Sec. 20-197. License required. Practice defined. No person shall practice veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry until he has obtained a license as provided in section
20-199. A person shall be construed to practice veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry,
within the meaning of this chapter, who holds himself out as being able to diagnose,
administer biologics for, treat, operate or prescribe for any animal or bird disease, pain,
injury, deformity or physical condition, or who either offers or undertakes, by any means
or methods, to diagnose, administer biologics for, treat, operate or prescribe for any
animal or bird disease, pain, injury, deformity or physical condition. The euthanizing
of animals in accordance with applicable state and federal drug laws by the Connecticut
Humane Society, the floating of teeth in horses by persons experienced in that practice
and the performance of myofascial trigger point therapy by persons experienced in that
practice shall not be deemed to be the practice of veterinary medicine. For the purposes
of this section, "floating teeth" means using hand-held rasps to reduce or eliminate sharp
or uneven edges on a horse's upper and lower molars to avoid injury to the tongue and
cheeks and to improve chewing food, but does not include treating decay, tumors or
extracting teeth. For purposes of this section, "myofascial trigger point therapy" means
the use of specific palpation, compression, stretching and corrective exercise for promoting optimum athleticism, and "persons experienced in that practice" means persons
who, prior to October 1, 2003, have attended a minimum of two hundred hours of classroom, lecture and hands-on practice in myofascial trigger point therapy, including animal musculoskeletal anatomy and biomechanics, theory and application of animal myofascial trigger point techniques, factors that habituate a presenting condition and
corrective exercise.
(1949 Rev., S. 4600; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 2; P.A. 79-262, S. 1; P.A. 81-57, S. 1, 2; P.A. 86-123, S. 3; P.A. 98-94; P.A.
03-277, S. 1; P.A. 04-109, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 79-262 replaced "and" following "condition" with "or"; P.A. 81-57 excluded the euthanizing of animals
from consideration as practice of veterinary medicine; P.A. 86-123 eliminated provision exempting poultry from provisions
of section; P.A. 98-94 excluded floating of teeth in horses by persons experienced in that practice from meaning of practice
of veterinary medicine; P.A. 03-277 excluded the performance of myofascial trigger point therapy by persons experienced
in that practice from the meaning of practicing veterinary medicine and defined "myofascial trigger point therapy" and
"persons experienced in that practice"; P.A. 04-109 made technical changes, effective May 21, 2004.
Cited. 3 Conn. Cir. Ct. 12.
Sec. 20-198. Qualifications for examination. Approved schools. Denial of eligibility for licensure. No person shall be granted such a license until the department finds
that such person (1) was graduated with the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine, or
its equivalent, from a school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry which, at the
time such person graduated, was accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association if such school is located in the United States, its territories or Canada, or (2) if
graduated from a school located outside of the United States, its territories or Canada,
has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the department that such person has completed
a degree program equivalent in level, content and purpose to the degree of doctor of
veterinary medicine as granted by a school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry
which is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. No person who
was graduated from a school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry which is located
outside the United States, its territories or Canada shall be granted a license unless such
person has also received certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign
Veterinary Graduates or Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence. The department may, under such regulations as the Commissioner of Public
Health may adopt, with the advice and assistance of the board, deny eligibility for licensure to a graduate of a school which has been found to have provided fraudulent or
inaccurate documentation regarding either the school's educational program or the academic credentials of graduates of the school's program or to have failed to meet educational standards prescribed in such regulations.
(1949 Rev., S. 4601, 4602; P.A. 80-484, S. 76, 176; P.A. 86-123, S. 4; P.A. 89-115, S. 2, 7; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A.
94-210, S. 26, 30; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 03-252, S. 13.)
History: P.A. 80-484 essentially transferred powers previously held by board to department of health services, except
power to approve schools which requires health services commissioner's consent and deleted requirement that applicant
present "certification of good moral character, signed by two reputable citizens"; P.A. 86-123 revised qualifications for
licensure to distinguish between schools accredited by American Veterinary Medical Association and others approved by
board and added provision specifying circumstances under which eligibility for licensure may be denied; P.A. 89-115
added the requirement for certification from the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates of the American
Veterinary Medical Association for persons seeking a license who were educated outside the United States, its territories
or Canada; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health services with commissioner of public health and addiction services,
effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-210 amended Subdiv. (2) to approve degree programs deemed equivalent to programs
accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, effective June 9, 1994; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner
and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective
July 1, 1995; P.A. 03-252 added Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence and made technical
changes.
Cited. 45 CA 83.
Sec. 20-199. Examination. Fee. No person shall be issued a license until such
person has taken and passed, with a minimum passing grade established by the department with the consent of the board, written, oral or practical examinations prescribed
by the department with the advice and consent of the board. Before being admitted to
the examination, each applicant shall pay to the department the sum of four hundred
fifty dollars and an applicant rejected by the department may be reexamined at any
subsequent time, upon payment of the sum of four hundred fifty dollars for each appearance. The Department of Public Health under the supervision of the board shall hold
such examinations at least once each year at such places as it designates and at such
other times and places as it determines.
(1949 Rev., S. 4603, 4604; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 3, 4; 1959, P.A. 616, S. 59; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 67; P.A. 77-614, S.
265, 610; P.A. 80-484, S. 77, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 45, 71; P.A. 86-123, S. 5; P.A. 89-251, S. 106, 203; May Sp. Sess. P.A.
92-6, S. 27, 117; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58.)
History: 1959 act doubled fees; 1971 act increased fee for first examination from fifty to one hundred fifty dollars; P.A.
77-614 required consent of consumer protection commissioner for subjects of examination, effective January 1, 1979;
P.A. 80-484 transferred duties formerly held by board re examinations to department of health services, retaining board
in advisory and supervisory capacity, deleted reference to commissioner of consumer protection and replaced minimum
passing grade of seventy per cent with minimum grade established by department; P.A. 81-471 changed requirement that
exams be held in January and July to at least once each year and deleted provision authorizing board to prescribe form of
examinations; P.A. 86-123 deleted reference to specific examination subject matter and provision requiring that applicant
be notified of "the subject in which he is to be examined" and reorganized other provisions of section; P.A. 89-251 increased
the fee from one hundred fifty dollars to four hundred fifty dollars; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-6 raised reexamination fee from
fifty to four hundred fifty dollars; P.A. 93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health
and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and
Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995.
Sec. 20-200. Issuance of license to persons licensed to practice in another state
or territory. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 20-198, the Department of Public Health may issue a license by endorsement to any veterinarian of good professional
character who is currently licensed and practicing in some other state or territory, having
requirements for admission determined by the department to be at least equal to the
requirements of this state, upon the payment of a fee of four hundred fifty dollars to
said department. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 20-198, the department may,
upon payment of a fee of four hundred fifty dollars, issue a license without examination
to a currently practicing, competent veterinarian in another state or territory who (1)
holds a current valid license in good professional standing issued after examination by
another state or territory which maintains licensing standards which, except for examination, are commensurate with this state's standards, and (2) has worked continuously as
a licensed veterinarian in an academic or clinical setting in another state or territory for
a period of not less than five years immediately preceding the application for licensure
without examination. No license shall be issued under this section to any applicant
against whom professional disciplinary action is pending or who is the subject of an
unresolved complaint. The department shall inform the board annually of the number
of applications it receives for licensure under this section.
(1957, P.A. 360, S. 8; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 68; P.A. 80-484, S. 78, 176; P.A. 86-123, S. 6; P.A. 89-251, S. 107, 203;
P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-125, S. 3, 6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 03-252, S. 14.)
History: 1971 act increased fee from seventy-five to one hundred fifty dollars; P.A. 80-484 transferred powers formerly
held by board to department of health services, allowed unconditional waiver of examination, deleting requirement for
practical examination of proficiency, required that applicants be of good "professional", rather than "moral", character,
replaced requirement for five years' experience with requirement that applicants be currently licensed and practicing and
added provisions forbidding issuance of license to person involved in disciplinary action or unresolved complaint and
requiring annual notification of number of applications received; P.A. 86-123 deleted provision requiring reciprocity for
the issuance of a license to out-of-state veterinarians and added provisions regarding licensure without examination of
out-of-state veterinarians; P.A. 89-251 increased the fee from one hundred fifty dollars to four hundred fifty dollars; P.A.
93-381 replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1,
1993; P.A. 95-125 increased from one hundred fifty to four hundred fifty dollars the fee for veterinarians from other
states who meet the requirements of Subdivs. (1) to (3), effective June 7, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and
Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July
1, 1995; P.A. 03-252 replaced provision re issuance of license without examination with provision re issuance of license
by endorsement, deleted requirement of certificate from out-of-state board, deleted requirement that veterinarian graduate
from accredited school of veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry and made technical changes.
Sec. 20-201. Renewal of license. Said department shall, annually in accordance
with the provisions of section 19a-88, issue to each licensed veterinarian in the state,
presenting an application for renewal of his license accompanied by the professional
services fee for class I, as defined in section 33-182l, a receipt stating the fact of such
payment, which receipt shall be a license to follow such practice for one year.
(1949 Rev., S. 4607; June, 1971, P.A. 8, S. 69; P.A. 80-484, S. 79, 176; P.A. 81-471, S. 46, 71; P.A. 89-251, S. 108,
203; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 50, 89.)
History: 1971 act increased fee for timely renewal from five to one hundred fifty dollars and for late renewal from ten
to one hundred fifty dollars; P.A. 80-484 replaced board with department of health services, made renewals subject to Sec.
19-45 as of January 1, 1981, made renewals valid for one year and deleted provision for one-hundred-fifty-dollar fee for
late renewal; P.A. 81-471 deleted reference to October first as renewal date; P.A. 89-251 increased the renewal fee from
one hundred fifty dollars to four hundred fifty dollars; May Sp. Sess. 92-16 replaced four-hundred-fifty-dollar renewal fee
with fee for professional service fee class I established pursuant to Sec. 33-182l.
Sec. 20-202. Disciplinary action; grounds. After notice and opportunity for hearing as provided in the regulations established by the Commissioner of Public Health,
said board may take any of the actions set forth in section 19a-17 for any of the following
causes: (1) The presentation to the board of any diploma, license or certificate illegally
or fraudulently obtained; (2) proof that the holder of such license or certificate has
become unfit or incompetent or has been guilty of cruelty, unskillfulness or negligence
towards animals and birds; (3) conviction of the violation of any of the provisions of
this chapter by any court of criminal jurisdiction, provided no license or registration
shall be revoked or suspended because of such conviction if an appeal to a higher court
has been filed until such appeal has been determined by the higher court and the conviction sustained; (4) the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter or the refusal to
comply with any of said provisions; (5) the publication or circulation of any statement
of a character tending to deceive or mislead the public; (6) the supplying of drugs,
biologics, instruments or any substances or devices by which unqualified persons may
practice veterinary medicine, surgery and dentistry, except that such drugs, biologics,
instruments, substances or devices may be supplied to a farmer for his own animals or
birds; (7) fraudulent issue or use of any health certificate, vaccination certificate, test
chart or other blank form used in the practice of veterinary medicine relating to the
dissemination of animal disease, transportation of diseased animals or the sale of inedible
products of animal origin for human consumption; (8) knowingly having professional
association with, or knowingly employing any person who is unlawfully practicing
veterinary medicine; (9) failure to keep veterinary premises and equipment in a clean
and sanitary condition; (10) physical or mental illness, emotional disorder or loss of
motor skill, including but not limited to, deterioration through the aging process; or (11)
abuse or excessive use of drugs, including alcohol, narcotics or chemicals. A violation
of any of the provisions of this chapter by any unlicensed employee in the practice of
veterinary medicine, with the knowledge of his employer, shall be deemed a violation
thereof by his employer. The Commissioner of Public Health may order a license holder
to submit to a reasonable physical or mental examination if his physical or mental capacity to practice safely is the subject of an investigation. Said commissioner may petition
the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to enforce such order or any action
taken pursuant to section 19a-17.
(1949 Rev., S. 4604; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 4; P.A. 77-614, S. 266, 610; P.A. 79-262, S. 2; P.A. 80-484, S. 80, 176; P.A.
88-230, S. 1, 12; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-142, S. 4, 7, 8; 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-220, S. 4-6; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58;
95-271, S. 38, 40.)
History: P.A. 77-614 specified that there must be notice and opportunity for hearing before revocation or suspension
of license, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-262 added Subdivs. (15) and (16) allowing suspension or revocation of license
for having professional association with or employing unlawful practitioner or failure to maintain sanitary conditions; P.A.
80-484 extended applicability to disciplinary actions listed in Sec. 19-4s, rewrote and moved provisions re grounds for
disciplinary action involving felony conviction and vice or drug addiction, replaced regulations of consumer protection
commissioner with regulations of health services commissioner, deleted Subdivs. (3) re conviction of crime of moral
turpitude, (7) to (11) re various types of advertising and (12) re unprofessional conduct, added new Subdivs. re grounds
of physical or mental illness, etc., renumbering and numbering as necessary, and added provisions re physical and mental
examinations and re petitions to court for enforcement of orders or actions; P.A. 88-230 replaced "judicial district of
Hartford-New Britain" with "judicial district of Hartford", effective September 1, 1991; P.A. 90-98 changed the effective
date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1991, to September 1, 1993; P.A. 93-142 changed the effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1993, to September 1, 1996, effective June 14, 1993; P.A. 93-381 replaced commissioner of health
services with commissioner of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 95-220 changed the
effective date of P.A. 88-230 from September 1, 1996, to September 1, 1998, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced
Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public
Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 95-271 amended Subdiv. (2) to require "negligence" rather than "gross negligence".
Sec. 20-203. Appeal. Any person aggrieved by a final decision of said board taken
under section 19a-17 may appeal therefrom as provided in section 4-183. Such appeal
shall be privileged.
(1949 Rev., S. 4605; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 6; 1971, P.A. 179, S. 14; 870, S. 63; P.A. 76-436, S. 427, 681; P.A. 77-603,
S. 73, 125; 77-614, S. 267, 610; P.A. 78-280, S. 45, 127; P.A. 80-484, S. 81, 176; P.A. 96-47, S. 10.)
History: 1971 acts required that petition be brought within fifteen days and between twelve and thirty days after service
rather than at next return day or "next but one" and, effective September 1, 1971, except that courts with cases pending
retain jurisdiction unless pending matters deemed transferable, replaced superior court with court of common pleas; P.A.
76-436 replaced court of common pleas with superior court and added reference to judicial districts, effective July 1, 1978;
P.A. 77-603 replaced provisions re petitions to court with statement that appeals be made in accordance with Sec. 4-183,
retaining privileged status of appeals; P.A. 77-614 deleted provision granting appeals privileged status, effective January
1, 1979; P.A. 78-280 restored provision granting appeals privileged status; P.A. 80-484 replaced reference to revocation
of license under Sec. 20-202 with reference to disciplinary actions under Sec. 19-4s; P.A. 96-47 changed "any action" to
"a final decision".
Sec. 20-204. Charges against veterinarian. Section 20-204 is repealed.
(1957, P.A. 360, S. 5; P.A. 80-484, S. 175, 176.)
Sec. 20-204a. Allegations of wrongdoing, investigation by department. (a) The
department shall investigate each allegation of any act or omission by a veterinarian
specified in section 20-202. The investigation shall be conducted in accordance with
the provisions of section 19a-14 to determine if probable cause exists to issue a statement
of charges and to institute proceedings against the veterinarian. Such investigation shall
be concluded not later than twelve months from the date the allegation is submitted to
the department.
(b) Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this section, the investigation
shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure under section 1-210 and no person
may disclose knowledge of the investigation to a third party unless the veterinarian
requests that the investigation be open.
(c) If the department makes a finding of no probable cause to take action under
section 20-202 or fails to make a finding within the twelve-month period required by
subsection (b) of this section, the allegation submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this
section and the entire record of the investigation may remain confidential and no person
shall disclose knowledge of such investigation to a third party unless the veterinarian
requests that it be open.
(d) If the department makes a finding that there is probable cause to take action
under section 20-202, the allegation submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section
and the entire record of such investigation shall be deemed a public record, in accordance
with section 1-210.
(P.A. 98-166, S. 1, 9.)
History: P.A. 98-166 effective June 4, 1998.
Sec. 20-205. When provisions not applicable. The provisions of this chapter shall
not apply to any person in governmental employ while acting in the scope of his or her
employment, or to any person who furnishes medical or surgical assistance without
compensation in an emergency, or to any veterinarian, licensed in another state, who is
employed as a direct consultant for not more than ten days during any calendar year
with any practitioner licensed in conformity with the provisions of section 20-197. The
provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any hospital, educational institution or laboratory or any state or federal institution, or any employee of, student in or person associated with any such hospital, educational institution or laboratory or state or federal
institution, while engaged in research or studies involving the use of medical, surgical
or dental procedures, or to the owner of any animal or livestock or his or her employee
while administering to such animal or livestock.
(1949 Rev., S. 4606; 1957, P.A. 360, S. 7; P.A. 86-123, S. 7; P.A. 03-198, S. 2; P.A. 04-257, S. 40.)
History: P.A. 86-123 specified that out-of-state licensees may serve as consultants for not more than ten days and
deleted provision prohibiting construction of chapter so as to prohibit a registered physician from prescribing for domestic
animals; P.A. 03-198 excluded owners of animals who are administering to their animals from requirement to have veterinary license and made a technical change; P.A. 04-257 made technical changes, effective June 14, 2004.
Sec. 20-205a. Disposition of abandoned animals. Any veterinarian may dispose
of any animal abandoned in his establishment, provided he shall give notice of his
intention to do so to the owner at his last-known address by registered or certified mail,
return receipt requested, and shall allow a period of fifteen days to elapse after the receipt
is returned before disposing of such animal; but, if the owner cannot be located at such
address, the veterinarian shall give such notice by publication in a newspaper having a
circulation in the town in which such owner was last known to reside, and shall allow
a period of fifteen days to elapse after such publication before disposing of such animal.
(1959, P.A. 345; P.A. 81-137.)
History: P.A. 81-137 reduced from thirty to fifteen the number of days a veterinarian must maintain an abandoned
animal after giving notice of his intention to dispose of the animal.
Sec. 20-206. Penalty. (a) Any person who practices veterinary medicine, surgery
or dentistry in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the
disciplinary actions specified in section 19a-17.
(b) Any person not licensed as provided in this chapter who represents himself as
a veterinarian or, having had his license suspended or revoked continues to represent
himself as a veterinarian or carries on veterinary medicine, surgery or dentistry as defined in section 20-197, shall be fined not more than three hundred dollars or imprisoned
not more than six months or both. Failure to renew a license in a timely manner shall
not constitute a violation for the purposes of this subsection. Any such person shall be
enjoined from such practice by the Superior Court upon application by the Connecticut
Board of Veterinary Medicine. The Department of Public Health may, on its own initiative or at the request of the board, investigate any alleged violation of this chapter or
any regulations adopted thereunder.
(1949 Rev., S. 4608; P.A. 85-314; P.A. 86-123, S. 9; P.A. 93-381, S. 9, 39; P.A. 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; P.A. 98-166, S.
2, 9.)
History: P.A. 85-314 was incorporated as Subsec. (b) through editorial action; P.A. 86-123 changed name of board
from "board of veterinary registration and examination" to "Connecticut board of veterinary medicine"; P.A. 93-381
replaced department of health services with department of public health and addiction services, effective July 1, 1993;
P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and
Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 98-166 amended Subsec. (a) to change penalty from fine and
imprisonment to disciplinary actions under Sec. 19a-17, effective June 4, 1998.