§ 17-101-307 — License required - Exemptions

(a) No person may practice veterinary medicine in this state who is not a licensed veterinarian or the holder of a valid temporary permit issued by the Arkansas Livestock and Poultry Commission. (b) This chapter shall not be construed to prohibit: (1) Employees of the United States Government or state government or employees of local government who are certified by an agency approved by the commission to perform euthanasia from performing their official duties; (2) Regular students in a veterinary school or college from performing duties or actions assigned by the school or college or working under the direct personal supervision of a veterinarian licensed in the State of Arkansas; (3) Reciprocal aid of neighbors in performing routine accepted livestock management practices without compensation; (4) Any veterinarian licensed in any foreign jurisdiction from consulting with a licensed veterinarian; (5) The owner of an animal, his or her consignees, and their employees from performing routine accepted livestock management practices in the care of animals belonging to the owner; (6) A member of the faculty of a veterinary school from performing his or her regular functions or a person from lecturing or giving instruction or demonstration at a veterinary school or in connection with a continuing education course or seminar for licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or veterinary technologists; (7) A person from engaging in bona fide scientific research that reasonably requires experimentation involving animals; (8) Any person: (A) Engaging in the art or profession of horseshoeing; (B) Training, except that the training shall not include diagnosing, prescribing, or dispensing of any therapeutic agent; (C) Selling medicines, feed, appliances, or other products used in the prevention or treatment of animal diseases as permitted by law, by any pharmacist, merchant, or manufacturer at his or her regular place of business; (D) Collecting, preparing, or freezing semen; and (E) Performing nonsurgical artificial insemination; (9) (A) Any act, task, or function performed by a veterinary technician or veterinary technologist at the direction of and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian, when: (i) The veterinary technician or veterinary technologist is certified by the commission as being qualified by training or experience to function as an assistant to a veterinarian; (ii) The act, task, or function is performed at the direction of and under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian in accordance with rules promulgated by the commission; and (iii) The services of the veterinary technician or veterinary technologist are limited to assisting the veterinarian in the particular fields for which he or she has been trained and certified. (B) Subdivision (b)(9)(A) of this section shall not limit or prevent any veterinarian from delegating to a qualified person any acts, tasks, or functions which are otherwise permitted by law but which do not include diagnosis, prescribing medication, or surgery; (10) A chiropractor licensed in this state and certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association or the equivalent thereof from performing chiropractic upon animals; (11) The practice of veterinary medicine through a program in partnership with federal Innovative Readiness Training if the veterinarian or veterinary technician has obtained a license to practice from another state, commonwealth, territory, or the District of Columbia; (12) A person from practicing or performing equine massage therapy or animal massage therapy; or (13) An emergency medical services personnel or an emergency medical services provider from transporting an injured police dog as authorized under § 20-13-217 .

Legislative History

Amended by Act 2023, No. 691,§ 163, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by Act 2023, No. 691,§ 162, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by Act 2023, No. 691,§ 161, eff. 7/1/2023. Amended by Act 2021, No. 790,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021. Amended by Act 2021, No. 390,§ 1, eff. 7/28/2021. Amended by Act 2019, No. 286,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 169,§ 3, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 169,§ 4, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2019, No. 139,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019. Amended by Act 2017, No. 205,§ 9, eff. 8/1/2017. Acts 1975, No. 650, § 14; A.S.A. 1947, § 72-1145; Acts 1993, No. 1198, § 1; 1995, No. 1348, § 5; 2001, No. 1741, § 6; 2011, No. 1031, § 1.