DEPARTMENT OF LICENSING AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE
VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
LICENSURE — GENERAL RULES
Filed with the secretary of state on These rules take effect immediately upon filing with the secretary of state unless adopted under section 33, 44, or 45a(9) of the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.233, 24.244, or 24.245a. Rules adopted under these sections become effective 7 days after filing with the secretary of state.
(By authority conferred on the
department of licensing and regulatory affairs by sections 16145 and 18813 of the
public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.16145, MCL and 333.18813,
and Executive Reorganization Order Nos. 1991-9, 1996-2, 2003-1, and 2011-4, MCL
338.3501, MCL 445.2001, MCL 445.2011, and MCL 445.2030)
R 338.4971, R 338.4972, R 338.4976, R 338.4982, R 338.4991, and R 338.4993, of the Michigan Administrative Code are amended, R 338.4971a and R 338.4971b are added, and R 338.4978 is rescinded, as follows:
PART 1. GENERAL RULES
R 338.4971 Definitions.
Rule 1. (1) As used in these rules:
(a) “Animal patient” means an animal as defined in section 18802(2) of the code, MCL 333.18802.
(a) (b) "Board" means the
Michigan board of veterinary medicine created in section 18821 of the
code, MCL 333.18821.
(b) (c) "Code" means the public
health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.1101 to 333.25211.
(c) (d) "Department" means the department
of licensing and regulatory affairs.
(2) A term defined in the code has the same meaning when used in these rules.
PART 2. EDUCATION AND EXAMINATION
R 338.4971a Approval of veterinary technician training programs; standards
adopted by reference.
Rule 1a. (1) The board approves and adopts by reference the standards for accrediting programs for training veterinary technicians adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) entitled "Accreditation Policies and Procedures of the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities," July 2020.
(2) The standards for accrediting programs for training veterinary technicians adopted by the CVTEA are available at no cost from the AVMA website at http://www.avma.org. A copy of the standards is available for inspection or distribution at a cost of 10 cents per page from the Board of Veterinary Medicine, Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, 611 West Ottawa, P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, Michigan 48909.
R 338.4971b Examination; approval and adoption; passing score.
Rule 1b. (1) The board approves and adopts the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) developed by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) or its predecessor organization.
(2) The passing score for the VTNE is the score determined by the AAVSB or its predecessor organization.
PART 3. LICENSURE
R 338.4972 Licensure by examination; requirements.
Rule 2. An applicant for a Michigan veterinary technician license by examination shall submit a completed application on a form provided by the department, together with the required fee. In addition to meeting the requirements of the code an applicant shall satisfy both of the following requirements:
(a) Have graduated
from successfully completed a program for training veterinary
technicians that satisfies approved and adopted in R 338.4978
338.4971a. The educational institution must provide the department with the
applicant’s final, official transcript.
(b) Have
achieved a passing score on the examination approved and adopted in R
338.4971b. veterinary technician national examination developed by the
American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) or its successor
organization.
R 338.4976 Licensure by endorsement; requirements.
Rule 6. (1)An applicant for a Michigan veterinary
technician license by endorsement shall hold an active license in good
standing in another state and submit a completed application on a form
provided by the department, together with the required fee. In addition to satisfying
the requirements of the code and the administrative rules promulgated
under the code, an applicant shall comply with all of the following requirements:
satisfy both of the following requirements:
(a) Have achieved a passing
score on the veterinary technician national examination developed by the AAVSB.
(b) Hold a current license,
registration, or certification to practice as a veterinary technician in
another state.
(2) An applicant's license shall be verified,
on a form provided by the department, by the licensing agency of any state of
the United States in which the applicant holds a current license, registration,
or certificate, or ever held a license, registration, or certificate as a
veterinary technician. Verification includes, but is not limited to, showing
proof of any disciplinary action taken or pending disciplinary action imposed against
the applicant.
(a) Establish that he or she is of good moral character as defined under 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41 to MCL 338.47.
(b) Submit fingerprints as required under section 16174(3) of the code, MCL 333.16174.
(c) Achieve a passing score on the examination approved under R 338.4971b.
(d) Comply with both of the following:
(i) Disclose each license, registration, or certification in a health profession or specialty issued by any other state, the United States military, the federal government, or another country on the application form.
(ii) Satisfy the requirements of section 16174(2) of the code, MCL 333.16174, which includes verification from the issuing entity showing that disciplinary proceedings are not pending against the applicant and sanctions are not in force at the time of application.
R 338.4978 Approval of veterinary technician training
programs; standards adopted by
reference.Rescinded.
Rule 8. (1) The board approves and adopts by reference
the standards for accrediting programs for training veterinary technicians
adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician
Education and Activities (CVTEA) entitled "Accreditation Policies
and Procedures of the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education
and Activities," March 2018.
(2) The standards for accrediting programs for training
veterinary technicians adopted by the CVTEA are available at no cost
from the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite
100, Schaumburg, IL 60173 or at the association's website at http://www.avma.org.
A copy of the standards is available for inspection or distribution at cost
from the Board of Veterinary Medicine, Bureau of Professional Licensing, Department
of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, 611 West Ottawa, P.O. Box 30670, Lansing, MI
48909.
R 338.4982 Relicensure.
Rule 12. (1) An applicant whose license has lapsed may
be relicensed upon submission of the appropriate documentation as noted in the
table below by (√): An applicant for relicensure whose
license has been lapsed for less than 3 years preceding the date of application
for relicensure may be relicensed if the applicant satisfies all of the following
requirements:
(a) Submits the required fee and a completed
application on a form provided by the department.
(b) Be of good moral character.
(c) Submits proof to the department of accumulating
not less than 15 hours of continuing education that satisfy the requirements of
R 338.4993.
(2) An applicant for relicensure whose license has been
lapsed for 3 years or more preceding the date of application for relicensure
may be relicensed if the applicant satisfies all of the following requirements:
(a) Submits the required fee and a completed application
on a form provided by the department.
(b) Be of good moral character.
(c) Submits fingerprints as set forth in section
16174(3) of the code, MCL 333.16174(3).
(d) Satisfies either of the following requirements:
(i) Has successfully
passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination developed by the AAVSB or
its successor organization within the 3-year period immediately preceding the
date of the application for relicensure.
(ii) Satisfies both of the following requirements:
(A) Presents evidence to the
department that he or she was licensed as a veterinary technician in another
state at any time during the 3-year period immediately preceding the
application for relicensure.
(B) Submits proof to the
department of accumulating not less than 15 hours of continuing education that
satisfy the requirements of R 338.4993.
(3) An applicant shall have his or her license,
registration, or certificate verified by the licensing agency of any state of
the United States in which the applicant holds or has ever held a license,
registration, or certificate as a veterinary technician. Verification includes,
but is not limited to, showing proof of any disciplinary action taken or
pending against the applicant.
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(a) For an applicant who has let his or her Michigan license lapse and is not currently licensed in another state or registered in Canada. |
Lapsed 0-3 years |
Lapsed more than 3 years |
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(i) |
Submit a completed application on a form provided by the department, together with the required fee. |
√
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√
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(ii) |
Establish that he or she is of good moral character as defined under sections 1 to 7 of 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41 to 338.47. |
√
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√
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(iii) |
Submit fingerprints as required under section 16174(3) of the code, MCL 333.16174. |
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√
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(iv) |
Submit proof of having completed 15 hours of continuing education that satisfy the requirements of R 338.4993. |
√
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√
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(v) |
Achieve a passing score on the examination approved under R 338.4971b within 3 years before the application for relicensure. |
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√
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(vi) |
An applicant who is or has ever been licensed, registered, or certified in a health profession or specialty by any other state, the United States military, the federal government, or another country, shall do both of the following:
(A) Disclose each license, registration, or certification on the application form.
(B) Satisfy the requirements of section 16174(2) of the code, MCL 333.16174, which includes verification from the issuing entity showing that disciplinary proceedings are not pending against the applicant and sanctions are not in force at the time of application. |
√
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√
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(b) For an applicant who has let his or her Michigan license lapse and is currently licensed in another state or registered in Canada. |
Lapsed 0-3 years |
Lapsed more than 3 years |
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(i) |
Submit a completed application on a form provided by the department, together with the required fee. |
√
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√
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(ii) |
Establish that he or she is of good moral character as defined under sections 1 to 7 of 1974 PA 381, MCL 338.41 to 338.47. |
√
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√
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(iii) |
Submit fingerprints as required under section 16174(3) of the code, MCL 333.16174. |
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√
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(iv) |
Submit proof of having completed 15 hours of continuing education that satisfy the requirements of R 338.4993. |
√
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√
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(v) |
An applicant who is or has ever been licensed, registered, or certified in a health profession or specialty by any other state, the United States military, the federal government, or another country, shall do both of the following:
(A) Disclose each license, registration, or certification on the application form.
(B) Satisfy the requirements of section 16174(2) of the code, MCL 333.16174, which includes verification from the issuing entity showing that disciplinary proceedings are not pending against the applicant and sanctions are not in force at the time of application. |
√
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√
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PART 4. LICENSE RENEWAL; CONTINUING EDUCATION R 338.4991 License renewals; continuing education. Rule 91. (1) This rule applies to an application for renewal of a veterinary technician license that is filed for the renewal cycle after January 1, 2020. (2)Beginning with licenses that expire on December 31, 2022, and for all renewals thereafter, An an applicant for license renewal who has been licensed for the 3-year period immediately preceding the application date for renewal shall have completed at least 15 hours of continuing education that satisfies the requirements of R 338.4993 in the 3 years immediately preceding the application of the for renewal. (3)(2) Submission of an application for renewal shall constitute constitutes the applicant’s certification of compliance with the requirements of this rule. The department may require a licensee to submit evidence to demonstrate compliance with this rule.
(3) A request for a waiver under section 16205 of the code, MCL 333.16205, must be received by the department before the expiration date of the license.
(4) The licensee shall retain documentation of satisfying the requirements of this rule for a period of 4 years from the date of applying for license renewal. Failure to comply with this rule is a violation of section 16221(h) of the code, MCL 333.16221(h). R 338.4993 Acceptable continuing education; requirements; limitations. Rule 93. (1) The 15 hours of continuing education required pursuant to under R 338.4991(2)(1) for the renewal of a veterinary technician license must satisfy all of the following: (a) No Not more than 12 hours are may be earned during one 24-hour period. (b) A licensee may not earn credit Credit for a continuing education program or activity that is identical or substantially identical to a program or activity for which the licensee has already earned credit during the same renewal period is not granted.(c) A minimum of 10 hours of continuing education is must be scientific in nature. A continuing education program or activity is scientific Scientific in nature if it includes: the science of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease as it relates directly to a patient an animal patient or topics of public veterinary practice, epidemiology, food safety, public animal health, animal welfare, or antimicrobial stewardship. (d) A minimum of 5 hours of continuing education must shall be completed live and in-person or through live, synchronous contact. (e) No more than A maximum of 5 hours of continuing education may shall be earned collectively for activities in subrule (2)c-g(c) to (g) of this rule. (2) The board considers any of the following as acceptable continuing education:
Activity Code |
Activity andProof of Completion |
Number of continuing education hours granted/permitted for activity |
(a) |
Attendance at or participation in a continuing education program or activity related to practice as a veterinary technician or any nonclinical subject relevant to practice as a veterinary technician in a veterinary practice, education, administration, management, or science which includes, but is not limited to, live, in-person programs; interactive or monitored teleconferences, audio-conferences, or web-based programs; online programs; and journal articles or other self-study programs approved or offered by any of the following:
· American Association of Veterinary State Board (AAVSB) Registry of Continuing Education (RACE). · American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). · World Veterinary Association (WVA). · Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA). · Michigan Association of Veterinary Technicians (MAVT). · A state veterinary board of another state. · Local, state, or regional professional organization. · Member institution of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). · All AVMA constituent allied organizations and recognized veterinary specialty organizations. · AVMA accredited veterinary technician program. If audited, the licensee shall submit a copy of a letter or certificate of completion showing the licensee’s name, number of continuing education hours earned, the sponsor’s name or the name of the organization that approved the activity for continuing education credit, the name of the program or activity, and the date on which the program was held or the activity completed. |
The number of continuing education hours for a specific program or activity is the number of hours approved by the sponsor or the approving organization for the specific program or activity. |
(b) |
Attendance at or participation in a continuing education program or activity related to practice as a veterinary technician which includes, but is not limited to,· American Medical Association (AMA). · Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS). · Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). · American Osteopathic Association (AOA). · Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA). · Educational courses offered by a regionally accredited If audited, the licensee shall submit a copy of a letter or certificate of completion showing the licensee’s name, number of continuing education hours earned, the sponsor’s name or the name of the organization that approved the activity, and the date on which the program was held or the activity completed. |
The number of continuing education hours for a specific activity or program is the number of hours approved by the sponsor or approving organization for the specific program or activity. A maximum of 2 hours of continuing education may be earned for this activity in each renewal period. |
(c) |
Initial presentation of a continuing education program related to practice as a veterinarian technician provided to a state, regional, national, or international veterinary medicine organization. To receive credit, the presentation must not be part of the licensee’s regular job description and must be approved or offered for continuing education credit by any of the following:· MVM-RACE. · AVMA. · WVA. · MVMA. · MAVT. · A state veterinary board of another state. · · · · · · Member institution of the AAVMC. · All AVMA constituent allied organizations and recognized veterinary specialty organizations. · Educational courses offered by a regionally accredited If audited, the licensee shall submit a copy of the presentation notice or advertisement showing the date of the presentation, the licensee’s name listed as presenter, and the name of the organization that approved or offered the presentation for continuing education credit. |
Two hours of continuing education |
(d) |
Initial publication of an article related to practice as a veterinary technician in a peer-reviewed journal. If audited, the licensee shall submit a copy of the publication that identifies the licensee as the author or co-author or a publication acceptance letter. |
Five hours of continuing education |
(e) |
Initial publication of a chapter related to practice as a veterinary technician in a professional or peer-reviewed If audited, the licensee shall submit a copy of the publication that identifies the licensee as the author or co-author or a publication acceptance letter. |
Five hours of continuing education |
(f) |
Service as a clinical instructor for veterinary technician students engaged in an educational program that satisfies the requirements of R To receive credit, the clinical instructorship shall not be the licensee’s primary employment function. If audited, the licensee shall submit proof of scheduled instructional hours and a letter from the program director verifying the licensee’s role. |
Two hours of continuing education |
(g) |
Participation on a state or national committee, board, council, or association related to practice as a veterinary technician. A committee, board, council, or association is considered acceptable by the board if it enhances the participant’s knowledge and understanding of practice as a veterinary technician. If audited, the licensee shall submit documentation verifying the licensee’s participation in at least 75% of the regularly scheduled meetings of the committee, board, council, or association. |
Two hours of continuing education |