La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LXXXV-803

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 8, August 20, 2024

Section LXXXV-803 - Examinations

A. The Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine hereby adopts the examination prepared by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) (hereafter referred to as the "veterinary technician national examination" or VTNE), and hereby requires that all applicants for licensure to practice as registered veterinary technicians in the state of Louisiana shall pass this national examination in addition to any and all state examinations (herein defined as such written examinations, oral interviews, and/or practical demonstrations as the board may request or require).

B. A state board examination shall be required of all applicants for licensure as a registered veterinary technician in Louisiana. No person shall obtain any certificate to practice as a registered veterinary technician without successfully passing the Louisiana state board examination. No waivers of the state board examination shall be granted.

C.A passing score on the VTNE shall be deemed to be the pass point as determined by the examining agency contracted with by the board for the formulation, administration and/or grading of the VTNE.

D. The state board examination shall consist of no fewer than 25 questions taken from the veterinary practice act statutes and rules promulgated by the board.

E. A passing score on the state board examination for veterinary technicians shall be deemed to be the correct answering of at least 70 percent of the questions on the state examination.

F.The administration of the VTNE shall be in accordance with rules, practices, policies or procedures prescribed by the AAVSB or by any person or persons with whom the AAVSB may have contracted to administer said exam. The VTNE may be administered by members of the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine or any of the agents, employees, or designees of the board.

G.The state board examination for veterinary technicians may be prepared, administered, and graded by the members of the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine or may be prepared, administered, and/or graded, in whole or in part, by any person, firm corporation, or other entity selected, requested, or designated to do so by the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine.

H.In order to receive a certificate to practice as a registered veterinary technician in the state of Louisiana, an applicant must pass both the VTNE and the state board examination.

I. A passing score on either required examination will be given effect for a period of three years. Should an applicant pass one of the required examinations but fail to pass the other required examination for a period of three years, such applicant will thereafter be required to pass both examinations notwithstanding such applicant's previous passing of one of the required examinations.

J. The requirement for taking the national examination (VTNE) may be waived when an applicant:

a. holds a current valid license or certificate in good standing as a registered or certified veterinary technician in another state, district, or territory of the United States; and

b. has been employed as a registered or certified veterinary technician an average of 20 hours per week in a private practice or its equivalent continuously and without substantial interruption for a period of three years immediately preceding his application.

K. An applicant for certification may only sit for the national examination a maximum of five times. Thereafter, the applicant will no longer be eligible for certification in Louisiana and any application will be rejected.

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LXXXV-803

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Veterinary Medicine, LR 16:226 (March 1990), amended LR 20:1380 (December 1994), LR 40:309 (February 2014), Amended by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Board of Veterinary Medicine, LR 482546 (10/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:1549.