Veterinary Technician Licensure
Veterinary Technician Licensure Bill Passes!
Veterinary technicians will now be included in Minnesota’s Veterinary Practice Act, a feat that veterinary professionals in the state have been working toward for over 20 years. The Licensed Veterinary Technician Bill was included in a 1,430-page omnibus package approved by the Minnesota state legislature on May 19th and signed into law May 25th by Governor Tim Walz. Its passage means a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) will be regulated by the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine. A huge thank you to all the veterinarians and veterinary technicians that supported the licensure initiative!
For over forty years, the MVMA has offered a voluntary certification program for veterinary technicians, which required passing the VTNE and once the grandfather clause ended in 1990, graduating from a CVTEA-accredited program also became a requirement. However, there was no legal definition of the title so anyone could call themselves a veterinary technician, regardless if they were individuals trained on the job or those who did not pass the VTNE. Currently, veterinary technicians can only work under direct supervision (within visual or audible range) of a veterinarian, who assumes all responsibility for an employee’s professional performance. Now the scope of practice will be expanded to allow remote supervision of LVT’s and will also allow them to provide direct supervision of unlicensed staff members. This scope of practice will still be under the direction and delegation of tasks from a licensed veterinarian.
Now what? We expect a lot of questions and needed explanations for what happens next. Please be patient as this is anticipated to be a lengthy process and we just don’t know all the information yet. The legislation authorizes the Board of Veterinary Medicine to establish licensure and related practice requirements for LVTs. The process is expected to take 12 to 18 months and the rules will become effective July 1, 2026. Drs. Ann Brownlee and Al Balay will represent MVMA along with Kim Horne, CVT and Sam Geiling, CVT representing MAVT to serve on a task force for the Board of Veterinary Medicine. The first meeting is scheduled for July 15th.
Final Bill Language (article 20, starts on page 323; enter 323.7 in the Jump to Page/Line number and hit enter in the search bar).
AVMA News (5/30/24): Minnesota creates title protection, licensure pathway for veterinary technicians
If you have further questions or feedback, please contact Dr. Allen Balay at ([email protected]) or 320-905-6423) or Kim Horne, AAS, CVT, VTS (Dermatology) at ([email protected]) or 952-270-5439).
View this important FAQ Document to help answer some basic questions and concerns
HF 1228-Veterinary technicians, practice of veterinary technology, and unlicensed veterinary employees regulated
Introduced on Thursday, February 2nd, 2023, by Rep. John Huot-click here for more information
SF 1522-Veterinary technicians, the practice of veterinary technology and unlicensed veterinary employees regulation
Introduced on Thursday, February 9th, 2023, by Senator Robert Kupec-click here for more information
LVT Statute Highlights and Proposed Changes
Supporting Documents
1) Article's from the "Getting to the Bottom of the Veterinary Technician Shortage in Minnesota":
○ Twenty-fourth article
○ Twenty-third article
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○ Twentieth article
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○ Second article
○ First article
2) How Credentialed Veterinary Technicians Impact Public Safety
3) Board of Animal Health Reportable Diseases
4) Licensure in Veterinary Medicine: How it Protects the Public and our Animals
5) Points of Why Regulatory Credentialing for Veterinary Technicians
6) JAVMA 9/15/2021 Article: Are We in a Veterinary Workforce Crisis?
7) Veterinary Technician Enhancement Act Infographic (this version intended for the legislative community)
8) Veterinary Technician Enhancement Act Infographic (this version intended for veterinary community)
Letters of Support
MVMA/MAVT Goal in 2021-2022: Veterinary Technician Licensure
Bill Title: Veterinary Technician Workforce Enhancement Act
Preamble: Veterinary technicians are vital members of the veterinary health care team and work alongside veterinarians to care for the health, safety and welfare of animals and improve public health. All states in the U.S. have regulatory boards to manage the licensure of veterinarians and a large majority of states also require licensure for veterinary technicians. This licensure is critical to ensure professional accountability and prevent unqualified individuals from potentially harming animal health and failing to protect the public. Over time, members of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA) have experienced dwindling numbers in the veterinary technician profession. We believe through an improved understanding and definition of their role as veterinary team members, that mandatory credentialing will contribute to the advancement of the practice of veterinary medicine as well as enhance patient care and public safety.
Key Components of the Bill:
- Certified veterinary technicians currently in good standing with the MVMA are immediately eligible for licensure.
- Non-certified veterinary technicians would be eligible to apply if they are currently practicing, performed 4160 hours of experience (within the previous 5 years), and have a letter of recommendation from a licensed veterinarian stating their competency.
- With regulated credentialing, Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs) will aid in the purpose to protect the health and safety of the public and animal patients in the state of Minnesota.
- Properly trained veterinary team members impact many areas including: infectious diseases; zoonotic diseases; ensuring food and feed safety; animal control and injury protection.
- Properly trained veterinary team members ensure functional health in companion animals, service and working animals, as well as livestock and research animals.
- Upon licensure the role of veterinary technicians in patient care will be better defined while remaining under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
- LVTs and other veterinary team members cannot perform services which are exclusive to licensure responsibilities of the veterinarian (surgery, diagnose/prognose, or prescribe drugs).
- Veterinary team members not eligible for licensure or choosing not to be licensed will be called veterinary assistants.
- Licensure also ensures veterinary technicians are familiar with and understand the state’s laws and regulations governing their profession.
- MN Board of Veterinary Medicine shall oversee and establish licensure requirements.
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