every person licensed under this chapter shall report to the Commissioner, the Board, and the Virgin Islands Police Department suspected animal cruelty, including cases of an animal exhibiting injuries consistent with dog fighting or injuries due to the administration of impr…
27 V.I.C. § 189e Severability
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If any part of this chapter is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, all valid parts that are severable from the invalid part remain in effect.