Registered Veterinary Technician Job Task Regulations

Section 2034. Animal Health Care Tasks Definitions.

For purposes of the rules and regulations applicable to animal health care tasks for registered veterinary technicians, permit holders and veterinary assistants, contained in the division, the term:
(a) “Veterinarian” means a California licensed veterinarian.
(b) “R.V.T.” means a registered veterinary technician.
(c) “Veterinary assistant” means any individual who is not an R.V.T. or a licensed veterinarian.
(d) “Supervisor” means a California licensed veterinarian or if a job task so provides an R.V.T.
(e) “Direct Supervision” means: (1) the supervisor is physically present at the location where animal health care job tasks are to be performed and is quickly and easily available; and (2) the animal has been examined by a veterinarian at such time as good veterinary medical practice requires consistent with the particular delegated animal health care job task.
(f) “Indirect Supervision” means: (1) that the supervisor is not physically present at the location where animal health care job tasks are to be performed, but has given either written or oral instructions (“direct orders”) for treatment of the animal patient; and (2) the animal has been examined by a veterinarian at such times as good veterinary medical practice requires, consistent with the particular delegated animal health care task and the animal is not anesthetized as defined in Section 2032.4.
(g) “Animal Hospital Setting” means all veterinary premises which are required by Section 4853 of the Code to be registered with the board.
(h) “Administer” means the direct application of a drug or device to the body of an animal by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or other means.
(i) “Induce” means the initial administration of a drug with the intended purpose of rendering an animal unconscious.
(j) “Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit” or the abbreviation “VACSP” means a Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substances Permit issued by the board.
(k) “Permit holder” means a person who must be at least 18 years of age and is a holder of a VACSP issued pursuant to section 4836.2 of the code.

Authority cited: Sections 4808, 4826 and 4836, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4836, 4836.1 and 4853, Business and Professions Code.

Section 2035. Duties of Supervising Veterinarian.

(a) The supervising veterinarian shall be responsible for determining the competency of the R.V.T., permit holder or veterinary assistant to perform allowable animal health care tasks.
(b) The supervising veterinarian of a R.V.T., permit holder or veterinary assistant shall make all decisions relating to the diagnosis, treatment, management and future disposition of the animal patient.
(c) The supervising veterinarian shall have examined the animal patient prior to the delegation of any animal health care task to an R.V.T., permit holder or veterinary assistant. The examination of the animal patient shall be conducted at such time as good veterinary medical practice requires consistent with the particular delegated animal health care task.

Authority cited: Sections 4808 and 4836, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4836, 4836.1, 4840 and 4840.9, Business and Professions Code.

Section 2036. Animal Health Care Tasks for R.V.T.

(a) Unless specifically so provided by regulation, an R.V.T. shall not perform the following functions or any other activity which represents the practice of veterinary medicine or requires the knowledge, skill, and training of a licensed veterinarian:
(1) Surgery;
(2) Diagnosis and prognosis of animal diseases;
(3) Prescription of drugs, medicines, or appliances.
(b) An R.V.T. may perform the following procedures only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian:
(1) Induce anesthesia;
(2) Perform dental extractions;
(3) Suture cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, gingiva, and oral mucous membranes;
(4) Create a relief hole in the skin to facilitate placement of an intravascular catheter;
(5) Drug compounding from bulk substances.
(c) An R.V.T. may perform the following procedures under indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian:
(1) Administer controlled substances;
(2) Apply casts and splints;
(3) Drug compounding from non-bulk substances.
(d) Subject to the provisions of subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section, an R.V.T. may perform animal health care tasks under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The degree of supervision by a licensed veterinarian over an R.V.T. shall be consistent with standards of good veterinary medical practices.

Authority cited: Sections 4808, 4826 and 4836, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4826.5, 4836, 4840 and 4840.2, Business and Professions Code.

Section 2036.5. Animal Hospital Health Care Tasks for Permit Holders and Veterinary Assistants.

(a) Permit holders and veterinary assistants shall be prohibited from performing any of the functions or activities specified in subsections (a) (b) and (c) of Section 2036 of these regulations, except that a permit holder under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian may administer a controlled substance.
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, permit holders and veterinary assistants in an animal hospital setting may perform auxiliary animal health care tasks under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian or the direct supervision of an R.V.T. The degree of supervision by a licensed veterinarian over a permit holder or veterinary assistant shall be higher than or equal to the degree of supervision required when an R.V.T. performs the same task and shall be consistent with standards of good veterinary medical practices.

Authority cited: Sections 4808 and 4836, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4836 and 4840, Business and Professions Code.

Section 2038.5. Animal Physical Rehabilitation

(a) Animal Physical Rehabilitation (APR):
(1) is defined as the treatment of injury or illness to address pain and improve function by means of physical corrective treatment.
(2) does not include relaxation, recreational or wellness modalities, including but not limited to, massage, athletic training, or exercise.
(b) Prior to performing or authorizing APR, a veterinarian shall establish a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship as defined in Sections 2032.1 or 2032.15.
(c) R.V.T.s may perform APR under the degree of direct or indirect supervision determined by the veterinarian who has established the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
(d) Veterinary assistants may perform APR under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict or amend Section 2038 regarding the performance of MSM.
(f) This section shall not apply to wildlife rehabilitation regulated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Authority cited: Sections 4808 and 4836, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4825, 4826, 4836 and 4883, Business and Professions Code.

Section 2069. Emergency Animal Care.

Emergency animal care rendered by registered veterinary technician.
(a) Under conditions of an emergency as defined in Section 4840.5 of the code, a registered veterinary technician may render the following lifesaving aid or emergency treatment to an animal:
(1) Application of tourniquets and/or pressure bandages to control hemorrhage.
(2) Resuscitative oxygen procedures.
(3) Establishing open airways including intubation appliances but excluding surgery.
(4) External cardiac resuscitation.
(5) Application of temporary splints or bandages to prevent further injury to bones or soft tissues.
(6) Application of appropriate wound dressings and external supportive treatment in severe burn cases.
(7) External supportive treatment in heat prostration cases.
(b) The following tasks shall only be performed after direct communication with a veterinarian licensed or otherwise authorized to practice in this state:
(1) Administration of a drug or controlled substance to prevent or control shock, including parenteral fluids.
(2) Administration of a drug or controlled substance to manage pain or to sedate an animal for examination or to prevent further injury.
(3) Administration of a drug or controlled substance to prevent suffering of an animal, up to and including euthanasia.
(c) In the event that direct communication cannot be established as required under subdivision (b), the registered veterinary technician may perform the task in accordance with written instructions established by the supervising veterinarian, or, in the case of a sanctioned rodeo or other sporting event, the veterinarian charged with the responsibility to provide treatment to the animals at the rodeo or event.

Authority cited: Sections 4808 and 4836, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 4836.1 and 4840.5, Business and Professions Code.