Oklahoma § 59-698.8 - Licenses - Evidence of suitability to practice Practice without license - Certificate in lieu of license

§ 59-698.8. Licenses - Evidence of suitability to practice Practice without license - Certificate in lieu of license

A. It shall be unlawful to practice veterinary medicine in this

state without a license or certificate issued by the State Board of

Veterinary Medical Examiners.

B. Requirements for licensure or certification shall be set by

the Board and may be changed as the education and training for the

practice of veterinary medicine changes. Prior to issuance of a

license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in this

state, the applicant shall have been found by the Board to be of

good moral character and the Board shall consider but not be limited

to the following evidence of suitability to practice:

1.

a.

Graduation from an approved school of veterinary

medicine whose requirements at the time of graduation

are acceptable to the Board.

b.

Graduates of schools of veterinary medicine located

outside the United States and Canada shall be held to

the same standards for evidence of suitability to

practice as are graduates of schools of veterinary

medicine located within the United States in that

applicants shall conform in all respects to the

requirements set forth in this section. Where

necessary, further examination shall be administered

by the Board or its designee to determine competency

to practice. In addition, applicants shall

demonstrate a command of the English language

satisfactory to the Board. Documents and material

submitted in support of application for licensure or

certification, if in a foreign language, shall be

translated and certified as accurate by an

organization acceptable to the Board;

2. Satisfactory completion of a minimum number of months of

education in veterinary medicine as a requirement for graduation

from a school of veterinary medicine as set by the Board;

3. Evidence that the applicant for licensure or certification

is of good moral character;

4.

a.

Except as otherwise provided by this paragraph,

evidence that the applicant has passed examinations

satisfactory to the Board and that the examination

score is acceptable to the Board. The Board may set

minimum passing scores for examinations and limit the

number of times an applicant may take an examination

in this state.

b.

In lieu of national examination requirements, an

applicant shall have actively engaged in the clinical

practice of veterinary medicine for a period of at

least five thousand (5,000) hours during the five (5)

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

consecutive years immediately prior to making

application in Oklahoma and hold a license to practice

veterinary medicine in another state, territory,

district or province of the United States and Canada

and successfully passed the Oklahoma State

Jurisprudence Examination;

5. Evidence that the applicant has demonstrated familiarity

with the statutes and rules set by the Board;

6. Evidence that the applicant is mentally and professionally

capable of practicing veterinary medicine in a competent manner as

determined by the Board and willing to submit, if deemed appropriate

by the Board, to an evaluation of skills and abilities;

7. Evidence that the applicant has not been found guilty by a

court of law of any conduct that would constitute grounds for

disciplinary action under the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act or

rules of the Board, and there has been no disciplinary action taken

against the applicant by any public agency concerned with the

practice of veterinary medicine;

8. If the Board deems it necessary, a personal appearance by

the applicant before the Board in support of the applicant's

application for licensure or certification. If the Board is not

satisfied with the credentials of the applicant, or demonstration of

knowledge or skills presented, the Board may require further

examination or supervised practice before reconsideration of the

application; and

9. Evidence that all required fees have been paid.

C. Practice without the legal possession of an active license

or certificate shall be prohibited, and evidence of the practice

shall be reported by the Board to the district attorney of the

county in which the practice is found to occur.

D. Certificates may be issued to any veterinarian who has

failed to obtain or failed to maintain a regular license to practice

veterinary medicine. Such certificates may be issued by the Board

at such times as the Board determines that all requirements for

possession of such certificate have been met as set by rules and

policies of the Board. Certificates may be issued for, but not

limited to, the practice of veterinary medicine under the direct

supervision of a licensed veterinarian while the application for

full licensure is pending.

E. Any active military or their spouse who is licensed in

veterinary medicine or is registered or certified as a veterinary

technician in another state may submit a completed application for

licensure or registration in Oklahoma and if found to be in good

standing and has equivalent education, training and experience shall

be licensed within thirty (30) days. The application fee and the

first period of issuance shall be waived for such active military or

their spouse.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

Added by Laws 1971, c. 126, § 8, emerg. eff. May 4, 1971. Amended

by Laws 1976, c. 48, § 1, emerg. eff. April 9, 1976; Laws 1982, c.

192, § 4, emerg. eff. April 22, 1982; Laws 1990, c. 314, § 7, eff.

Sept. 1, 1990; Laws 1999, c. 94, § 9, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2021,

c. 564, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2021.

§59-698.8a. Veterinary faculty license.

The State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners may issue a

veterinary faculty license to any qualified applicant associated

with one of the state's institutions of higher learning and involved

in the instructional program of either undergraduate or graduate

veterinary medical students, subject to the following conditions:

1. The holder of the veterinary faculty license shall be

remunerated for the practice aspects of the services of the holder

solely from state, federal or institutional funds and not from the

patient-owner beneficiary of his practice efforts;

2. The applicant will furnish the Board with such proof as the

Board may deem necessary to demonstrate that:

a.

the applicant is a graduate of a reputable school or

college of veterinary medicine,

b.

the applicant has or will have a faculty position at

one of the state's institutions of higher learning and

will be involved in the instructional program of

either undergraduate or graduate veterinary medical

students, as certified by an authorized administrative

official at such institution, and

c.

the applicant understands and agrees that the faculty

license is valid only for the practice of veterinary

medicine as a faculty member of the institution;

3. The license issued pursuant to this section may be revoked,

suspended or not renewed or the licensee may be placed on probation

or otherwise disciplined in accordance with the provisions of the

Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act; and

4. The license issued pursuant to this section may be canceled

by the Board upon receipt of information that the holder of the

veterinary faculty license has left or has otherwise been

discontinued from faculty employment at an institution of higher

learning of this state.

Added by Laws 1991, c. 265, § 21, eff. Oct. 1, 1991. Amended by

Laws 1999, c. 94, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 1999.