Oklahoma § 59-698.26 - Unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine –

§ 59-698.26. Unauthorized practice of veterinary medicine –

Emergency treatment – Improper use of title - Penalties.

A. It is unlawful for a registered veterinary technician,

veterinary technologist, nurse, veterinary assistant or other

employee to diagnose animal diseases, prescribe medical or surgical

treatment, or perform as a surgeon and such acts shall constitute

the unlawful practice of veterinary medicine as prohibited in

Section 698.18 of this title.

B. It is unlawful for any person to assume the title of

registered veterinary technician, or the abbreviation RVT, or any

other words, letters, signs, or figures that might induce a person

to believe that the person using the name is a registered veterinary

technician, when in fact such person is not certified.

C. A registered veterinary technician may perform emergency

treatments in a life saving situation in accordance with rules

promulgated by the Board.

D. Except as provided in Section 698.18 of this title, any

person certified as a veterinary technician, veterinary

technologist, veterinary nurse, or veterinary assistant who

practices veterinary medicine contrary to the provisions of the

Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, or any person who aids or abets

another in the practice or attempted practice as a veterinary

technician, veterinary technologist, veterinary nurse, or veterinary

assistant without license or certification, or any person violating

any provision of subsection B of this section, upon conviction,

shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less

than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Two Thousand Five

Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail

for a term of not less than thirty (30) days, nor more than six (6)

months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition to

criminal penalties, the violator shall be subject to denial,

revocation, suspension, probation or nonrenewal of certification by

the Board.

E. The penalties provided in subsection D of this section shall

not apply to a student enrolled in an accredited school of

veterinary technology while the student is under the supervision of

an instructor and is performing activities required as a part of the

student's training.

F. Any veterinarian licensed in this state who permits or

directs a veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, veterinary

nurse, aide or animal attendant to perform a task or procedure in

violation of the provisions of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act,

upon conviction, shall be guilty of aiding or abetting the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine as prohibited by Section

698.18 of this title, and shall be, in addition to any criminal

penalties, subject to revocation, probation, nonrenewal or

suspension of license by the Board.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 138, § 7, eff. Oct. 1, 1980. Amended by Laws

1992, c. 56, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 1999, c. 94, § 28, eff.

Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2002, c. 172, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2008,

c. 358, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2008.