Title 16. Professional and Vocational Regulations
Division 20. Veterinary Medical Board
Article 1. General Provisions (Refs & Annos)
§ 2000. Location of Offices.

The principal office of the Veterinary Medical Board is located at 2005 Evergreen Avenue, Suite 2250, Sacramento, California 95815.

Note: Authority cited: Section 4808, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 4800, Business and Professions Code.

§ 2010. Application.

(a) An application for eligibility evaluation for the California State Board examination shall be submitted to the board at its principal place of business on an application form and pursuant to instructions prescribed and provided by the board, (Veterinary Application, Form No. 25A-1, Rev. 9/2010; Veterinary Application Instructions, Rev. 9/2010), accompanied by such evidence, statements, or documents as therein required. The Board shall complete the eligibility evaluation and notify the candidate of eligibility and/or status.

Once eligibility is established, the candidate will be authorized to take the computer based examination. If an applicant fails their first scheduled examination, the applicant must reapply by submitting to the board required application forms and fees.

(b) An application for the registered veterinary technician examination shall be submitted on an application form and pursuant to instructions prescribed and provided by the board, (Registered Veterinary Technician Application, Form No. 26A-1, Rev. 9/2010; Registered Veterinary Technician Application Instructions, Rev. 9/2010), accompanied by such evidence, statements, or documents as therein required. The Board shall complete the eligibility evaluation and notify the candidate of eligibility and/or status.

Once eligibility is established, the candidate will be authorized to take the computer based registered veterinary technician examination. If an applicant fails their first scheduled examination, the applicant must reapply by submitting to the board required application forms and fees.

Note: Authority cited: Section 4808, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4841.5 and 4848, Business and Professions Code.

§ 2010.1. Eligibility Evaluation - National Examination.

All applicants applying for eligibility evaluation for the national examination shall submit an application and required supporting documents to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).

(a) Applicants from an AVMA accredited college of veterinary medicine must submit proof of senior status and of being within eight months of graduation.

(b) Applicants from a veterinary college not recognized by the Board shall submit supporting documents to substantiate either:

1. certificate of completion of the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates program (ECFVG) or

2. certificate of completion of the Program for Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).

(c) Upon the determination of an applicant's eligibility for the national examination, the AAVSB shall notify the applicant of his or her eligibility to take the national examination and transmit the applicant's eligibility information to the National Board Examination Committee or its authorized representative.

(d) All applicants with current and valid eligibility on file with the AAVSB may make proper application to the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners or its authorized representative for the national examination.

Note: Authority cited: Section 4808, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4846.1 and 4848, Business and Professions Code.

§ 2015. Examinations Credit.

(a) An applicant who passes the national examination, the California state board examination and the veterinary law examination within the sixty month period immediately following the date of the administration of the initial examination receiving a passing score shall be deemed to have met the examination requirements for licensure.

(b) Where an applicant fails to pass the national examination, the California state board examination, and the veterinary law examination within the specified sixty month period, the applicant shall be required to retake and pass all those examinations.

(c) An applicant who has failed an examination or who has failed to pass all required examinations within the specified 60 month period may apply to be re-examined at a subsequent examination.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4808, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 135 and 4848, Business and Professions Code.

§ 2015.2. Veterinary Law Examination.

(a) The veterinary law examination shall be administered by mail. Applicants taking the veterinary law examination shall return the completed examination to the board within 40 days of its date of mailing by the board. Failure to return a completed veterinary law examination to the board within the prescribed time shall cause the applicant to be deemed to have failed the examination and the applicant shall be required to re-apply and re-take the examination.

(b) An applicant who is a University of California or Western University of Health Sciences veterinary medical student who has successfully completed a course on veterinary law and ethics covering the California Veterinary Medicine Practice Act shall be exempt from having to take the veterinary law examination upon providing documentation from the course provider that the applicant has successfully completed such a course.

(c) Notwithstanding section 2010, an application to take the veterinary law examination may be submitted at any time the applicant has met the requirements, in accordance with these regulations, to take such examination.

(d) An applicant applying for a temporary license pursuant to section 4848(b) shall be eligible to take the veterinary law examination upon meeting the requirements of section 4848(b)(1)-(3).

Note: Authority cited: Section 4808, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 4848, Business and Professions Code.

§ 2020. Examination Appeal.

(a) Within forty-five (45) days after the date notice of the results of the examination has been given to the applicant, an applicant who was unsuccessful in the California state board examination or the registered veterinary technician examination may appeal to the Board.

(b) The appeal shall be submitted in writing to the Board's principal office; and it shall state the specific reasons for such appeal.

(c) The executive officer to the Board may deny an appeal requesting a review of an examination that is not accompanied by information supporting the reasons for such request or is not filed within the appeal period stated in subsection (a).

(d) Only appeals concerning the format of the examination, computer grading errors or conditions at the examination site will be considered by the Board.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4808 and 4849, Business and Professions Code. Reference cited: Section 4849, Business and Professions Code.

§ 2023. Eligibility for Examinations.

Persons who meet the following criteria, pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Section 2022, may apply to take the licensing examinations specified in Section 2014:

(a) A graduate of a recognized veterinary college or a person who is within eight (8) months of his or her anticipated graduation from a recognized veterinary college.

(b) A person from a non-recognized veterinary college who is within eight (8) months of graduation and 1) who is enrolled in the ECFVG or PAVE program and 2) has passed the basic sciences examination requirements of the ECFVG or PAVE program.

(c) A graduate of a non-recognized veterinary college who possesses a certificate from either the ECFVG program or the PAVE.

Note: Authority cited: Section 4808, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 4848, Business and Professions Code.

§ 2024. Education Requirement for Eligibility for Licensure.

In addition to the application requirements outlined in Section 2010, an applicant applying for licensure in California must submit the appropriate initial licensing application and fee and the following documentation:

(a) Graduates of a recognized veterinary college must submit a diploma as proof of graduation.

(b) Graduates of non-approved veterinary colleges must submit (1) a diploma and (2) a certificate of completion from either ECFVG or PAVE. Diplomas submitted in a language other than English must be accompanied by a certified translation into English.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 4808 and 4846.1, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 851, 4846.1, 4846.2 and 4848, Business and Professions Code.