Practicing without license — Penalties.
Ark. Code Ann. § 17-101-314
in effect(a)(1)(A) If upon review of a complaint the Arkansas Board of Animal Health has probable cause to believe that a veterinarian or an unlicensed person acting as a veterinarian has violated the provisions of this chapter, he or she may issue a citation to the veterinarian or unlicensed person, as provided in this section.
(B) Each citation shall be in writing and shall describe with particularity the nature of the violation, including a reference to the provision of this chapter alleged to have been violated.
(C) Each citation may also contain an order of abatement fixing a reasonable time for abatement of the violation and may contain an assessment of a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(2) The citation shall be served upon the veterinarian or unlicensed individual personally or by any type of mailing requiring a return receipt.
(b)(1) If a veterinarian or unlicensed person desires to administratively contest a civil citation or the proposed assessment of a civil penalty, he or she shall notify within ten (10) business days after service of the citation the executive officer in writing of his or her request.
(2) Upon receipt of the request, a hearing on the matter shall be scheduled before the board.
(c) Any administrative hearing shall be governed by the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq.
(d) In addition to the penalties provided in this section, the board may institute legal proceedings to enjoin the violation of the provisions of this chapter or the rules of the board in any court of competent jurisdiction, and the court may grant a temporary or permanent injunction restraining the violation thereof.
17-101-315. Equine teeth floating.
(a) The Arkansas Board of Animal Health may enforce board policy regarding equine teeth floating by either investigating or prosecuting an individual practitioner engaged in equine teeth floating .
(b)(1) Before engaging in the practice of equine teeth floating in the state, an individual practitioner shall present to the board signed letters of recommendation from two (2) clients who have previously employed the individual practitioner and who bear witness to the individual practitioner's ability to perform equine teeth floating.
(2) The letters of recommendation shall be presented to the board before providing service to a client or performing any procedure on any animal.
17-101-316. Livestock embryo transfer or transplant and livestock pregnancy determination.
(a) The Arkansas Board of Animal Health under a board rule or policy may investigate an individual technician who engages in both:
(1) Livestock embryo transfer or transplant; and
(2) Livestock pregnancy determination.
(b) Before engaging in livestock embryo transfer or transplant and livestock pregnancy determination in the state, an individual technician shall obtain a certification from the board.
(c)(1) An applicant for certification shall submit the following information to the Department of Agriculture with an application and application fee of one thousand dollars ($1,000):
(A)(i) One (1) letter from a licensed veterinarian who has witnessed the applicant's ability to perform livestock embryo transfer or transplant and livestock pregnancy determination on at least three (3) occasions within six (6) consecutive months.
(ii) The letter described in subdivision (c)(1)(A)(i) of this section shall include the dates that the veterinarian spent with the applicant and an endorsement certifying that the applicant is proficient in the following areas:
(a) Basic knowledge, skills, and abilities required to proficiently extract, grade, freeze, thaw, and transfer livestock embryos; and
(b) The ability to properly use ultrasound equipment in determining pregnancy status with at least ninety percent (90%) accuracy beginning at sixty (60) days of pregnancy and with at least ninety percent (90%) accuracy when identifying trimester;
(B) A record of successfully completing a qualified course taught by a livestock reproduction specialist on both livestock embryo transfer and livestock pregnancy determination;
(C) Proof that the applicant has at least fifty percent (50%) financial interest in livestock management equipment, including without limitation ultrasound equipment, microscope, embryo freezer, and other required transfer tools; and
(D) Proof of membership in either the International Embryo Technology Society or the American Embryo Transfer Association.
(2) The department shall approve or deny certification within thirty (30) days of receiving an application.
(d)(1) A certification under this section expires after two (2) years.
(2) An individual technician shall submit a renewal application and renewal application fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) to the board along with a record of completion of a continuing education course on bovine reproduction within the United States or Canada.
(3) The department shall approve or deny recertification within thirty (30) days of receiving a renewal application.
(e) An embryo transfer technician may only administer to livestock prescription drugs that have been prescribed by a licensed veterinarian who has a valid veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
17-101-317. Veterinary technologist and veterinary technician specialist — Grounds for denial, suspension, or revocation.
(a) Upon written complaint by any person or on the Arkansas Board of Animal Health's own motion and after notice and hearing as prescribed in the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, § 25-15-201 et seq., the board may suspend any certification or revoke any certificate of qualification of the applicant, veterinary technologist, or veterinary technician specialist for the following conduct:
(1) Solicitation of patients on behalf of a veterinarian or veterinary technician;
(2) Solicitation or receiving any form of compensation from any person other than his or her registered employer for his or her employment;
(3) Willful or negligent disclosure of a professional secret or discussing a veterinarian's diagnosis or treatment without the express permission of the veterinarian;
(4)(A) Any offense punishable by incarceration in the Division of Correction or federal prison.
(B) A copy of the record of conviction, certified by the clerk of the court entering the conviction, shall be evidence;
(5) Inability to practice as a veterinary technologist or a veterinary technician specialist with reasonable skill and safety to patients due to illness, the use of drugs, alcohol, narcotics, or chemicals, or as a result of any mental or physical condition;
(6) Fraud or misrepresentation in applying for or procuring:
(A) A certificate of qualification to perform as a veterinary technologist or veterinary technician specialist in Arkansas; or
(B) An annual employment registration;
(7) Impersonation of another person registered as a veterinary technologist or veterinary technician specialist or authorization of any person to use his or her certificate of qualification or registration;
(8) Aids or abets the practice of veterinary medicine by a person not licensed by the board;
(9) Incompetence, gross negligence, or other malpractice in the performance of duties, tasks, or functions assigned to him or her by a licensed veterinarian;
(10) Incapacity or incompetence to perform as a veterinary technologist or veterinary technician specialist;
(11) Cruelty to animals;
(12) Failure:
(A) Of any applicant or licensee to cooperate with the Department of Agriculture during any investigation, if the investigation does not concern the applicant or licensee;
(B) To comply with any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum from the board or an order of the board; or
(C) To timely pay certification or renewal fees; or
(13) Unprofessional conduct or conduct that is detrimental to the best interests of the public.
(b) At the discretion of the board, a person whose certificate of qualification is suspended or revoked by the board under this section may be:
(1) Recertified or reinstated by the board at any time upon written application to the board showing cause to justify recertification or reinstatement; and
(2) Subject to civil penalties under § 17-101-311 as determined by the board.
17-101-318. Veterinarians — Restricted license.
(a) The Director of the Arkansas Board of Animal Health or his or her designee may issue a restricted license to a person who has graduated from an accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine but has not passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, or its future equivalent, to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(b) A restricted license shall be issued by the board upon the receipt of the following:
(1) A completed application as described in § 17-101-301 and the application fee established by the board, if not previously submitted during the applicant's final year of veterinary school;
(2) A restricted license fee established by the board;
(3) A letter of recommendation from the supervising licensed veterinarian; and
(4) Written confirmation that the applicant is scheduled to take the next available North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, or its future equivalent.
(c) If the applicant fails to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, or its future equivalent, after receiving a restricted license, the applicant may be issued another restricted license by submitting the following:
(1) The restricted license fee established by the board;
(2) A letter of recommendation from the supervising licensed veterinarian; and
(3) Written confirmation that the applicant is scheduled to take the next available North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, or its future equivalent.
(d)(1) A restricted license shall expire the day after the results of the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, or its future equivalent, are made known to the applicant.
(2) An applicant shall not be issued more than three (3) restricted licenses.
(e) The applicant is eligible for an unrestricted license to practice veterinary medicine upon receiving a passing score on the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, or its future equivalent, if all other requirements are met for the unrestricted license.
(f) A restricted licensee shall not apply:
(1) For a United States Drug Enforcement Administration registration; or
(2) To become an accredited veterinarian through the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
17-101-319. Veterinary technician specialist — Certification.
(a)(1) The Arkansas Board of Animal Health shall issue additional certifications for a veterinary technician specialist.
(2) For an applicant seeking certification as a veterinary technician specialist, the board may require:
(A) An initial application and an initial application fee as determined by the board;
(B) A renewal application and a renewal application fee as determined by the board; and
(C) Any other relevant information determined by the board.
(b)(1) A veterinary technician specialist shall perform specialized veterinary technology under the direction, supervision, and responsibility of the:
(A) Licensed veterinarian with whom he or she is employed; or
(B) Collaborating veterinarian under a collaborative practice agreement.
(2) Supervision of a veterinary technician specialist may be direct supervision, indirect supervision, or immediate supervision.
(3)(A) A veterinarian who utilizes indirect supervision of a veterinary technician specialist shall:
(i) Retain control of and authority over the care of the animal patient; and
(ii) Review all record keeping and notes documented by the veterinary technician specialist on the charts regarding the care of the animal patient.
(B) When utilizing indirect supervision, a supervising veterinarian may authorize a veterinary technician specialist to go to a location other than the location of the supervising veterinarian to provide services based on an emergency call for an animal patient.
(c)(1) A licensed veterinarian using, supervising, or employing a veterinary technician specialist is individually responsible and liable for the performance of the acts and omissions delegated to the veterinary technician specialist.
(2) This subsection does not relieve a veterinary technician specialist of any responsibility or liability for any of his or her own acts and omissions.
(3) A licensed veterinarian shall not establish a separate office or clinic in a location other than his or her regular office and place the separate office or clinic under the control or supervision of a veterinary technician specialist.
(d) A veterinary technician specialist shall not receive compensation for performing the practice of specialized veterinary technology other than the salary or compensation paid to the veterinary technician specialist by the veterinary clinic, veterinary practice, or veterinarian by which he or she is employed.
(e) A person shall not use or assume the title “certified veterinary technician specialist”, “veterinary technician specialist”, “VTS”, or “CVTS” or use any words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating or implying that the person holds a veterinary technician specialist certification unless the person is certified by the board.
17-101-320. Collaborative practice agreement.
(a)(1)(A) A veterinary technician specialist and a veterinarian may enter into a collaborative practice agreement.
(B) A veterinarian shall not enter into a collaborative practice agreement with more than three (3) veterinary technician specialists at one (1) time.
(2) A collaborative practice agreement shall include without limitation provisions addressing:
(A) The location and license details of both the veterinary technician specialist and collaborating veterinarian as well as the availability of the collaborating veterinarian for consultation or referral, or both;
(B) Methods of management of the collaborative practice, which shall include protocols for technical duties;
(C) Coverage of the veterinary needs of an animal patient in the emergency absence of the veterinary technician specialist or collaborating veterinarian; and
(D) Quality assurance with monthly reviews of the veterinary technician specialist's animal patients' medical records or case discussions with the collaborating veterinarian.
(3) If a collaborative practice results in complaints of violations of this chapter, the Arkansas Board of Animal Health may review the role of the collaborating veterinarian or the veterinary technician specialist in the collaborative practice to determine if the collaborating veterinarian or the veterinary technician specialist is unable to manage his or her responsibilities under the collaborative practice agreement without an adverse effect on the quality of care of the animal patient.
(4) A veterinary technician specialist shall notify the Department of Agriculture in writing within seven (7) days following the termination of a collaborative practice agreement.
(b)(1) A veterinary technician specialist may receive drugs, medicines, or therapeutic devices appropriate to the veterinary technician specialist's area of practice.
(2) If the collaborative practice agreement between a veterinary technician specialist and a collaborating veterinarian is terminated, a new collaborative practice agreement shall be required.
(3) Under the supervision of a collaborating veterinarian, a veterinary technician specialist may:
(A)(i) Establish care for new animal patients by forming a preliminary veterinarian-client-patient relationship on behalf of the collaborating veterinarian with the animal patient or client, order diagnostics, provide a diagnosis or a prognosis, and develop treatment plans with a collaborating veterinarian.
(ii) The collaborating veterinarian shall complete the veterinarian-client-patient relationship by personally seeing the animal patient within fifteen (15) days;
(B) Perform the induction, maintenance, and monitoring of anesthesia for an animal patient except when in conflict with state or federal law;
(C) Perform minor dental and surgical procedures on animal patients, excluding abdominal, thoracic, or orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery;
(D) Administer a drug or controlled substance to prevent suffering of animal patients, including without limitation euthanasia, under direct communication with a collaborating veterinarian;
(E) Initiate and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on animal patients, including administration of medication and defibrillation, and provide immediate post-resuscitation care according to established protocols except when in conflict with state or federal law; and
(F) Dispense and administer medicines or therapeutic devices for animal patients except when in conflict with state or federal law.
(c) The veterinary technician specialist shall keep accurate records in accordance with the rules of the Arkansas Board of Animal Health, including without limitation the medical history, physical examination, other evaluations and consultations, treatment plan objective, informed consent noted in the animal patient's record, treatment, prescriptions, and medications given, agreements regarding the animal patient, and periodic reviews.
Source: Arkansas General Assembly, Acts of 2021-2026 (arkleg.state.ar.us)URL: https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Acts/FTPDocument?path=%2FACTS%2F2025R%2FPublic%2F&file=703.pdf&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025RFetched: 11/8/2026