61G18-11.002 Examination and Licensure.
(1) An applicant for any of the required examinations must apply to the Department and pay the appropriate examination fee. An applicant will have completed the requirements of Section 474.207(2)(b), F.S., or be enrolled in the last year of the veterinary medical curriculum of a college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education. This application will remain valid for twenty four (24) months.
(2) An applicant for licensure will have complied with the requirements in Section 474.207, F.S.
(3) Effective on November 1, 2000, there shall be two examinations. The first examination will be the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) developed by the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. The second examination concerns laws and rules related to the practice of veterinary medicine. The context of the second test shall include the following subjects: The Veterinary Medical Practice Act, Chapter 474, F.S.; Chapter 455, F.S., relating to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation; Chapter 61G18, F.A.C., the rules promulgated by the Board of Veterinary Medicine; Chapters 465, 499, 585, 828 and 893, F.S.; and the most recent revision of the "Practitioner's Manual," an informational outline of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, published by the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States Department of Justice.
(4) In order to obtain licensure, the candidate must receive a passing score on each portion of the examination. The candidate must receive a score of 425 on the NAVLE. A candidate who fails to achieve a passing score on any part of the examination will only be required to retake the parts failed so long as those scores remain valid.
(5) A passing score on the veterinary Laws and Rules examination shall be a score of seventy percent (70%) or better. All questions shall be weighted equally and percentages shall be rounded off to whole numbers. In rounding percentages, any percentage which is point five (.5) or above shall be rounded up to the next whole number. Percentages less than point five (.5) shall be dropped. To be valid, a passing score on the veterinary law portion of the examination must have been achieved on an examination taken within the two year period prior to the date of the administration of the first examination offered in Florida subsequent to the filing of the application for licensure.
(6) The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) may be taken in another state or Canada and the scores may, upon submission of an application for licensure and the application fee, be transferred to Florida for purposes of satisfying the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination's (NAVLE) portion of the examination for licensure. The concerned North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) must have been taken and successfully completed as outlined above within five years prior to the date of the administration of the first examination offered in Florida subsequent to the filing of the application for licensure.
Rulemaking Authority 455.217, 474.206, 474.2065, 474.207 FS. Law Implemented 455.217, 474.2065, 474.207 FS. History-New 11-14-79, Amended 5-11-80, 7-9-80, 5-4-81, 12-10-81, 12-5-82, 5-15-83, 11-5-84, 5-7-85, 11-5-85, Formerly 21X-11.02, Amended 3-1-88, 11-24-88, 4-3-89, 4-13-92, 3-30-93, 7-13-93, Formerly 21X-11.002, Amended 7-4-94, 3-20-95, 3-29-95, 5-1-95, 5-27-99, 12-25-05, 6-28-07, 8-29-10, 9-26-12.
61G18-15.0022 Minimum Standards for Permanent Locations Where Agricultural Veterinary Medicine Is Practiced.
Agricultural veterinary medicine is practiced upon livestock as defined by Section 828.23(3), F.S. Minimum standards for permanent locations where agricultural veterinary medicine is practiced are:
(1) Exterior.
(a) All establishments where veterinary medicine is practiced must have the following:
1. Legible sign to identify location,
2. Facility clean and in good repair, and
3. Telephone number for emergency veterinary care shall be visible and legible from the exterior.
(b) The location where agricultural veterinary medicine is practiced must be clean and orderly.
(2) Interior.
(a) All locations where agricultural veterinary medicine is practiced must have the following:
1. Restroom - clean and orderly.
2. Office:
a. Clean and orderly,
b. Current license displayed.
3. 24 hours telephone service a day for emergencies.
4. Examination areas:
a. Clean and orderly,
b. Lined waste receptacles,
c. Sink and disposable towels (Sinks located in restrooms may not be used to satisfy this standard), and
d. Examination table, if present, must be of a material subject to disinfection.
5. Pharmacy:
a. Clean and orderly,
b. Individual patient or herd/flock records,
c. If controlled substances are on premises, a locking secure cabinet for storage and an accurate controlled substance log.
d. Segregated area or container for the storage of expired drugs.
6. Accessibility to a laboratory.
7. Holding areas shall be capable of sanitation and shall include proper ventilation, sufficient lighting, and be of a size consistent with the welfare of the animal.
8. Garbage and trash disposal:
a. Sanitary cans lined with disposable bags,
b. Effective insect and rodent control.
9. Carcass disposal.
10. Emergency lighting which must include at least a functioning rechargeable battery-operated light.
11. Fire extinguisher, with current inspection.
12. Refrigeration of stored drugs, biologicals, laboratory samples, and other perishable items.
13. Compliance with the requirement of Chapter 64E-16, F.A.C., concerning the handling and disposal of biohazardous waste.
(b) All locations must have facilities for radiology, surgery, and long term hospitalization, as described below, or in lieu thereof, written evidence that arrangements have been made with another clinic or hospital to provide the services.
1. Surgery:
a. Clean and orderly,
b. Method of sterilization of equipment and instructions,
c. Well-lighted, and
d. Surfaces, if applicable, must be made of smooth material subject to disinfection.
2. Hospital holding areas shall include proper ventilation, sufficient lighting, and be of a size consistent with the welfare of the animal.
(c) Establishments where veterinary medicine is practiced are not required to have the following facilities. However, if they do have them, the facilities must meet the standards set forth.
1. Reception area - shall be free from hazards.
2. Kitchen or food area - clean and orderly.
3. Exercise areas:
a. Clean and secure, and
b. No hazards.
(3) Veterinarians must furnish a permanent address at which they can be reached by clients in order that clients may obtain veterinary medical records.
Rulemaking Authority 474.206, 474.215(6) FS. Law Implemented 474.215(6) FS. History-New 7-9-95, Amended 9-18-95, 12-28-95, 9-26-12.
61G18-15.0025 Minimum Standards for a Mobile Veterinary Practice for Agricultural Animals.
The following minimum standards shall apply to mobile veterinary medical practices for agricultural animals:
(1) Mobile units utilized by veterinarians:
(a) Shall be clean and orderly.
(b) Shall contain the following:
1. Sterile syringes and needles.
2. Properly stored biologics.
3. Antiseptic intravenous equipment.
4. If controlled substances are on the unit, a locking secure cabinet for storage and an accurate controlled substance log.
5. When surgery is to be performed, the following shall be maintained:
a. Surgical instruments,
b. Access to a means of sterilization,
c. Suture material, and
d. Intravenous equipment.
6. An American Veterinary Medical Association approved chemical method of euthanasia.
7. Segregated area or container for the storage of expired drugs.
(2) When working with known infectious diseases within a herd, precautions shall be used to prevent transmission of infectious agents to another animal whether or not within the herd.
(3) Veterinarians must have a written agreement with a clinic or hospital for the provision of long term hospitalization, surgery, or radiology, if these services are not provided by the mobile clinic.
(4) Veterinarians must furnish a permanent address at which the veterinarian can be reached so that their clients can request veterinary medical records.
Rulemaking Authority 474.206, 474.215(6) FS. Law Implemented 474.215(6) FS. History-New 7-4-95, Amended 7-22-10, 9-26-12.