News & Announcements

Deadline is May 2, 2023

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) seeks one (1) veterinarian member for an appointment to the nine-member Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MDC) of the Board.

This appointment will be serving the remaining portion of the current term and continue through the next term ending June 30, 2026. MDC members may serve up to two full three-year terms.

The MDC, in its advisory capacity, assists, advises, and makes recommendations to the Board for the implementation of rules and regulations necessary to ensure proper administration and enforcement of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act and assists the Board in its examination, licensure, and registration programs. MDC members are expected to attend four meetings annually during their term. Information on past MDC Meeting Agendas items can be found on the Board's website.

Upon appointment, MDC members are required to comply with all State requirements and submit an initial and annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

How to Apply

Individuals seeking MDC appointment should provide the following:

• Letter of interest stating reasons for seeking appointment; and
• Supporting background information, which may include:
  • Letters of recommendation;
  • Current CV/Resume;
  • Statement of understanding of the nature of regulatory bodies within the Department of Consumer Affairs; and
  • Any other information the candidate believes is pertinent and would assist the Board in making its decision.

Please submit the above information by email to Timothy.Rodda@dca.ca.gov no later than May 2, 2023.

Selected MDC candidates will be interviewed by the Board during its May 2023 meeting.

The sedative xylazine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for veterinary use, but it is not safe for use in humans, and according to the Drug Enforcement Administration, it has been increasingly found “amongst heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine abusers as xylazine is often used as an adulterant with illicit substances.” The FDA reports that the drug is dangerous to humans because it can depress breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature to critical levels, and people who inject drugs containing xylazine can develop severe skin wounds and patches of dead and rotting tissue that easily become infected and, if left untreated, may lead to amputation.

Consequently, on February 28, 2023, the FDA issued an import alert authorizing its field agents to detain and refuse admission into the United States of imported shipments of xylazine that did not present sufficient evidence of legitimate veterinary use.

In light of the increasing public health threat presented by the diversion of xylazine, licensees are reminded that it is unlawful to divert xylazine for non-veterinary purposes. Improper prescribing, dispensing, or furnishing of dangerous drugs like xylazine is unprofessional conduct and may subject a licensee to discipline, including revocation of license. Also, licensees must maintain accurate drug records, which the Board will review for evidence of improper drug diversion in the normal course of an inspection.

More information about xylazine is available at the following websites:

• FDA Press Release to Restrict Unlawful Import of Xylazine
• FDA Import Alert
• FDA Health Care Professionals Alert on Treatment of Persons Who Use Xylazine
• Drug Enforcement Administration Facts Sheet on Xylazine
• Joint US Department of Justice and Drug Enforcement Administration Report on The Growing Threat of Xylazine and its Mixture with Illicit Drugs
• Information on Xylazine from the California Department of Public Health

Please see the below letter from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

Good afternoon animal agriculture and veterinary stakeholders

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship program (CDFA AUS) is excited to announce veterinary shortage designations through the USDA NIFA Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). VMLRP aims to help alleviate veterinary service shortages throughout California and the United States by offering student loan debt relief for mixed and large animal veterinarians.

VMLRP helps qualified veterinarians offset a portion of the student debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medicine degrees (up to $25,000/year) in return for three years of service in specified high-priority veterinary shortage situations. There are currently eight qualifying shortage areas in California.

There is a new requirement this year that requires submission of a Letter of Intent by the deadline of April 3, 2023, in addition to completing the full application, due April 17, 2023. This Letter of Intent is a short email following USDA NIFA’s specific formatting.

There are three types of veterinary shortage areas that candidates may apply for:

1. Type I – The State Veterinarian nominates California shortage areas to USDA NIFA, many of which can be multi-county regions;
2. Type II – candidate must commit at least 30% of practice time to food animal practice in a rural area (specific percentage is designated on the shortage designation itself)
3. Type III – candidate must commit at least 49% of time to public practice; typically located in city, county, state or federal governments, and institutions of higher education

The California counties and positions designated as veterinary shortage areas for the 2022-2023 nomination and application cycle are:

1. Private practice opportunities
   • Glenn, Colusa, and Tehama Counties (Type II)
   • Imperial County (Type I)
   • Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (Type II)
   • Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties (Type I)
   • Mendocino County (Type II)
   • Siskiyou County (Type I)
2. Public practice opportunities
   • California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (Type III)
   • California Department of Food and Agriculture (Type III)

Applicants are not required to have employment lined up at the time of application submission; however, they do need to have secured a position in the specified area within 90 days of award notification. In other words, you may apply for VMLRP in a specific shortage area prior to applying, interviewing, and accepting a job in that shortage area, but you must acquire a position or commit to serving in that area within 90 days after you receive the offer from USDA NIFA. Details about basic eligibility can be found on the VMLRP website.

The USDA NIFA will host a live FAQ on March 28 (link: https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_dom051GuRSOPgXBlp19wPg.)

If you are a veterinarian planning to apply, or if anyone you know has questions about the program or application process, please feel free to reach out by replying to this email. We have additional information and deadlines posted on CDFA AUS’ website pertaining to all aspects of the VMLRP process.

An additional funding program, the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP), works hand-in-hand with the VMLRP in providing support funds for practices needing help, but without the limitation of solely funding educational loans. Explore criteria here. Deadline for application is March 29, 2023.

If there is a veterinary shortage area you’d like represented in the 2023-2024 Nomination cycle, please click here to provide additional information to CDFA AUS.

Veterinary applicants planning to submit applications to the USDA NIFA Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) or the Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) should take note of deadlines fast approaching:

1. VSGP
   • Full Application: Due March 29, 2023
2. VMLRP
   • Letter of Intent: Due April 3, 2023
   • Full Application: Due April 17, 2023

The Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) fee will decrease from $11 to $9 annually for licenses expiring on and after July 1, 2023. The fee is assessed at the time of license renewal on licensees that prescribe, order, administer, or furnish Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, or Schedule V controlled substances.

Most licensees will see an $18 CURES Fee due to the biennial renewal cycle. The fee covers the reasonable regulatory costs of the Department of Justice (DOJ) for operating and maintaining CURES, a critical element in the state’s effort to address the growing danger of opioid addiction stemming from prescription drug abuse.

Visit the DOJ's website for more information about CURES.

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) is considering removing the requirement for the Board to approve all RVT Education Programs. The Board is seeking input from all interested stakeholders, including the public, education program administrators, other education program oversight agencies, and professional associations. If you would like to participate in this stakeholder meeting, please email Jeffrey.Olguin@dca.ca.gov.

Deadline is March 17, 2023

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) is currently recruiting two (2) veterinarians and two (2) public members to fill its vacancy on the Board’s Wellness Evaluation Committee (WEC).

The WEC is a five-member committee comprised of three (3) licensed veterinarians and two (2) public members. The purpose of the WEC is to rehabilitate veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) with impairment due to abuse of dangerous drugs or alcohol affecting competency so that they can be treated and safely return to the practice of veterinary medicine.

The members will serve the remainder of the current term and the next term, through June 30, 2027. The appointments are for a four-year term.

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4861, subdivision (c), “Each person appointed to a wellness evaluation committee shall have experience or knowledge in the evaluation or management of persons who are impaired due to alcohol or drug abuse.”

The WEC holds public meetings in Sacramento or Folsom, California three (3) times a year. The WEC has the following duties and responsibilities:

1. To evaluate those veterinarians and RVTs who request participation in the program according to the guidelines prescribed by the Board and to consider the recommendation of the administrative physician on the admission of the veterinarian or RVT to the wellness program.
2. To review and designate those treatment facilities to which veterinarians and RVTs in a wellness program may be referred.
3. To receive and review information concerning veterinarians and RVTs participating in the program.
4. To call meetings as necessary to consider the requests of veterinarians and RVTs to participate in a wellness program, and to consider reports regarding veterinarians and RVTs participating in a program from an administrative physician, or from others.
5. To consider in the case of each veterinarian and RVT participating in a program whether they may with safety continue or resume the practice of veterinary medicine or the assisting in the practice of veterinary medicine.
6. To set forth in writing for each veterinarian and RVT participating in a program a treatment program established for each such veterinarian and RVT with the requirements for supervision and surveillance.
7. To hold a general meeting at least twice a year, which shall be open and public, to evaluate the program’s progress, to review data as required in reports to the Board, to prepare reports to be submitted to the Board, and to suggest proposals for changes in the wellness program.

The WEC performs its duties pursuant to the terms of BPC sections 4860–4873 and California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 16, sections 2075–2082.

How to Apply

Applicants seeking WEC appointment should provide the following:

• Letter of interest stating reasons for seeking appointment; and
• Supporting background information, which may include:
  • Letters of recommendation;
  • Current CV/Resume;
  • Statement of understanding of the nature of regulatory bodies within the Department of Consumer Affairs; and
  • Any other information the candidate believes is pertinent and would assist the Board in making its decision.

Please email the above information to Robert.Stephanopoulos@dca.ca.gov no later than March 17, 2023.

Selected WEC candidates will be invited to interview with the Board during its April 19–20, 2023 meeting. Please note that WEC candidate documents submitted to the Board are subject to public disclosure in accordance with the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code, § 6200 et seq.) and Information Practices Act (Civ. Code, § 1798 et seq.).

Deadline is March 17, 2023

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) seeks one (1) public member for an appointment to the nine-member Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MDC) of the Board.

This appointment will be serving the remaining portion of the current term and continue through the next term ending June 30, 2027. MDC members may serve up to two full three-year terms.

The MDC, in its advisory capacity, assists, advises, and makes recommendations to the Board for the implementation of rules and regulations necessary to ensure proper administration and enforcement of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act and assists the Board in its examination, licensure, and registration programs. MDC members are expected to attend four meetings annually during their term. Information on past MDC Meeting Agendas items can be found on the Board's website.

Upon appointment, MDC members are required to comply with all State requirements and submit an initial and annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

How to Apply

Individuals seeking MDC appointment should provide the following:

• Letter of interest stating reasons for seeking appointment; and
• Supporting background information, which may include:
  • Letters of recommendation;
  • Current CV/Resume;
  • Statement of understanding of the nature of regulatory bodies within the Department of Consumer Affairs; and
  • Any other information the candidate believes is pertinent and would assist the Board in making its decision.

Please submit the above information by email to Robert.Stephanopoulos@dca.ca.gov no later than March 17, 2023.

Selected MDC candidates will be interviewed by the Board during its April 19–20, 2023 meeting.

The International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) Assessment Development Committee (ADC) is seeking 2023 nominations. The ADC is composed of a broad representation of species and content areas across veterinary medicine. Duties include soliciting and appointing North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) item writers and participating in item and form review meetings. As new opportunities arise in veterinary assessment, the ADC will be responsible for assembling subject matter experts to meet these needs. Members of the ADC are appointed by the ICVA Board of Directors to three-year terms and may serve a maximum of three terms.

The ADC is responsible for the main content areas of the NAVLE. The NAVLE is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in the US and Canada. It consists of 360 entry-level, clinically-relevant, multiple choice questions. Examination materials for the NAVLE are prepared by committees composed of subject matter experts with recognized prominence in their fields. Committee members are selected to provide broad representation from across the world, and from academic, practice, species groups, and licensing communities. Committee members typically participate in up to three, two-day meetings per year, with travel costs and related expenses covered by the ICVA.

There are four positions on the ADC with terms beginning in June 2023: one Bovine (Dairy), one Exotic Companion Animal, one Poultry, and one Small Ruminant.

Nominations, who are interested may review the ADC qualifications and submit the nomination form and a 2-page resume/CV to jblasewitz@icva.net with ADC Nomination in the subject line by April 7, 2023. The ICVA will follow up by directly contacting the nominees. Self-nominations are also welcome.

• ADC 2023 Nomination Letter

On January 3, 2023, the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) transitioned to a new logo.

The transition to the new logo will take place in various stages throughout 2023. During the transition, existing items that have the previous DCA logo are still valid and do not require replacement or updating. There is no action required by licensees. The full transition process is anticipated to take a year for implementation.

Some licensees will begin to see the new logo on licensing documents sooner than others over the course of the transition throughout 2023.

Consumers and licensees who have questions about communications containing DCA's new logo in future or need to verify official communications, please reach out to DCA's Consumer Information Center at (800) 952-5210 or email dca@dca.ca.gov or contact the Board at (916) 515-5220 or email vmb@dca.ca.gov.

• Veterinary Medical Board: Enforcement Overview
• Veterinary Medical Board Inspections: Common Violations and How to Avoid Them

Please see the below letter from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

Dear valued Agricultural Industry Representatives and Veterinary Stakeholders

CDFA’s Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship (AUS) program is seeking livestock producer and veterinary input to identify geographic regions that are experiencing gaps in large animal veterinary services in California. USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is currently accepting service shortage situation nominations for the 2022/2023 Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). This program aims to provide an incentive for veterinarians to practice in areas currently in need of additional veterinary expertise within large animal private practice and the public sector. For veterinary awardees that are willing to commit to at least three years of service in a selected practice area, USDA NIFA may provide up to $25,000 per year, for a total of $75,000 over 3 years, to offset veterinary education loan debts, along with additional funding to offset tax liability.

See the previous years’ nominations for California. If you would like to voice your opinion about renewing previous nominations, please reach out to CDFA AUS at cdfa_aus@cdfa.ca.gov.

Successfully identifying and filling a shortage nomination is a four-step process:

1. The State Veterinarian nominates California shortage areas to USDA NIFA, many of which can be multi-county regions;
2. USDA NIFA designates areas where veterinarians may apply across the U.S.;
3. Veterinarians submit an application to be selected by the national committee; and
4. USDA NIFA reviews the applications and makes offers to those selected.

Nominations may be used to attract a new veterinarian to an area of need, to encourage redirection of an existing veterinarian practicing in the area, or to continue to retain veterinary services in an area. CDFA AUS facilitates the submission of California’s nominees by the State Veterinarian to the USDA NIFA committee, who ultimately designates shortage regions based on a national needs assessment. To identify geographic areas to nominate, CDFA AUS seeks suggestions from livestock producers, veterinarians, veterinary clinics, or other stakeholders.

If your area is currently experiencing a large animal veterinary shortage or if you know a veterinarian interested in serving livestock clientele within an area of need, please reach out to us at cdfa_aus@cdfa.ca.gov or fill out this informational survey to help us assess your regional needs. Please respond by October 3rd for consideration towards this year’s nominations.

For more information on the program or for continued updates on veterinary shortage efforts, visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/AHFSS/aus/CAVetNeeds.html.

Thank you for your consideration,

The CDFA AUS Team
Antimicrobial Use & Stewardship
Animal Health & Food Safety Services
California Department of Food & Agriculture
https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/AUS

The date for the Veterinary Medical Board’s (Board) free continuing education webinars is November 10, 2022. To register, please click on the links below.

• Enforcement Overview: The Board, its Mission and the Process
  Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  Register: Registration Link
• Inspections Overview: Process, Common Violations, and Ways to Avoid Them
  Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  Register: Registration Link

Those who previously registered for November 9, 2022 will receive subsequent notification shortly and do not need to re-register for the new date.

 Attention Licensees: California Health Workforce Research Data Center News Update

Information from the Department of Health Care Access and Information for Veterinary Medical Board (Board) Licensees

The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), formerly known as the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, is partnering with the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA)and the Board to collect important health workforce data. HCAI is the leader in collecting data and disseminating information about California’s healthcare infrastructure. HCAI promotes an equitably distributed health workforce and publishes valuable information about healthcare outcomes.

With the passage of Assembly Bill 133 (Chapter 143, Statutes of 2021), HCAI is launching the California Health Workforce Research Data Center (Center). The Center will serve as the state’s central repository for health workforce data, and will collect, analyze, and distribute information on educational and employment trends for healthcare occupations in the state. An annual report will be produced discussing:

• Supply and demand of the health workforce
• Geographical distribution of the health workforce
• Diversity of the health workforce, by specialty (including, but not limited to, data on race, ethnicity, and languages spoken)
• Current and forecasted demand for healthcare workers, by specialty
• Educational capacity to produce trained, certified, and licensed healthcare workers, by specialty and by geographical distribution

HCAI, in partnership with the Board and DCA, has developed a workforce survey for you to complete during your electronic licensure renewal process. We are asking for your help with this important data collection effort, by completing this survey at time of licensure renewal. This data will help shape the future of health workforce policy in California. The workforce survey will be available beginning July 2022. HCAI plans to present data and findings from the Center at future Licensing Board meetings, social media posts and other outlets.

We thank you for your time and consideration on this important effort. Please feel free to contact HCAI at workforcedata@hcai.ca.gov.

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) is currently recruiting candidates to fill two vacancies on the Board’s Wellness Evaluation Committee (WEC).

The WEC is a five-member committee comprised of three licensed veterinarians and two public members. The purpose of the WEC is to rehabilitate veterinarians and registered veterinary technician (RVTs) with impairment due to abuse of dangerous drugs or alcohol affecting competency so that they can be treated and safely return to the practice of veterinary medicine.

The available positions are for one veterinarian and one public member. The terms of each position are four years in length.

Pursuant to Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4861, subdivision (c), “Each person appointed to a wellness evaluation committee shall have experience or knowledge in the evaluation or management of persons who are impaired due to alcohol or drug abuse.”

The WEC holds public meetings in Sacramento or Folsom, California three times a year. The WEC has the following duties and responsibilities:

• To evaluate those veterinarians and RVTs who request participation in the program according to the guidelines prescribed by the Board and to consider the recommendation of the administrative physician on the admission of the veterinarian or RVT to the wellness program.
• To review and designate those treatment facilities to which veterinarians and RVTs in a wellness program may be referred.
• To receive and review information concerning veterinarians and RVTs participating in the program.
• To call meetings as necessary to consider the requests of veterinarians and RVTs to participate in a wellness program, and to consider reports regarding veterinarians and RVTs participating in a program from an administrative physician, or from others.
• To consider in the case of each veterinarian and RVT participating in a program whether they may with safety continue or resume the practice of veterinary medicine or the assisting in the practice of veterinary medicine.
• To set forth in writing for each veterinarian and RVT participating in a program a treatment program established for each such veterinarian and RVT with the requirements for supervision and surveillance.
• To hold a general meeting at least twice a year, which shall be open and public, to evaluate the program’s progress, to review data as required in reports to the Board, to prepare reports to be submitted to the Board, and to suggest proposals for changes in the wellness program.

The WEC operates pursuant to BPC sections 4860–4873 and California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 16, sections 2075–2082.

How to Apply

Applicants seeking WEC appointment should provide the following:

• Letter of interest stating reasons for seeking appointment; and
• Supporting background information, which may include:
  • Letters of recommendation;
  • Current CV/Resume;
  • Statement of understanding of the nature of regulatory bodies within the Department of Consumer Affairs; and
  • Any other information the candidate believes is pertinent and would assist the Board in making its decision.

Please email the above information to Timothy.Rodda@dca.ca.gov no later than June 30, 2022.

Selected WEC candidates will be invited to interview with the Board during its July 20, 2022 meeting. Please note that WEC candidate documents submitted to the Board are subject to public disclosure in accordance with the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code, § 6200 et seq.) and Information Practices Act (Civ. Code, § 1798 et seq.).

The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI), formerly known as the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), is partnering with the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) and the Veterinary Medical Board (Board) to collect important health workforce data. HCAI is the leader in collecting data and disseminating information about California’s healthcare infrastructure. HCAI promotes an equitably distributed health workforce and publishes valuable information about healthcare outcomes.

With the passage of Assembly Bill 133 (Chapter 143, Statutes of 2021), HCAI is launching the California Health Workforce Research Data Center (Center). The Center will serve as the state’s central repository for health workforce data, and will collect, analyze, and distribute information on educational and employment trends for healthcare occupations in the state. An annual report will be produced discussing:

• Supply and demand of the health workforce
• Geographical distribution of the health workforce
• Diversity of the health workforce, by specialty (including, but not limited to, data on race, ethnicity, and languages spoken)
• Current and forecasted demand for healthcare workers, by specialty
• Educational capacity to produce trained, certified, and licensed healthcare workers, by specialty and by geographical distribution

HCAI, in partnership with the Board and DCA, has developed a workforce survey for licensees to complete during their electronic licensure renewal process. HCAI and the Board are asking for your help with this important data collection effort, by completing this survey at time of licensure renewal. This data will help shape the future of health workforce policy in California. The workforce survey will be available beginning July 1, 2022. HCAI plans to present data and findings from the Center at future Board meetings, social media posts, and other outlets.

HCAI and the Board thank you for your time and consideration on this important effort. Please feel free to contact HCAI at workforcedata@hcai.ca.gov.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) will release the optimized Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) on April 11, 2022. Please refer to the DOJ guidance document “New Optimized Cures Being Released On 4/11/2022” for important information on new features of the optimized CURES, supported web browsers, and planned system downtime from Friday, April 8, 2022 at 5:00 PM, through Monday, April 11, 2022 at 8:00 AM.

In addition, CURES optimization will provide expanded Delegate functionality, through which Delegates will be authorized to directly access data in CURES. Practitioners currently utilizing a Delegate must enter into a new Delegate Agreement in order for their Delegate to have continued access to CURES beginning April 11, 2022. New Delegates may also be added via Delegate Agreement. For information about the Delegate access, please refer to the DOJ guidance document “New Features and Requirements for Expanded Delegate Access.”

As part of the transition to optimized CURES, beginning on April 11, 2022, users will need to complete a few simple steps the first time they log into the system. For more information, please refer to the DOJ guidance document “First Time Login to the New Optimized CURES.”

If you have any questions about optimized CURES, Delegate Access, or browser accessibility, contact the CURES Program at cures@doj.ca.gov or (916) 210-3187.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) will release the optimized Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) on April 11, 2022. Please refer to the DOJ guidance document “New Optimized Cures Being Released On 4/11/2022” for important information on new features of the optimized CURES, supported web browsers, and planned system downtime from Friday, April 8, 2022 at 5:00 PM, through Monday, April 11, 2022 at 8:00 AM.

In addition, CURES optimization will provide expanded Delegate functionality, through which Delegates will be authorized to directly access data in CURES. Practitioners currently utilizing a Delegate must enter into a new Delegate Agreement in order for their Delegate to have continued access to CURES beginning April 11, 2022. New Delegates may also be added via Delegate Agreement. For information about the Delegate access, please refer to the DOJ guidance document “New Features and Requirements for Expanded Delegate Access” or contact the CURES Program at cures@doj.ca.gov or (916) 210-3187.

Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) are vital, licensed members of the veterinary health care team. Please visit the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) page to see their role in animal care.

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) seeks candidates for one Veterinarian appointment to the nine-member Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MDC) of the Board.

This appointment is for a three-year term, beginning on July 1, 2022. MDC members may serve up to two full three-year terms.

The MDC assists the Board in its deliberation of issues important to consumer protection and the veterinary medical profession in California by advising and recommending to the Board rules and regulations necessary to ensure proper administration and enforcement of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act. MDC members are expected to attend four meetings annually during their term. Information on past MDC Meeting Agendas items can be found here.

Upon appointment, MDC members are required to comply with all State requirements and submit an initial and annual Statement of Economic Interests (Form 700) to the Fair Political Practices Commission.

How to Apply:

Individuals seeking MDC appointment should submit the following:

• Letter of interest stating reasons for seeking appointment; and
• Supporting background information, which may include:
  • Letters of recommendation;
  • Current CV/Resume;
  • Statement of understanding of the nature of regulatory bodies within the Department of Consumer Affairs; and
  • Any other information the candidate believes is pertinent and would assist the Board in making its decision.

Please submit the above information by email to Timothy.Rodda@dca.ca.gov no later than March 18, 2022.

Selected MDC candidates will be interviewed by the Board during its April 20, 2022 meeting.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) recently awarded the contract for prescription data collection services for the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) to a new vendor. For information on how licensees of DCA boards are impacted by this change, please see the New Data Collection Vendor For Cures document on the DOJ CURES webpage.

The California Department of Justice (DOJ) recently awarded the contract for prescription data collection services for the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) to a new vendor. For information on how licensees of DCA boards are impacted by this change, please see the New Data Collection Vendor For CURES document on the DOJ CURES webpage.

Throughout 2020, the Veterinary Medical Board (Board) evaluated its statutes and regulations to eliminate unnecessary barriers to licensure, streamline the licensing process, increase access to veterinary care, and improve consumer protection mechanisms. As a result, the Board approved legislative proposals to amend and repeal multiple statutes within the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act (Act) and submitted those proposals to the California State Legislature for review and enactment.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1535 (Committee on Business and Professions, Chapter 631, Statutes of 2021) enacts most of the Board’s legislative proposals and makes various changes to the regulation of veterinarians, Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs), Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit (VACSP) holders, veterinary schools, and veterinary premises. AB 1535 is the result of the joint sunset review of the Board by the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions and the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development, and extends the provisions establishing the Board until January 1, 2026.

Here’s what it means for you:

• Consumer
• Veterinary Assistant
• Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit
• Veterinary Premises Registration
• Registered Veterinary Technician
• Veterinarian
• Shelter

• Consumers:
  • Increased Access to Veterinary Care
    Eliminating unnecessary barriers to licensure and streamlining the licensure process, as described in more detail below, will increase your access to veterinary care in California, while maintaining adequate consumer protection.
  • Strengthened Consumer Protection and Enforcement Mechanisms
    AB 1535 strengthens consumer protection by protecting the professional judgment of veterinarians from outside influences and amends various enforcement statutes to eliminate confusion and streamline the enforcement process.
• Veterinary Assistant
  • Name Tag Identification
    Effective January 1, 2023, you will be required to wear a name tag identification in at least 18-point type in any area of the veterinary premises that is accessible to members of the public. Your name is the only thing required for your identification. (Business and Professions Code (BPC) section 4826.3.)
• Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP)
  • Applicant:
    • Fee Amendments
      • Application fee will increase from $50 to $100. (BPC section 4905, subd. (q).)
      • New permit fee ($100) will be required, like all RVT and veterinarian applicants. (BPC section 4905, subd. (r).)
    • Abandoned After One Year
      Applications will be deemed abandoned if all permit requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed with the Board. (BPC section 4847.1, subd. (a).)
  • VACSP Holder:
    • Full Two-Year Initial Permit Regardless of Birth Month
      Currently, initial permits are issued with expiration periods based on the permit holder’s birth month. The difference in each permit holder’s initial permit period could span anywhere from 13 to 24 months, even though all permit holders pay the same initial permit fee. AB 1535 changes the initial permit period to a full two years, regardless of the permit holder’s birth month. (BPC section 4900, subd. (a).)
    • Name Tag Identification
      Effective January 1, 2023, you will be required to wear a name tag identification in at least 18-point type in any area of the veterinary premises that is accessible to members of the public. The name tag shall include your name, permit type, and permit number issued by the Board. (BPC section 4826.3.)
    • Email Address and Address of Record Confirmation
      If you have an email address, you will need to disclose it to the Board upon renewal and confirm the email and address of record are current and valid. This will ensure you receive timely Board communication regarding important updates to laws and regulations, announcements, press releases, etc. The Board also emails any inquiries regarding pending complaints, which assists in resolving the allegations quicker. Your email address is confidential and not subject to public disclosure. (BPC section 4900, subd. (d).)
• Veterinary Premises Registration:
  • Applicants:
    • Required Corporation Information
      Veterinary corporations that own or operate a veterinary premises will be required to include the names and titles of each officer, director, or shareholder on the application. (BPC section 4853, subd. (d).)
    • Fee Amendments
      Initial premises registration fee increases to $500. (BPC section 4905, subd. (l).)
    • Abandoned After One Year
      Applications will be deemed abandoned if all registration requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed with the Board. (BPC section 4847.1, subd. (a).)
  • Registration Holders:
    • Fee Amendments
      Renewal fee increases to $525. (BPC section 4905, subd. (m).)
    • Electronic Mail (Email) Address
      If you have an email address, you will be required to report that to the Board during renewal and confirm the email address on record is current and valid. (BPC section 4900, subd. (d).)
    • Reporting Changes to Corporation Information
      Veterinary corporations that own or operate a veterinary premises will be required to report to the Board within 30 days any changes in the corporate officers, directors, and shareholders. (BPC section 4853, subd. (d).)
    • No Interference, Control, or Direction Over Professional judgment
      A premises registration holder who is not a California-licensed veterinarian will be prohibited from interfering with, controlling, or otherwise directing the professional judgment of any California licensed veterinarian or RVT. The Board will be authorized to require any information, including, but not limited to, employment contracts between the premises registration holder and a California-licensed veterinarian or RVT, the Board deems is reasonably necessary for the enforcement of this section. (BPC section 4854.1.)
      
      In addition, the Board will be able to deny, revoke, or suspend a license or registration or assess a fine for exercising control over, interfering with, or attempting to influence the professional judgment of another California-licensed veterinarian or RVT through coercion, extortion, inducement, collusion, or intimidation through any means, including, but not limited to, compensation, in order to require the other California-licensed veterinarian or RVT to perform veterinary services in a manner inconsistent with current veterinary medical practice in this state. (BPC section 4883, subd. (t).)
    • Email Address and Address of Record Confirmation
      If you have an email address, you will need to disclose it to the Board upon renewal and confirm the email and address of record are current and valid. This will ensure you receive timely Board communication regarding important updates to laws and regulations, announcements, press releases, etc. The Board also emails any inquiries regarding pending complaints, which assists in resolving the allegations quicker. Your email address is confidential and not subject to public disclosure. (BPC section 4900, subd. (d).)
• Registered Veterinary Technician:
  • Applicants:
    • Decreased Fees
      Application fees will decrease from $350 to $225. (BPC section 4905, subd. (n).)
    • Examination Requirements Moved to Registration Requirements [1]
      Graduation, education, and clinical practice experience requirements no longer will be pre-requisites to sit for the national examination; those requirements will need to be completed for registration. RVT applicants will only file an application once they have completed the examination, education, and/or clinical experience requirements. Removing the Board from the examination eligibility review leads to quicker access to the national examination. (BPC section 4841.5.)
    • Abandoned After One Year
      Applications will be deemed abandoned if all registration requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed with the Board. (BPC section 4847.1, subd. (a).)
    [1] AAVSB will still require the Board to approve alternate route candidates to sit for the examination. The Board is working with AAVSB to identify improvements to streamline the review/approval process.
  • RVTs:
    • Decreased Fees
      • Initial registration fees will decrease from $350 to $225. (BPC section 4905, subd. (o).)
      • Renewal fees will decrease from $350 to $225. (BPC section 4905, subd. (p).)
    • Full Two-Year Initial Registration Regardless of Birth Month
      Currently, initial registrations are issued with expiration periods based on the applicant’s birth month. The difference in each RVT’s initial registration period could span anywhere from 13 to 24 months, even though all RVTs pay the same initial registration fee. AB 1535 changes the initial registration period to a full two years, regardless of the RVT’s birth month. (BPC section 4900, subd. (a).)
    • Name Tag Identification
      Effective January 1, 2023, you will be required to wear a name tag identification in at least 18-point type in any area of the veterinary premises that is accessible to members of the public. The name tag shall include your name, registration type, and registration number issued by the Board. (BPC section 4826.3.)
    • Professional Judgment Protections
      A premises registration holder who is not a California-licensed veterinarian will be prohibited from interfering with, controlling, or otherwise directing the professional judgment of any California licensed veterinarian or RVT. The Board will be authorized to require any information, including, but not limited to, employment contracts between the premises registration holder and a California-licensed veterinarian or RVT, the Board deems is reasonably necessary for the enforcement of this section. (BPC section 4854.1.)
      
      In addition, the Board will be able to deny, revoke, or suspend a license or registration or assess a fine for exercising control over, interfering with, or attempting to influence the professional judgment of another California-licensed veterinarian or RVT through coercion, extortion, inducement, collusion, or intimidation through any means, including, but not limited to, compensation, in order to require the other California-licensed veterinarian or RVT to perform veterinary services in a manner inconsistent with current veterinary medical practice in this state. (BPC section 4883, subd. (t).)
    • Veterinary Technician Specialists
      Only licensees and registrants who are certified by an American Veterinary Medical Association-Recognized Veterinary Specialty Organization may make a statement, claim, or advertisement that the licensee or registrant is a veterinary specialist or board certified. Claiming to be a specialist without being properly certified can subject your license to disciplinary action. (BPC section 4883, subd. (s).)
    • Email Address and Address of Record Confirmation
      If you have an email address, you will need to disclose it to the Board upon renewal and confirm the email and address of record are current and valid. This will ensure you receive timely Board communication regarding important updates to laws and regulations, announcements, press releases, etc. The Board also emails any inquiries regarding pending complaints, which assists in resolving the allegations quicker. Your email address is confidential and not subject to public disclosure. (BPC section 4900, subd. (d).)
• Veterinarian:
  • Applicants
    • Elimination of California State Board Examination (CSBE)
      Through the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES), the Board completed an Occupational Analysis and Linkage Study for the national and state veterinarian examinations and deemed the state examination redundant to the national examination. As such, the Board voted to eliminate the state examination from the veterinarian licensing requirements, and AB 1535 repeals the state examination requirement. Effective January 1, 2022, passing the CSBE will no longer be required to obtain a veterinarian license.
    • Applicants Licensed Out-of-State
      • California Course No longer Required
        If you are an out-of-state licensee seeking a California license, you will no longer be required to take a course on regionally specific and important diseases and conditions that are common in California.
      • Passed National Examination Over Five Years Ago
        If you passed the national licensing examination over five years from the date of submitting the California veterinarian license application, you will be required to satisfy one of the following: (i) Retake and pass the national licensing examination.
        (ii) Submit proof of having practiced clinical veterinary medicine for a minimum of two years and completed a minimum of 2,500 hours of clinical practice in another state, Canadian province, or United States territory within the three years immediately preceding filing an application for licensure in this state.
        (iii) Complete the minimum continuing education requirements of BPC section 4846.5 for the current and preceding year. (BPC section 4846, subd. (a)(5)(A).)
    • Change of Address Notification
      Applicants will be required to notify the Board of any changes in mailing or employment address that occur after filing the application. (BPC section 4847.1, subd. (c).)
    • Abandoned After One Year
      Applications will be deemed abandoned if all license requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed with the Board. (BPC section 4847.1(a).)
  • Veterinarians
    • Full Two-Year Initial License Regardless of Birth Month
      Currently, initial licenses are issued with expiration periods based on the licensee’s birth month. The difference in each licensee’s initial license period could span anywhere from 13 to 24 months, even though all licensees pay the same initial license fee. AB 1535 changes the initial license period to a full two years, regardless of the licensee’s birth month. (BPC section 4900, subd. (a).)
    • Professional Judgment Protections
      A premises registration holder who is not a California-licensed veterinarian will be prohibited from interfering with, controlling, or otherwise directing the professional judgment of any California licensed veterinarian or RVT. The Board will be authorized to require any information, including, but not limited to, employment contracts between the premises registration holder and a California-licensed veterinarian or RVT, the Board deems is reasonably necessary for the enforcement of this section. (BPC section 4854.1.)
      
      In addition, the Board will be able to deny, revoke, or suspend a license or registration or assess a fine for exercising control over, interfering with, or attempting to influence the professional judgment of another California-licensed veterinarian or RVT through coercion, extortion, inducement, collusion, or intimidation through any means, including, but not limited to, compensation, in order to require the other California-licensed veterinarian or RVT to perform veterinary services in a manner inconsistent with current veterinary medical practice in this state. (BPC section 4883, subd. (t).)
    • Veterinary Specialists
      Only licensees and registrants who are certified by an American Veterinary Medical Association-Recognized Veterinary Specialty Organization may make a statement, claim, or advertisement that the licensee or registrant is a veterinary specialist or board certified. Claiming to be a specialist without being properly certified can subject your license to disciplinary action. (BPC section 4883, subd. (s).)
    • Email Address and Address of Record Confirmation
      If you have an email address, you will need to disclose it to the Board upon renewal and confirm the email and address of record are current and valid. This will ensure you receive timely Board communication regarding important updates to laws and regulations, announcements, press releases, etc. The Board also emails any inquiries regarding pending complaints, which assists in resolving the allegations quicker. Your email address is confidential and not subject to public disclosure. (BPC section 4900, subd. (d).)
• University Veterinarian
  • Applicants:
    You will no longer be required to complete a course on regionally specific and important diseases and conditions that are common in California in order to obtain a university license.
    • Change of Address Notification
      Applicants will be required to notify the Board of any changes in mailing or employment address that occur after filing the application. (BPC section 4847.1, subd. (c).)
    • Abandoned After One Year
      Applications will be deemed abandoned if all license requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed with the Board. (BPC section 4847.1(a).)
    • Email Address and Address of Record Confirmation
      If you have an email address, you will need to disclose it to the Board upon renewal and confirm the email and address of record are current and valid. This will ensure you receive timely Board communication regarding important updates to laws and regulations, announcements, press releases, etc. The Board also emails any inquiries regarding pending complaints, which assists in resolving the allegations quicker. Your email address is confidential and not subject to public disclosure. (BPC section 4900, subd. (d).)
• Temporary/Intern Licensees
  • The Board will no longer be issuing temporary veterinarian licenses for temporary practice and/or internships. Instead, all individuals previously seeking a temporary license will apply for a full veterinarian license.
• Shelters:
  • Licensure Exemption
    Persons who have received proper training and provide specified care, pursuant to protocols written by veterinarians, to animals lawfully deposited with or impounded by a shelter not registered with the Board will be exempt from licensure requirements. Such care will include administering nonprescription vaccinations, nonprescription medications, and medications administered pursuant to a written treatment plan from the licensed veterinarian. (BPC section 4287, subd. (a)(5).)

FAQs:

Question: Except for the CSBE, I have met all other license requirements. Do I need to reapply to get my veterinarian license?
Answer: No. There is no need to reapply. Board staff has identified all applicants who are only waiting to take the CSBE for a veterinarian license. After January 1, 2022, the Board will issue licenses to these applicants.

Question: I applied and paid for the CSBE, but it is now no longer required. Can I get a refund?
Answer: Board staff will proactively identify all those who have paid to take the CSBE and never completed it and will issue refunds after January 1, 2022.

Question: I want to participate in an internship or residency program in California, but I can no longer obtain a temporary license. What can I do?
Answer: All individuals who would have met the requirements to obtain a temporary license pursuant to BPC section 4848.3 will meet the requirements for a permanent license without the direct supervision of a California licensee. If you have graduated from a Board recognized veterinary college, submitted fingerprints, passed the national and California law examinations, simply complete a veterinarian application through BreEZe.

Question: I am an unlicensed individual working at a shelter that solely administered non-prescription vaccinations and medications to impounded animals. Does my shelter require a premises registration?
Answer: No, as long as the only veterinary care provided at the shelter is administering preventative or prophylactic nonprescription vaccinations to animals, administering nonprescription medications for the control or eradication of apparent or anticipated internal or external parasites, or administering medications prescribed by a veterinarian pursuant to a written treatment plan from the licensed veterinarian for that specific animal. However, the shelter will be required to report to the Board any adverse event resulting in significant impairment or death from the care provided, on a form prescribed by the Board, including severe injuries, infections, and unintended reactions caused by the incorrect or inappropriate administration of a vaccine or medications.

AB 1282 (Bloom, Chapter 752, Statutes of 2021) allows community-based animal blood banks to commercially sell animal blood from community donors and expands the scope of actions constituting veterinary medicine to include the collection of blood from an animal for the purpose of transferring or selling that blood and blood component products, as defined, to a licensed veterinarian for use at a registered premises, except in certain circumstances. Since blood collections are now deemed the practice of veterinary medicine, all locations where collections occur must obtain a premises registration from the Board. (BPC sections 4826, subd. (f), and 4853.) In addition, the community blood bank must comply with blood or blood component product registration requirements under the Food and Agricultural Code (commencing with section 9241). (BPC section 4920.5.)

AB 1282 authorizes the Board to establish a community-based animal blood bank registration and annual renewal fee to cover the costs associated with oversight and inspection of community-based animal blood banks. (BPC section 4920.4.) On or after January 1, 2022, initial premises applications and renewals will ask the premises registration holder if they are operating a community-based blood bank. The Board will use this information to determine costs associated with oversight and inspections. Once the information is received, the Board will analyze the costs and determine whether a fee should be added to register the veterinary premises as a community blood bank.

In addition, AB 1282 establishes specified safety procedures, such as veterinarian supervision and testing of the blood and requires both closed colony and community-based animal blood banks to submit quarterly reports to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), who would subsequently be required to phase out licensing of closed colony blood banks within 18 months once the reports show that community-based blood banks are collecting an annual amount equal to the amount sold by closed colony blood banks in four consecutive quarters.

On November 15, 2021, the Board’s regulatory proposal to add California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 16, section 2038.5 related to Animal Physical Rehabilitation was approved by the Office of Administrative Law (OAL). The regulatory action becomes effective on January 1, 2022. This regulation defines APR and clarifies when APR may be performed by RVTs and veterinary assistants.

Amendments to California Code of Regulations (CCR) sections 2032.15 and 2032.25 regarding VCPRs in the absence of client communication and the original prescribing veterinarian became effective on April 1, 2021. Since that time, the Board received several questions regarding the VCPR. To educate the veterinary profession and consumers, the Board approved VCPR FAQs and posted them on the Board’s website.

The following email was sent to all DEA registered pharmacies and practitioners from the Drug Enforcement Administration to remind registrants that paper prescriptions must be manually signed by the prescribing practitioner.

Please find the full original email in its entirety below:

DEA Registrants

Dear Registrant:

DEA wishes to remind registrants that paper prescriptions, including prescriptions created on paper and prescriptions generated by computer or a prescription application that are printed out or faxed by a practitioner, must be manually signed by the prescribing practitioner.

The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and its implementing regulations specify the requirements for issuing and filling prescriptions for controlled substances. By statutory requirement, a valid prescription issued by a DEA-registered practitioner (or a practitioner exempt from the requirement of registration) is required for dispensing a controlled substance, unless the controlled substance is dispensed directly by a practitioner. 21 U.S.C. 829; 21 CFR 1306.11.

The CSA provides that a pharmacist may dispense schedule III and IV controlled substances pursuant to a "written or oral prescription." 21 U.S.C. 829(b). DEA regulations further specify that a pharmacist may dispense a controlled substance listed in schedule III, IV, or V pursuant to "either a paper prescription signed by a practitioner [or] a facsimile of a signed paper prescription transmitted by the practitioner or the practitioner's agent . . . ." 21 CFR 1306.21(a). With respect to paper prescriptions for controlled substances in any schedule, DEA regulations provide that a "computer-generated prescription that is printed out or faxed by the practitioner must be manually signed." 21 CFR 1306.05(d). Controlled substances in schedules III, IV, and V may also be dispensed by a pharmacist pursuant to “an oral prescription made by an individual practitioner and promptly reduced to writing by the pharmacist containing all information required [for a valid prescription] in § 1306.05(a), except for the signature of the practitioner." 21 CFR 1306.21(a).

In addition, DEA regulations permit a practitioner to issue, and a pharmacy to process, electronic prescriptions for controlled substances in schedules II-V provided that the requirements in part 1311 are met. 21 CFR 1306.08, 1306.05(e), and 1311.100(b),(e).

Because schedule II controlled substances have a higher potential for abuse and a greater likelihood of dependence compared to those in schedules III-V, the CSA's controls on schedule II controlled substances are more restrictive. Therefore, the CSA and DEA regulations permit a schedule II controlled substance to be dispensed only pursuant to a written prescription signed by the practitioner, except in emergency situations when dispensing pursuant to an oral prescription is permitted. 21 U.S.C. 829(a); 21 CFR 1306.11(a),(d).1 DEA regulations further provide that a paper prescription for a controlled substance in schedule II “may be transmitted by the practitioner or the practitioner’s agent to a pharmacy via facsimile equipment, provided that the original manually signed prescription is presented to the pharmacist for review prior to the actual dispensing of the controlled substance . . . ." 21 CFR 1306.11(a). Certain limited exceptions apply to prescriptions for narcotic substances to be compounded for direct administration to a patient and to prescriptions for residents of long term care facilities and patients in certain hospice care programs. 21 C.F.R. 1306.11(e)-(g). However, in most cases, a pharmacist must receive the original, manually signed paper prescription or an electronic prescription meeting the requirements of part 1311 prior to dispensing a schedule II controlled substance.

In sum, DEA wishes to reiterate that paper prescriptions, including prescriptions created on paper and prescriptions generated by computer or a prescription application that are printed out or faxed, must be manually signed by the practitioner. This includes prescriptions faxed via computer or a prescription application which does not meet the requirements for electronic prescriptions in part 1311. Further, registrants are reminded that "the responsibility for the proper prescribing and dispensing of controlled substances is upon the prescribing practitioner, but a corresponding responsibility rests with the pharmacist who fills the prescription." 21 CFR 1306.04(a).

We hope this information is helpful. For information regarding DEA's Diversion Control Division, please visit www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov. Please contact the Diversion Control Division, Policy Section at (571) 362-3260 for further questions.

On October 14, 2021, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued a news release regarding the outcome of the Veterinary Medical Board's (Board) recent undercover investigation for unlicensed practice. Combating unlicensed practice is part of the Board's Strategic Plan, and will continue to be a priority of the Board. Anyone seeking veterinary care for their pet is strongly encouraged to verify the license first by visiting DCA's License Search page.

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on September 28, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving License Renewal Requirements (September 28 Order) – this will be the last extension of related Orders Waiving License Renewal Requirements. The September 28 Order applies to individuals whose active licenses expire between October 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021, and temporarily waives:

1. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that individuals renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code take and pass an examination in order to renew a license; and
2. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that an individual renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code complete, or demonstrate compliance with, any continuing education requirements in order to renew a license.

Licensees must satisfy any waived renewal requirements within six months of this Order. The temporary waivers do not relieve the licensee from timely complying with any other renewal requirements (e.g., submitting required renewal forms to the Veterinary Medical Board) and do not apply to continuing education, training, or examination required pursuant to a disciplinary order against the licensee.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some license applicants have had limited or no access to the examinations needed for licensure. On September 30, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an order extending the deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applicants to take and pass the veterinarian license examinations in order give more time to veterinarian applicants to take the examinations necessary for licensure, a required step to obtain a license with the Veterinary Medical Board. This extension applied to veterinarian applicants whose 60-month period expired between March 31, 2020, and November 30, 2020.

On November 25, 2020, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between December 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021.

On January 26, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between February 1, 2021, and April 2, 2021.

On March 30, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between April 3, 2021, and June 1, 2021.

On June 3, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between June 2, 2021, and August 1, 2021.

On July 26, 2021, the Director issued a new order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between August 2, 2021, and September 30, 2021.

On September 28, 2021, the Director issued a new order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applicants whose 60-month period expires between October 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021. This will be the last extension of related Orders Extending Time to Satisfy Examination Requirements.

August 30, 2021

Dear Veterinarians and retailers of animal health products,

The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has continued concerns that there are people using formulations of the drug ivermectin that are intended for animals, to treat or prevent COVID-19 in humans.

As noted in many recent news stories and in a Health Alert from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, poison control centers across the United States are seeing a sharp spike in reports of people suffering adverse health effects after taking animal ivermectin. People are purchasing various highly concentrated animal ivermectin drug formulations such as "pour-on," injectable, paste, and "drench" that are intended for horses, cattle, and sheep, and taking these drugs has made some people very sick.

Even if animal drugs have the same active ingredient as an approved human drug, animal drugs have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness in humans. Treating human medical conditions with veterinary drugs can be very dangerous. The drug may not work at all, or it could worsen the illness and/or lead to serious, potentially life-threatening health complications. People should not take products approved for veterinary use, "for research only," or otherwise not for human consumption.

We are asking for your help in sharing important safety information about the misuse of animal ivermectin to prevent or treat COVID-19 in people.

CVM is hearing of reports of decreased availability of certain animal ivermectin products in certain regions of the country. If you are a veterinarian or animal caretaker who is having difficulty obtaining this drug for animal use, please let us know by emailing AnimalDrugShortages@fda.hhs.gov.

Please help us protect public health by reporting any animal drug advertising/animal ivermectin products with claims about preventing or curing COVID-19 by emailing FDA-COVID-19-Fraudulent-Products@fda.hhs.gov or calling 1-888-InfoFDA (1-888-463-6332).

We thank you for your help and cooperation with this urgent safety issue. CVM is hopeful that we can work together to prevent more people being harmed from taking animal drugs.

Please stay safe and healthy.

Dr. Steven Solomon Director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine

Informational Resources:

• Consumer Update: Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19

Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (June 4 Order), which contained two waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).

With respect to telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR, the June 4, 2020 waiver was extended on July 31, 2020, September 17, 2020, December 15, 2020, February 26, 2021, April 30, 2021, and July 1, 2021, so that the waiver was in effect through August 31, 2021. On August 31, 2021, the Director issued a new Order (August 31 Order) further extending the June 4 Order waiving, until October 31, 2021, specified telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR.

For prescription refills associated with the VCPR, the June 4 Order authorized prescription refills up to 18 months for refills based on an in-person examination of an animal patient last performed by a veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019. On November 25, 2020, the Director withdrew and superseded that waiver and issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 20 months for refills based on an in-person examination of the animal patient last performed by the veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019.

On July 31, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between August 2, 2020, and October 1, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On September 17, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between October 2, 2020, and December 31, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On December 15, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On January 26, 2021, the Director issued an order, which withdrew and superseded the June 4 Order and July 31, 2020 Order as they pertained to California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2032.1, subsection (c). The January 26, 2021 Order also withdrew and superseded the November 25, 2020 Order.

On February 26, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between March 1, 2021, and April 30, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On April 30, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between May 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On July 1, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

The August 31 Order authorizes prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between September 1, 2021, and October 31, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) seeks candidates for an RVT appointment to its nine-member Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MDC).

This term begins January 2022 and goes through June 2025.

The MDC assists the Board in its deliberation of issues important to consumer protection and the veterinary medical profession in California by advising and recommending to the Board rules and regulations necessary to ensure proper administration and enforcement of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act. The MDC also assists the Board in its examination, licensure, and registration programs. MDC members are expected to attend four meetings annually during their term. Information on past issues covered in MDC Meetings can be found in the MDC Meeting Agendas and Meeting Materials posted on the Board’s website here.

Upon appointment, MDC members are required to comply with all State requirements and annually submit their Economic Conflicts of Interest (Form 700) with the Fair Political Practices Commission.

How to Apply:
RVTs seeking MDC appointment should provide the following:

• Letter of interest stating reasons for seeking appointment; and
• Supporting background information, which may include:
  • Letters of recommendation;
  • Current CV/Resume;
  • Statement of understanding of the nature of regulatory bodies within the Department of Consumer Affairs; and
  • Any other information the candidate believes is pertinent and would assist the Board in making its decision.

Please email the above information to Timothy.Rodda@dca.ca.gov no later than September 1, 2021.

Selected MDC candidates will be invited to interview with the Board at its October 21, 2021 meeting. Please note that MDC candidate documents submitted to the Board are subject to public disclosure.

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on July 26, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving License Renewal Requirements (July 26 Order). The July 26 Order applies to individuals whose active licenses expire between March 31, 2020, and September 30, 2021, and temporarily waives:

1. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that individuals renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code take and pass an examination in order to renew a license; and
2. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that an individual renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code complete, or demonstrate compliance with, any continuing education requirements in order to renew a license.

Licensees must satisfy any waived renewal requirements within six months of this Order, unless further extended. The temporary waivers do not relieve the licensee from timely complying with any other renewal requirements (e.g., submitting required renewal forms to the Veterinary Medical Board) and do not apply to continuing education, training, or examination required pursuant to a disciplinary order against the licensee.

On October 22, 2020, December 15, 2020, February 26, 2021, March 30, 2021, and June 3, 2021, the Director issued related Orders Waiving License Renewal Requirements. With the issuance of the July 26 Order, those prior Orders are withdrawn and rescinded.

On July 26, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued another 60-day waiver extension order to extend, through September 30, 2021, the June 4, 2020 waiver order relating to the requirement that veterinarian license applicants, who are already licensed in another state and seeking California licensure from the Veterinary Medical Board, and temporary licensees complete a "face-to-face" training class in California in order to qualify for licensure.

The June 4, 2020 waiver order waived the requirement that training for veterinarian license applicants, who are already licensed out-of-state, and temporary licensees must be conducted "face-to-face" in California, so that the training may be conducted via appropriate electronic means. The June 4, 2020 waiver order originally was set to expire on August 3, 2020.

The June 4, 2020 waiver order was previously extended on July 31, 2020, and was set to expire on October 2, 2020. On September 17, 2020, the DCA Director further extended the face-to-face training waiver order through December 1, 2020. The June 4, 2020 waiver was further extended on November 25, 2020, through January 30, 2021, on January 26, 2021, through March 31, 2021, on March 30, 2021, through May 30, 2021, and again on June 3, 2021, through July 30, 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some license applicants have had limited or no access to the examinations needed for licensure. On September 30, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an order extending the deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applicants to take and pass the veterinarian license examinations in order give more time to veterinarian applicants to take the examinations necessary for licensure, a required step to obtain a license with the Veterinary Medical Board. This extension applied to veterinarian applicants whose 60-month period expired between March 31, 2020, and November 30, 2020.

On November 25, 2020, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between December 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021.

On January 26, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between February 1, 2021, and April 2, 2021.

On March 30, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between April 3, 2021, and June 1, 2021.

On June 3, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between June 2, 2021, and August 1, 2021.

On July 26, 2021, the Director issued a new order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between August 2, 2021, and September 30, 2021.

Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (June 4 Order), which contained two waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).

With respect to telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR, the June 4, 2020 waiver was extended on July 31, 2020, September 17, 2020, December 15, 2020, February 26, 2021, and April 30, 2021, so that the waiver was in effect through June 30, 2021. On July 1, 2021, the Director issued a new Order (July 1 Order) further extending the June 4 Order waiving, until August 31, 2021, specified telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR.

For prescription refills associated with the VCPR, the June 4 Order authorized prescription refills up to 18 months for refills based on an in-person examination of an animal patient last performed by a veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019. On November 25, 2020, the Director withdrew and superseded that waiver and issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 20 months for refills based on an in-person examination of the animal patient last performed by the veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019.

On July 31, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between August 2, 2020, and October 1, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On September 17, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between October 2, 2020, and December 31, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On December 15, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On January 26, 2021, the Director issued an order, which withdrew and superseded the June 4 Order and July 31, 2020 Order as they pertained to California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2032.1, subsection (c). The January 26, 2021 Order also withdrew and superseded the November 25, 2020 Order.

On February 26, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between March 1, 2021, and April 30, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On April 30, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between May 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

The July 1 Order authorizes prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between July 1, 2021, and August 31, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On March 2, 2021, the Veterinary Medical Board's (Board) regulatory proposal to amend California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2069, related to Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) Emergency Animal Care, was approved by the Office of Administrative Law and filed with the Secretary of State. The regulatory changes became effective July 1, 2021.

The regulatory changes do the following:

• authorize an RVT to provide either lifesaving aid or emergency treatment to an animal;
• strike the terms for administration of pharmacological agents and, instead, authorize an RVT, after direct communication with a veterinarian licensed or otherwise authorized to practice in this state, to perform administration of a drug or controlled substance to: (1) prevent or control shock, including parenteral fluids; (2) manage pain or sedate an animal for examination or to prevent further injury; or (3) prevent suffering of an animal, up to and including euthanasia;
• make other minor and technical revisions.

For more information, contact the Board at (916) 515-5220 or via email at vmb@dca.ca.gov.

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 3, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving License Renewal Requirements (Order). This Order applies to individuals whose active licenses expire between March 31, 2020, and July 31, 2021, and temporarily waives:

1. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that individuals renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code take and pass an examination in order to renew a license; and
2. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that an individual renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code complete, or demonstrate compliance with, any continuing education requirements in order to renew a license.

Licensees must satisfy any waived renewal requirements within six months of this Order, unless further extended. The temporary waivers do not relieve the licensee from timely complying with any other renewal requirements (e.g., submitting required renewal forms to the Veterinary Medical Board) and do not apply to continuing education, training, or examination required pursuant to a disciplinary order against the licensee.

On October 22, 2020, December 15, 2020, February 26, 2021, and March 30, 2021, the Director issued related Orders Waiving License Renewal Requirements. With the issuance of DCA-21-152 on June 3, 2021, those prior Orders are withdrawn and rescinded.

On June 3, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued another 60-day waiver extension order to extend, through July 30, 2021, the June 4, 2020 waiver order relating to the requirement that veterinarian license applicants, who are already licensed in another state and seeking California licensure from the Veterinary Medical Board, and temporary licensees complete a "face-to-face" training class in California in order to qualify for licensure.

The June 4, 2020 waiver order waived the requirement that training for veterinarian license applicants, who are already licensed out-of-state, and temporary licensees must be conducted "face-to-face" in California, so that the training may be conducted via appropriate electronic means. The June 4, 2020 waiver order originally was set to expire on August 3, 2020.

The June 4, 2020 waiver order was previously extended on July 31, 2020, and was set to expire on October 2, 2020. On September 17, 2020, the DCA Director further extended the face-to-face training waiver order through December 1, 2020. The June 4, 2020 waiver was further extended on November 25, 2020, through January 30, 2021, on January 26, 2021, through March 31, 2021, and again on March 30, 2021, through May 30, 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some license applicants have had limited or no access to the examinations needed for licensure. On September 30, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an order extending the deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applicants to take and pass the veterinarian license examinations in order give more time to veterinarian applicants to take the examinations necessary for licensure, a required step to obtain a license with the Veterinary Medical Board. This extension applied to veterinarian applicants whose 60-month period expired between March 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020.

On November 25, 2020, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between December 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021.

On January 26, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between February 1, 2021, and April 2, 2021.

On March 30, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between April 3, 2021, and June 1, 2021.

On June 3, 2021, the Director issued a new order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between June 2, 2021, and August 1, 2021.

Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (June 4 Order), which contained two waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).

With respect to telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR, the June 4, 2020 waiver was extended on July 31, 2020, September 17, 2020, December 15, 2020, and February 26, 2021, so that the waiver was in effect through April 30, 2021. On April 30, 2021, the Director issued a new Order (April 30 Order) further extending the June 4 Order waiving, until June 30, 2021, specified telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR.

For prescription refills associated with the VCPR, the June 4 Order authorized prescription refills up to 18 months for refills based on an in-person examination of an animal patient last performed by a veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019. On November 25, 2020, the Director withdrew and superseded that waiver and issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 20 months for refills based on an in-person examination of the animal patient last performed by the veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019.

On July 31, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between August 2, 2020, and October 1, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On September 17, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between October 2, 2020, and December 31, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On December 15, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On January 26, 2021, the Director issued an order, which withdrew and superseded the June 4 Order and July 31, 2020 Order as they pertained to California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2032.1, subsection (c). The January 26, 2021 Order also withdrew and superseded the November 25, 2020 Order.

On February 26, 2021, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between March 1, 2021, and April 30, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

The April 30 Order authorizes prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may not be refilled between May 1, 2021, and June 30, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

The 2021 Edition of the California Veterinary Medicine Practice Act is now available on the Board's website.

A printed version of the 2021 Edition is also available for purchase through LexisNexis.

Other legislative and regulatory links can be found on the Board's Laws and Regulations page.

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on March 30, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving License Renewal Requirements (Order). This Order applies to individuals whose active licenses expire between March 31, 2020, and May 31, 2021, and temporarily waives:

1. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that individuals renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code take and pass an examination in order to renew a license; and
2. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that an individual renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code complete, or demonstrate compliance with, any continuing education requirements in order to renew a license.

Licensees must satisfy any waived renewal requirements within six months of this Order, unless further extended. The temporary waivers do not relieve the licensee from timely complying with any other renewal requirements (e.g., submitting required renewal forms to the Veterinary Medical Board) and do not apply to continuing education, training, or examination required pursuant to a disciplinary order against the licensee.

On October 22, 2020, December 15, 2020, and February 26, 2021, the Director issued related Orders Waiving License Renewal Requirements. With the issuance of DCA-21-134 on March 30, 2021, those prior Orders are withdrawn and rescinded.

On March 30, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued another 60-day waiver extension order to extend, through May 30, 2021, the June 4, 2020 waiver order relating to the requirement that veterinarian license applicants, who are already licensed in another state and seeking California licensure from the Veterinary Medical Board, and temporary licensees complete a "face-to-face" training class in California in order to qualify for licensure.

The June 4, 2020 waiver order waived the requirement that training for veterinarian license applicants, who are already licensed out-of-state, and temporary licensees must be conducted "face-to-face" in California, so that the training may be conducted via appropriate electronic means. The June 4, 2020 waiver order originally was set to expire on August 3, 2020.

The June 4, 2020 waiver order was previously extended on July 31, 2020, and was set to expire on October 2, 2020. On September 17, 2020, the DCA Director further extended the face-to-face training waiver order through December 1, 2020. The June 4, 2020 waiver was further extended on November 25, 2020, through January 30, 2021, and again on January 26, 2021, through March 31, 2021.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some license applicants have had limited or no access to the examinations needed for licensure. On September 30, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an order extending the deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applicants to take and pass the veterinarian license examinations in order give more time to veterinarian applicants to take the examinations necessary for licensure, a required step to obtain a license with the Veterinary Medical Board. This extension applied to veterinarian applicants whose 60-month period expired between March 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020.

On November 25, 2020, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between December 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021.

On January 26, 2021, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between February 1, 2021, and April 2, 2021.

On March 30, 2021, the Director issued a new order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between April 3, 2021, and June 1, 2021.

On March 30, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued the following waivers related to ordering and administering COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in connection with state, local, or institutional vaccination efforts:

1. For licensed midwives, physician assistants, respiratory care practitioners, and veterinarians, DCA-21-137 waives any statutory or regulatory provision in Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code (BPC) and the implementing regulations to the extent that such provision prohibits those licensed healthcare professionals from independently ordering and administering COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized by the FDA in connection with a state, local, or institutional COVID-19 vaccination effort. To qualify for the waiver, those licensed healthcare professionals must satisfy requirements specified in the waiver order. Licensed midwives and veterinarians cannot presently order and administer COVID-19 vaccines; however, the waiver order would enable them to do so independently, consistent with the federal declaration. Physician assistants and respiratory care practitioners can currently administer COVID-19 vaccines with limitations; however, the waiver order would remove existing limitations and enable physician assistants and respiratory care practitioners to order and administer vaccines independently.
2. For persons with an expired, inactive, or lapsed healthcare license, including physicians and surgeons, registered nurses, pharmacists, midwives, respiratory care practitioners, dentists, physician assistants, podiatrists, optometrists, or veterinarians, DCA-21-140 waives any statutory or regulatory provision in BPC, Division 2 and the implementing regulations to the extent that such provision prohibits those individuals from independently ordering and administering COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized by the FDA in connection with a state, local, or institutional vaccination effort if, among other things, they satisfy the following conditions: (1) the individual held an active license or certification within the last five years; and, (2) the license was in active and good standing prior to becoming inactive, expired or lapsed, and it was not revoked or surrendered, and the individual is not on the Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals/Entities. Expired, inactive, or lapsed licensees cannot currently order and administer COVID-19 vaccines; however, the waiver would enable them to do so, subject to the conditions discussed above.
3. For healthcare students, including medical, nursing, pharmacist, midwife, physician assistant, respiratory care practitioner, dentist, podiatry, optometry, and veterinarian students, DCA-21-139 waives any statutory or regulatory provision in BPC, Division 2 and the implementing regulations to the extent that such provision prohibits them from administering COVID-19 vaccines approved or authorized by the FDA in connection with a state, local, or institutional vaccination effort if, among other things, they are: (1) appropriately trained, as determined by the student’s educational program; and, (2) supervised when giving vaccines by a practicing healthcare professional experienced in giving intramuscular injections. Some healthcare students can already order and/or administer vaccines. Dentist, midwife, optometry, and veterinarian students currently cannot administer COVID-19 vaccines; however, the waiver would allow them to do so, subject to the conditions discussed above.

Effective April 1, 2021, the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) fee will increase from $6 to $11 annually for a period of two years. The increase will be applied to licenses expiring after July 1, 2021, and is assessed at the time of license renewal on specified licensees of the Veterinary Medical Board that prescribe, order, administer, furnish, or dispense Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, or Schedule V controlled substances. 

Most licensees will see a $22 CURES Fee due to the biennial renewal cycle. The fee covers the reasonable regulatory costs of the Department of Justice for operating and maintaining CURES, a critical element in the state’s effort to address the growing danger of opioid addiction stemming from prescription drug abuse.

For more information about CURES, visit: https://oag.ca.gov/cures.

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) seeks candidates for two Veterinarian appointments to its nine-member Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MDC).

These appointments will begin July 1, 2021. MDC members may serve up to two full three-year terms.

The MDC assists the Board in its deliberation of issues important to consumer protection and the veterinary medical profession in California by advising and recommending to the Board rules and regulations necessary to ensure proper administration and enforcement of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act. MDC members are expected to attend four meetings annually during their term. Information on past MDC Meeting Agendas items can be found here: https://www.vmb.ca.gov/meetings/meetings.shtml#mdc.

Upon appointment, MDC members are required to comply with all State requirements and submit disclosure documents on Economic Conflicts of Interest (Form 700) with the Fair Political Practices Commission.

How to Apply:
Individuals seeking MDC appointment should submit the following:

• Letter of interest stating reasons for seeking appointment; and
• Supporting background information, which may include:
  • Letters of recommendation;
  • Current CV/Resume;
  • Statement of understanding of the nature of regulatory bodies within the Department of Consumer Affairs; and
  • Any other information the candidate believes is pertinent and would assist the Board in making its decision.

Please submit the above information by email to Timothy.Rodda@dca.ca.gov no later than March 19, 2021.

Selected MDC candidates will be invited to interview with the Board at its April 22, 2021 meeting.

Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order N-39-20, on January 26, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued another extension of the June 4, 2020 Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (June 4 Order). The January 26, 2021 Order extends the waiver for a total period not to exceed 24 months from the date a veterinarian last examined the animal and prescribed the drug for prescriptions that may not be refilled between June 1, 2020, and October 1, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation in California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 16, section 2032.1, subsection (c).

The June 4 Order waived the provision in CCR, title 16, section 2032.1, subsection (c), to the extent it prohibits a veterinarian from prescribing a drug for a duration longer than one year from the date the veterinarian examined the animal and prescribed the drug. The June 4 Order applied to prescriptions that could not be refilled between June 1, 2020, and August 1, 2020, and authorized prescription refills up to 18 months for refills based on an in-person examination of an animal patient last performed by a veterinarian between June 1, 2019, and August 1, 2019. On November 25, 2020, the Director withdrew and superseded that waiver and issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 20 months for refills based on an in-person examination of the animal patient last performed by the veterinarian between June 1, 2019, and August 1, 2019.

On July 31, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that could not be refilled between August 2, 2020, and October 1, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On September 17, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may be not be refilled between October 2, 2020, and December 31, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On December 15, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may be not be refilled between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

The January 26, 2021 Order withdrew and superseded the June 4 Order and July 31, 2020 Order as they pertained to CCR, title 16, section 2032.1, subsection (c). The January 26, 2021 Order also withdrew and superseded the November 25, 2020 Order.

On January 26, 2021, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued another 60-day waiver extension order to extend, through March 31, 2021, the June 4, 2020 waiver order relating to the requirement that veterinarian license applicants, who are already licensed in another state and seeking California licensure from the Board, and temporary licensees complete a "face-to-face" training class in California in order to qualify for licensure.

The June 4, 2020 waiver order waived the requirement that training for veterinarian license applicants, who are already licensed out-of-state, and temporary licensees must be conducted "face-to-face" in California, so that the training may be conducted via appropriate electronic means. The June 4, 2020 waiver order originally was set to expire on August 3, 2020.

The June 4, 2020 waiver order was previously extended on July 31, 2020, and was set to expire on October 2, 2020. On September 17, 2020, the DCA Director further extended the face-to-face training waiver order through December 1, 2020. The June 4, 2020 waiver was further extended on November 25, 2020, through January 30, 2021.

Beginning January 1, 2021, individuals in the following categories who apply for licensure with the Veterinary Medical Board may seek an expedited licensure process.

1. Refugees pursuant to section 1157 of title 8 of the United States Code;
2. Those granted asylum by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General of the United States pursuant to section 1158 of title 8 of the United States Code; or,
3. Individuals with a special immigrant visa that have been granted a status pursuant to section 1244 of Public Law 110-181, Public Law 109-163, or section 602(b) of title VI of division F of Public Law 111-8.

In order to receive the expedited licensure process, individuals must provide documentation of their refugee, asylee, or special immigrant visa status when submitting their application package. Please note that this does not mean a license must be issued, but simply that the process will be expedited.

Click here for information and documentation examples.

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) is sharing the following guidance regarding instances where a prescriber may not have utilized a compliant security prescription form for a controlled substance on and after January 1, 2021, as required by Assembly Bill 149 (Statutes of 2019).

To reduce potential negative impact to patients, the Board would like to remind prescribers and pharmacists of the provisions related to oral or electronically transmitted prescriptions for any controlled substance classified in Schedule III, IV and V, Health and Safety Code section 11164(b). Additionally, the Board encourages prescribers and pharmacists to work together as appropriate to address the needs of patients in possession of noncompliant forms.

For additional information on new compliant security prescription forms, please see the Joint Statement and FAQs from the California Department of Justice, the California State Board of Pharmacy, and the Medical Board of California.

Starting January 1, 2021, California state law requires 15 security elements, including a 12-character serial number and corresponding barcode, to appear on California Security Prescription Forms. State law also requires California Security Prescription Forms to be produced by printers approved by the California Department of Justice’s California Security Prescription Printers Program.

The Veterinary Medical Board urges licensees to verify their prescription forms are compliant with state law prior to issuing prescriptions. Prescribers who do not possess these prescription pads are encouraged to place an order as soon as possible from a Security Prescription Printer approved by the Department of Justice. Doing so will help ensure you receive compliant prescription pads in a timely manner.

California-approved security printers have been issuing these prescription pads since the beginning of 2020. Starting January 1, 2021, except for limited emergency situations, pharmacists will be unable to fill a controlled substances prescription that is not on a compliant form.

Pursuant to California law, prescription forms for controlled substances must be printed with the following features:

1. A latent, repetitive “void” pattern across the entire front of the prescription blank; if a prescription is scanned or photocopied, the word “void” shall appear in a pattern across the entire front of the prescription.
2. A watermark on the backside of the prescription blank; the watermark shall consist of the words “California Security Prescription.”
3. A chemical void protection that prevents alteration by chemical washing.
4. A feature printed in thermochromic ink.
5. An area of opaque writing so that the writing disappears if the prescription is lightened.
6. A description of the security features included on each prescription form.
7. (A) Six quantity check off boxes on the form so that the prescriber may indicate the quantity by checking the applicable box where the following quantities shall appear:
   • 1–24
   • 25–49
   • 50–74
   • 75–100
   • 101–150
   • 151 and over.
   (B) In conjunction with the quantity boxes, a space shall be provided to designate the units referenced in the quantity boxes when the drug is not in tablet or capsule form.
8. Prescription blanks shall contain a statement printed on the bottom of the prescription blank that the “Prescription is void if the number of drugs prescribed is not noted.”
9. The preprinted name, category of licensure, license number, federal controlled substance registration number, and address of the prescribing practitioner.
10. Check boxes on the form so that the prescriber may indicate the number of refills ordered.
11. The date of origin of the prescription.
12. A check box indicating the prescriber’s order not to substitute.
13. An identifying number assigned to the approved security printer by the Department of Justice.
14. A check box by the name of each prescriber when a prescription form lists multiple prescribers.
15. A unique serialized number, which must be:
    • Compliant with all state and federal requirements.
    • Utilizable as a barcode that may be scanned by dispensers.
    • Compliant with current National Council for Prescription Drug Program Standards.

Additionally, each batch of controlled substance prescription forms shall have the lot number printed on the form and each form within that batch shall be numbered sequentially beginning with the numeral one.

For more information, please refer to the AB 149 Joint Statement.

Starting January 1, 2021, new laws will impact licensees who prescribe and/or dispense controlled substances.

1. Updated Prescription Pad Security Requirements - starting January 1, 2021, California state law requires 15 security elements, including a 12-character serial number and corresponding barcode, to appear on California Security Prescription Forms. State law also requires California Security Prescription Forms to be produced by printers approved by the California Department of Justice’s California Security Prescription Printers Program. For more information, please refer to the AB 149 Joint Statement.

2. Revised Reporting Requirements for Controlled Substances – starting January 1, 2021, the dispensing of a controlled substance must be reported by the dispensing pharmacy, clinic, or other dispenser to the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) within one working day after the medication is released to the patient or the patient’s representative. Veterinarians are exempt from this requirement and are required to report as soon as reasonably possible, but not more than seven days after the controlled substance is dispensed. (Health and Safety Code § 11165, subdivision (i).) Further, this law requires reporting of Schedules II, III, IV, and V drugs dispensed by a pharmacist, clinic, or other dispenser, including a veterinarian. (Health and Safety Code § 11165, subdivision (d).)

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on December 15, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving License Renewal Requirements (Order). This Order applies to individuals whose active licenses expire between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2021, and temporarily waives:

1. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that individuals renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code take and pass an examination in order to renew a license; and
2. Any statutory or regulatory requirement that an individual renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code complete, or demonstrate compliance with, any continuing education requirements in order to renew a license.

Licensees must satisfy any waived renewal requirements within six months of this Order, unless further extended. The temporary waivers do not relieve the licensee from timely complying with any other renewal requirements (e.g., submitting required renewal forms to the Veterinary Medical Board) and do not apply to continuing education, training, or examination required pursuant to a disciplinary order against the licensee.

Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued an Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (June 4 Order), which contained two waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).

With respect to telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR, the June 4, 2020 waiver was extended on July 31, 2020, and extended again on September 17, 2020, so that the waiver was in effect through December 31, 2020. On December 15, 2020, the Director issued a new Order (December 15 Order) further extending the June 4 Order waiving, until February 28, 2021, specified telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR.

For prescription refills associated with the VCPR, the June 4 Order authorized prescription refills up to 18 months for refills based on an in-person examination of an animal patient last performed by a veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019. On November 25, 2020, the Director withdrew and superseded that waiver and issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 20 months for refills based on an in-person examination of the animal patient last performed by the veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019.

On July 31, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may be not be refilled between August 2, 2020, and October 1, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On September 17, 2020, the Director issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may be not be refilled between October 2, 2020, and December 31, 2020, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

The December 15 Order authorizes prescription refills up to 18 months for prescriptions that may be not be refilled between January 1, 2021, and February 28, 2021, due to the one-year time limitation for refilling a prescription from the date the veterinarian last examined the animal patient and prescribed the drug.

On December 14, the Department of Consumer Affairs issued a News Release regarding the new requirements for paper prescription forms, effective January 1, 2021.

To learn more, please read The News Release.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has authorized new tax relief and grants to businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The Veterinary Medical Board is encouraging licensees to determine their eligibility for relief, which includes Tax Relief for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19, $500 Million for New COVID Relief Grant for Small Business, and Increase Funding for the California Rebuilding Fund. For more information, read Governor Newsom’s news release or visit the Business and Employers section of the state’s COVID19.ca.gov website.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some license applicants have had limited or no access to the examinations needed for licensure. On September 30, 2020, the California Department of Consumer Affairs Director issued an order extending the deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applicants to take and pass the veterinarian license examinations in order give more time to veterinarian applicants to take the examinations necessary for licensure, a required step to obtain a license with the Veterinary Medical Board. This extension applied to veterinarian applicants whose 60-month period expired between March 31, 2020 and November 30, 2020.

In addition, on November 25, 2020, the Director issued an order extending the examination deadline from 60 months to 66 months for veterinarian applications whose 60-month period expires between December 1, 2020, and January 31, 2021.

This 60-day waiver extension order further extends the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs' (DCA) June 4, 2020 waiver order relating to the requirement that applicants who are already licensed in another state and seeking California licensure from the Board, and temporary licensees, complete a "face-to-face" training class in California in order to qualify for licensure.

The original June 4, 2020 waiver order removed the requirement that training for license applicants who are already licensed out-of-state, and temporary licensees, must be conducted "face-to-face" in California, so that the training may be conducted via appropriate electronic means.

The previous extension order expires on December 1, 2020. The current extension order now expires on January 30, 2021, unless further extended.

Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued the Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (June 4 Order), which contained two waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR). With respect to telemedicine restrictions related to the VCPR, the June 4, 2020 waiver was extended on July 31, 2020, and extended again on September 17, 2020, so that the waiver is in effect through December 31, 2020, unless further extended.

For prescription refills associated with the VCPR, the June 4 Order authorized prescription refills up to 18 months for refills based on an in-person examination of an animal patient last performed by a veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019. On November 25, 2020, the Director withdrew and superseded that waiver and issued an order authorizing prescription refills up to 20 months for refills based on an in-person examination of the animal patient last performed by the veterinarian between June 1, 2019 and August 1, 2019.

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on October 22, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs issued DCA-20-69 Waiver Further Extending Division 2 CE and Exam Renewal Requirements, which rescinds DCA Waivers DCA-20-01, DCA-20-27, and DCA-20-53 and temporarily waives, for individuals whose active licenses expire between March 31, 2020, and December 31, 2020:

1. any statutory or regulatory requirement that individuals renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Code take and pass an examination in order to renew a license; and,
2. any statutory or regulatory requirement that an individual renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Code complete, or demonstrate compliance with, any continuing education requirements in order to renew a license.

Licensees must satisfy any waived renewal requirements within six months of this Order, unless further extended.

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) would like to notify you that the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Department of Health and Human Services have credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers. The Board is sharing this information to provide warning to healthcare providers to ensure that they take timely and reasonable precautions to protect their networks from these threats. Please see additional information at the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency website: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/alerts/aa20-302a.

The Veterinary Medical Board (Board) seeks candidates for a Public Member appointment to its nine-member Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee (MDC).

Starting January 1, 2021, pads used to write and fill prescriptions for controlled substances are required to have a 12-character serial number, a corresponding barcode, and other security features required by Assembly Bill 149.

California-approved security printers have been issuing these prescription pads since the beginning of 2020. Starting January 1, 2021, except for limited emergency situations, pharmacists will be unable to fill a controlled substance prescription that is not on a compliant form.

Prescribers who do not possess these prescription pads are encouraged to place an order as soon as possible from a Security Prescription Printer approved by the Department of Justice. Doing so will help ensure you receive compliant prescription pads in a timely manner.

Prescriptions issued electronically are not subject to the security features related to paper forms.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some license applicants have had limited or no access to the examinations needed for licensure. The California Department of Consumer Affairs Director issued a waiver to give more time to veterinarian applicants to take the examinations necessary for licensure, a required step to obtain a license with the Veterinary Medical Board.

Details of this waiver can be found here.

Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued the Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (Order), which contains two waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), described below. The June 4, 2020 waivers were extended on July 31, 2020, and extended again on September 17, 2020, so that the waivers are in effect through December 31, 2020, unless further extended. 

 

Telemedicine for New or Different Medical Conditions: As long as the other VCPR requirements have been met to establish the VCPR, including an initial in-person examination of the animal patient, the Order and related extensions temporarily authorize a veterinarian to use telemedicine to diagnose and treat an animal patient for a new or different medical condition. 

Prescription Refills: The Order and related extensions temporarily authorizes a prescription issued following an in-person examination last performed between June 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019, to be refilled by the veterinarian, without another in-person examination, for up to 18 months from the date of the last examination and issuance of prescription. 

 

For discussion of the intent of these waivers and how these temporary waivers can be used in the practice of veterinary medicine, please see the Updated Guidance document.

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on August 27, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs issued DCA Waiver DCA-20-53 Waiving License Renewal Requirements, which rescinds DCA Waivers DCA-20-01 and DCA-20-27 and temporarily waives, for individuals whose active licenses expire between March 31, 2020, and October 31, 2020:

1. any statutory or regulatory requirement that individuals renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Code take and pass an examination in order to renew a license; and,
2. any statutory or regulatory requirement that an individual renewing a license pursuant to Division 2 of the Code complete, or demonstrate compliance with, any continuing education requirements in order to renew a license.

Licensees must satisfy any waived renewal requirements within six months of this Order, unless further extended.

This 60-day waiver extension order extends DCA's June 4, 2020, waiver order relating to veterinarian use of telemedicine and refilling veterinary prescriptions.

The original June 4 waiver order accomplished the following:

• Authorized veterinarians to diagnose and treat animal medical conditions via telemedicine in cases where a veterinarian-client-patient relationship was previously established; and
• For prescriptions needing to be refilled between June 1 and August 1, it extended by six months the maximum period within which a prescription may be refilled without an in-person examination of the animal.

The waiver extension order is identical to the original order, except that it would extend the telemedicine portion of the order by 60 additional days from the date of the extended order, and it would extend by six months (from 12 to 18 months) the maximum period within which a prescription needing to be refilled between August 2 and October 1, 2020, could be refilled without an in-person examination of the animal.

This 60-day waiver extension order extends DCA's June 4, 2020, waiver order relating to the requirement that applicants who are already licensed in another state and seeking California licensure from the Board, and temporary licensees, complete a "face-to-face" training class in California in order to qualify for licensure.

The original June 4 waiver order removed the requirement that training for license applicants that are already licensed out-of-state, and temporary licensees, must be conducted "face-to-face" in California, so that the training may be conducted via appropriate electronic means.

The current order expires on August 3, 2020. The extension order extends the prior order by 60 days, to October 2, 2020.

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 23, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs issued an Order Extending Time To Satisfy Examination Requirements (Order) that, among other things, waived California Code of Regulations, title 16, section 2015, subsections (a) and (b), for veterinarian license applicants who must take and pass the three licensure examinations within a 60-month period or else retake all three examinations. 

The Order applies to veterinarian license applicants whose 60-month examination period expires between March 31, 2020, and July 1, 2020. The Order requires those applicants to take and pass the three examinations within 66 months of the administration of the initial examination, and, thereby, gives these applicants an additional six months to take and pass the three examinations.

Pursuant to the Governor's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued the Order Waiving Restrictions on Telemedicine and Extending Time to Refill Prescriptions (Order), which contains two waivers regarding the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR), described below.

Telemedicine for New or Different Medical Conditions: As long as the other VCPR requirements have been met to establish the VCPR, including an initial in-person examination of the animal patient, the Order temporarily authorizes a veterinarian to use telemedicine to diagnose and treat an animal patient for a new or different medical condition. This waiver expires 60 days after the director's order was issued.

Prescription Refills: The Order temporarily authorizes a prescription issued following an in-person examination last performed between June 1, 2019, and August 1, 2019, to be refilled by the veterinarian, without another in-person examination, for up to 18 months from the date of the last examination and issuance of prescription.

For discussion of the intent of these waivers and how these temporary waivers can be used in the practice of veterinary medicine, please see the Guidance document here.

Pursuant to Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-39-20, on June 4, 2020, the Director of the Department of Consumer Affairs issued the Order Waiving Face-to-Face Training Requirement (Order) to enable a temporary veterinarian licensee to complete the California Temporary License Curriculum by virtual means. The Order terminates 60 days from the date of the Order, unless further extended.

The Board has received a number of inquiries pertaining to the ability of veterinarians to perform telemedicine services during the COVID-19 related stay-at-home orders. Telemedicine may be conducted by a veterinarian only within an existing Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) and can be used only for specific medical conditions for which the animal patient has been previously examined and diagnosed by the veterinarian.*

Pursuant to California Code of Regulations (CCR), title 16, section 2032.1, in order to administer, prescribe, dispense, or furnish a drug, medicine, appliance, or treatment of whatever nature, the veterinarian must first establish a VCPR. The VCPR must be established for each medical condition for which the animal is being treated by the veterinarian, because the regulation requires: (1) the veterinarian to perform an in-person examination of the animal patient to initiate a diagnosis of the medical condition; and (2) the veterinarian to communicate with the client a course of treatment appropriate to the circumstance, or specific condition. (16 CCR § 2032.1(b)(2), (3).)

*If the animal patient is experiencing a medical emergency for which the animal patient has not previously been examined and diagnosed by the veterinarian, the veterinarian may utilize telemedicine only to provide advice until the animal patient can be transported to or seen by a veterinarian. (16 CCR § 2032.1(f).)