Washington Administrative Code

All veterinary medical facilities in which animals are received for medical, surgical or prophylactic treatment shall have the following minimum facilities, but are not limited to only these facilities:(1) Reception room and office: Or a combination of the two.(2) Examination roo…

All veterinary medical facilities shall maintain a sanitary environment to avoid sources and transmission of infection. This includes the proper sterilization or sanitation of all equipment used in diagnosis or treatment and the proper routine disposal of waste materials.(1) Surg…

(1) The veterinarian must communicate when appropriate to the client the following:(a) Proposed diagnostic tests;(b) Differential diagnoses;(c) Definitive diagnoses;(d) Proposed treatments;(e) Common side effects or adverse outcomes from proposed diagnostic testing or treatment;(…

(1) If requested by the client, a veterinarian must provide a written prescription for any medication prescribed by that veterinarian under a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.(2) As an alternative to a written prescription, if requested by the client, the veterinari…

These rules may be cited as the "veterinary continuing education rules." The purpose of these rules is to establish standards of continuing veterinary medical education. The rules provide for qualifying training methods, designating approved continuing veterinary medical educatio…

(1) A licensed veterinarian shall complete and document thirty hours of continuing education every two years and comply with chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7.(2) A licensed veterinarian shall meet the continuing education requirement by either:(a) Completing thirty hours of education t…

The board will not authorize or approve specific continuing education courses or materials. All continuing education courses must be provided by organizations, institutions, or individuals in WAC 246-933-460 and contribute to the professional knowledge and development of the prac…

A licensed veterinarian or a retired active licensed veterinarian shall complete a board-approved, one-time training in suicide prevention that is at least three hours in length. Training must include suicide awareness and prevention, mental health and well-being, and imminent ha…

(1) Veterinarians must complete a minimum of two hours in health equity continuing education training every four years by complying with WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.(2) This training must be completed by the end of the second full continuing education reporting period after…

A licensed veterinarian shall complete a board-approved, one-time training in Washington state jurisprudence, which will count as one credit hour toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements. Training must include Washington state veterinary law.(1) This training m…

The board may excuse from or grant an extension of continuing veterinary medical education requirements to a licensee due to illness or other extenuating circumstances.Licensees seeking an extension shall petition the board, in writing, at least thirty days prior to the end of th…

(1) Categories of continuing education:(a) Scientific or clinical. A minimum of twenty scientific or clinical credit hours must be earned in any two-year reporting period. Credits must be obtained through education offered by an approved provider listed in WAC 246-933-460.(b) Pra…

The board approves continuing veterinary medical education courses provided by organizations, institutions, or individuals (providers) including, but not limited to, the following:(1) The American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD);(2) The American Associ…

It is the intent of the legislature to allow qualified animal control agencies and humane societies to provide veterinary services to low-income households in our communities. It is not the intent of the legislature to allow these entities to provide veterinary services to the pu…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Entity" means animal care and control agencies as defined in RCW 16.52.011 and nonprofit humane societies, which have qualified under section 501 (c)(3) of the Interna…

(1) An entity must obtain a registration credential in order to provide veterinary services as described in RCW 18.92.260. To obtain a registration the entity must comply with WAC 246-12-060.(2) To provide veterinary services, a registered entity must adopt procedures to verify a…

(1) For purposes of this section, "drugs" includes both legend drugs and controlled substances.(a) "Legend drugs" means any drugs that are required by state law or regulation of the pharmacy quality assurance commission to be dispensed on prescription only or are restricted to us…

(1) Registrations must be renewed every year on August 1 as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 3.(2) The nonrefundable fees are:Title of FeeFeeEntity registration$120.00Entity renewal100.00Late renewal penalty 80.00Expired registration reissuance 80.00[Statutory Authority: RCW …

It is the intent of the legislature that the veterinary board of governors seek ways to identify and support the rehabilitation of veterinarians who have a health condition that may impair their ability to practice. The legislature intends that these veterinarians be treated so t…

The definitions in this section apply in WAC 246-933-601 through 246-933-630 unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Continuing care" means ongoing treatment and other supports recommended by treatment providers following a period of intensive treatment or illness stab…

The board shall approve the monitoring program which shall participate in the rehabilitation of veterinarians. The board shall enter a contract with the monitoring program on an annual basis.(1) A monitoring program may provide referrals for evaluations or treatment to the partic…

(1) In lieu of disciplinary action, the veterinarian may accept board referral into a monitoring program.(a) Before entering the program, the veterinarian shall undergo evaluation(s) by experts approved by the program as a condition of program participation.(b) The veterinarian s…

(1) Licenses must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:Title of FeeFeeInitial state license State jurisprudence examination (initial or retake)$210.00 Application145.00 …

The rules in this chapter define certain acts of unprofessional conduct for applicants or holders of licenses or registrations issued by the veterinary board of governors.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.92.030 and 18.130.050 (1), (12). WSR 07-06-027, § 246-934-010, filed 2/28/07, ef…

(1) "Animal" means every creature, either alive or dead, other than a human being.(2) "Board" means the veterinary board of governors.(3) "Health care information" means any health care information, in any form that is associated with the key party, the patient or the health care…

(1) A health care provider shall not engage, or attempt to engage, in sexual misconduct with a key party, inside or outside the health care setting. Key party initiation or consent does not excuse or negate the health care provider's responsibility. Sexual misconduct shall consti…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Anesthesia maintenance" means maintaining adequate depth of anesthesia through control of the amount and type of drug(s) delivered to the animal patient.(2) "Anesthesi…

Applications for licensure as a veterinary technician shall be made on forms prepared by the secretary of the department of health and submitted to the department of health. Applications must be received at least sixty days prior to the scheduled examination. The application, in …

The board may suspend, revoke or deny the issuance or renewal of license of any veterinary technician and file its decision in the secretary's office if the veterinary technician:(1) Has employed fraud or misrepresentation in applying for or obtaining the license;(2) Has within t…

It is the supervising veterinarian's responsibility to delegate animal health care tasks only if the licensed veterinary technician or unregistered assistant is qualified, competent, educated, trained, and able. The supervising veterinarian shall ensure the delegated task is appr…

No individual, other than a licensed veterinary technician, may advertise or offer their services in a manner calculated to lead others to believe that they are a trained or licensed veterinary technician.(1) Licensed veterinary technicians and unregistered assistants are prohibi…

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for the examination.(1) Completion of an approved postsecondary educational program for animal or veterinary technology.(a) Completion of a program for animal or veterinary technology approved by the Committee on V…

(1) To qualify for licensure as a veterinary technician, an applicant shall successfully complete the veterinary technician national examination as approved by the board.(2) The passing criteria or score is the criteria-referenced passing score on the national examination.[Statut…

An applicant who has failed the veterinary technician examination may apply for reexamination.[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.92.030. WSR 02-10-135, § 246-935-100, filed 5/1/02, effective 6/1/02; WSR 91-24-098 (Order 221B), § 246-935-100, filed 12/4/91, effective 1/4/92; WSR 91-02-0…

Fingerprint-based national background checks may cause a delay in licensing. Individuals who satisfy all other licensing requirements and qualifications may receive a temporary practice permit while the national background check is completed.(1) A temporary practice permit may be…

The standards established in WAC 246-935-270 through 246-935-310 may be cited as the "veterinary technician continuing education rules." The purpose of these rules is to establish standards of continuing education for licensed veterinary technicians. The rules provide for qualify…

(1) Beginning January 1, 2020, a licensed veterinary technician shall complete twenty hours of continuing education every two years. Licensed veterinary technicians shall comply with chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7 relating to continuing education requirements.(2) A veterinary technic…

The board will not authorize or approve specific continuing education courses or materials. All continuing education courses must be provided by organizations, institutions, or individuals in WAC 246-935-290 and contribute to the professional knowledge and development of the prac…

The board approves veterinary technician continuing education courses provided by organizations, institutions, or individuals (providers) including, but not limited to, the following:(1) Any board approved college or school of veterinary medical technology.(2) Any international, …

(1) Categories of continuing education:(a) Scientific or clinical. A minimum of fourteen scientific or clinical credit hours must be earned in any two-year reporting period. Credits must be obtained through education offered by an approved provider listed in WAC 246-935-290.(b) P…

A licensed veterinary technician or a retired active licensed veterinary technician shall complete a board-approved, one-time training in suicide prevention that is at least three hours in length. Training must include suicide awareness and prevention, mental health and well-bein…

(1) Veterinary technicians must complete a minimum of two hours in health equity continuing education training every four years by complying with WAC 246-12-800 through 246-12-830.(2) This training must be completed by the end of the second full continuing education reporting per…

A licensed veterinary technician shall complete a board-approved, one-time training in Washington state jurisprudence, which will count as one credit hour toward meeting applicable continuing education requirements. Training must include Washington state veterinary technician law…

The board may excuse from or grant an extension of continuing education requirements to a licensed veterinary technician due to illness or other extenuating circumstances.Licensees seeking an extension must petition the board, in writing, at least thirty days prior to the end of …

As provided in RCW 18.92.013, the purpose of WAC 246-935-400 through 246-935-440, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, is to define and clarify nondiscretionary functions used in preparing, and administration of, legend drugs, nonlegend drugs, and controlled substances …

The definitions in this section apply throughout WAC 246-935-400 through 246-935-440 unless the context clearly requires otherwise."Administer" means the direct application of a drug whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or any other means, to the body of a patient."Contro…

Nondiscretionary functions, tasks or actions used in preparing, and the administration of, legend drugs, nonlegend drugs and controlled substances, delegated orally or in writing by the supervising veterinarian to the licensed veterinary technician are:• Accessing the drug;• Sele…

(1) Under WAC 246-933-320, it is the responsibility of a licensed veterinarian to assure that:(a) All controlled substances are maintained in a locked cabinet or other suitable secure container according to federal and Washington state laws;(b) Controlled substance records are re…

The licensed veterinary technician shall include sufficient information in the patient medical record to document the care and treatment provided by the licensed veterinary technician. The records relating to delegated nondiscretionary functions used in preparing, and the adminis…

(1) Licenses must be renewed every year on the practitioner's birthday as provided in chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 2.(2) The following nonrefundable fees will be charged:Title of FeeFeeInitial state license State jurisprudence examination (initial or retake)$160.00 Application110.00 …