(a) In order to obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine in California, an individual shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Graduate from a veterinary college recognized by the board or receive a certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE). Proof of graduation must be directly submitted to the board by the veterinary college or from the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). Proof of certificate must be directly submitted to the board by ECFVG or PAVE.

Ask a business law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified business lawyers.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

(2) Complete a board-approved license application.

(3) Pay the applicable fees specified in Section 4905.

(4) As directed by the board pursuant to Section 144, submit a full set of fingerprints for the purpose of conducting a criminal history record check and undergo a state and federal criminal offender record information search conducted through the Department of Justice, pursuant to subdivision (u) of § 11105 of the Penal Code. The Department of Justice shall provide a state or federal response to the board pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (p) of § 11105 of the Penal Code.

(5) Pass an examination consisting of the following:

(A) A licensing examination that is administered on a national basis. If the applicant passed the national licensing examination over five years from the date of submitting the California veterinarian license application, the applicant shall 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 Section 4846.5 for the current and preceding year.

(B) A veterinary law examination administered by the board concerning the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act statutes and regulations. The examination may be administered by regular mail, email, or by other electronic means. The applicant shall certify that the applicant personally completed the examination. Any false statement is a violation subject to Section 4831. Every applicant who obtains a score of at least 80 percent on the veterinary law examination shall be deemed to have passed. University of California and Western University of Health Sciences veterinary medical students who have successfully completed a board-approved course on veterinary law and ethics covering the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act shall be exempt from this subparagraph.

(b) The applicant shall disclose each state, Canadian province, or United States territory in which the applicant currently holds or has ever held a license to practice veterinary medicine. License verification, including any disciplinary or enforcement history, shall be confirmed through electronic means or direct submission from each state, Canadian province, or United States territory in which the applicant has identified the applicant holds or has ever held a license to practice veterinary medicine.

(c) A veterinarian license application shall be subject to denial pursuant to Sections 480, 4875, and 4883.

(Amended by Stats. 2023, Ch. 510, Sec. 56. (SB 887) Effective January 1, 2024.)