House 4762

WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 4762

By Delegates Funkhouser, Hornby, J. Cannon, Hanshaw (Mr. Speaker), McGeehan, Ellington, Foggin, Clark, Ferrell, Rohrbach, and Horst

[Introduced January 22, 2026; referred to the Committee on Government Organization]

A BILL to amend and reenact §30-10-8 and §30-10-10 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to providing reciprocity for veterinarians who are licensed in other states to practice veterinary medicine; providing the process and requirements; providing reciprocity to veterinary technicians who are licensed to practice in other states and providing the process and requirements for that reciprocal license; providing a new licensure for graduates of foreign veterinary schools to practice in a certified specialty area; creating a special permit for Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates participants and Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence participants; and creating a temporary license for graduates awaiting licensure that will authorize practice under existing licensed veterinarians' supervision; providing for rule-making.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

ARTICLE 10. VETERINARIANS.

§30-10-8. Requirements for Veterinary License.

(a) To be eligible for a license to practice veterinary medicine under the provisions of this article, the applicant must:

(1) Be of good moral character;

(2) (A) Be a graduate of an accredited school approved by the board; or

(B) Be a graduate of a foreign veterinary school and hold a certificate of competence issued by a foreign veterinary graduate educational organization as approved by the board;

(3) Have passed the examinations required by the board;

(4) Be at least 18 years of age;

(5) Be a citizen of the United States or be eligible for employment in the United States;

(6) Not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

(7) Not have been convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction within five years preceding the date of application for licensure which conviction remains unreversed; and

(8) Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction at any time if the offense for which the applicant was convicted related to the practice of veterinary medicine or animal abuse or neglect.

(b) A person seeking a license under the provisions of this article shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the board and pay all applicable fees.

(c) An applicant from another jurisdiction shall comply with all the requirements of this article section: Provided, That the board may issue a license to an applicant who holds and, for the five years immediately preceding the submission of his or her application, has held an active license, or similar credential, in good standing to practice veterinary medicine in a state, district, or territory of the United States that has licensure requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this article, and who avers that his or her license has never been suspended or revoked as a result of a disciplinary action in any state, district, or territory in which he or she has held a license to practice as veterinary medicine: Provided, however, That the board may require by rule, promulgated pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, that an applicant must provide a letter of good standing or other documentation demonstrating that his or her license has never been suspended or revoked as a result of a disciplinary action in each state, district, or territory where he or she holds and has held a license.

(d) A license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the board prior to July 1, 2010, shall for all purposes be considered a license issued under this article and may be renewed under this article.

(e) An application for a license to practice veterinary medicine submitted to the board prior to July 1, 2010, shall be considered in conformity with the licensing provisions of this article and the rules promulgated thereunder in effect at the time of the submission of the application.

§30-10-10. Requirements for a registered veterinary technician.

(a) To be eligible for a registration to practice veterinary technology under the provisions of this article, the applicant must:

(1) Be of good moral character;

(2) Have a degree in veterinary technology from an accredited school, approved by the board;

(3) Have passed the examinations required by the board;

(4) Be at least 18 years of age;

(5) Be a citizen of the United States or be eligible for employment in the United States;

(6) Not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

(7) Not have been convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction within five years preceding the date of application for registration which conviction remains unreversed; and

(8) Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction at any time if the offense for which the applicant was convicted related to the practice of veterinary technology or animal abuse or neglect.

(b) A person seeking registration under the provisions of this article shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the board and pay all applicable fees.

(c) A person registered to practice veterinary technology issued by the board prior to July 1, 2010, shall for all purposes be considered registered under this article and may renew pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(d) An applicant from another jurisdiction shall comply with all the requirements of this section: Provided, That the board may issue a license to an applicant who holds and, for the five years immediately preceding the submission of his or her application, has held an active license, or similar credential, in good standing to practice veterinary technology in a state, district, or territory of the United States that has licensure requirements that are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this article, and who avers that his or her license has never been suspended or revoked as a result of a disciplinary action in any state, district, or territory in which he or she has held a license to practice as veterinary technology: Provided, however, That the board may require by rule, promulgated pursuant to §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, that an applicant must provide a letter of good standing or other documentation demonstrating that his or her license has never been suspended or revoked as a result of a disciplinary action in each state, district, or territory where he or she holds and has held a license.

(e) An applicant who is a graduate of a foreign college or school of veterinary medicine and has submitted a transcript certifying completion of his or her education in veterinary medicine. In support of such certification of completion, such graduate may submit:

(1) An Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates and Program certificate or its substantial equivalent;

(2) A Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence certificate or its substantial equivalent; or

(3) Any other document as authorized by the board; and

(4) Has completed a residency program or similar training duration program of two or more years and has received board certification from a veterinary medicine specialty organization recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Board of Veterinary Specialties, or other American Veterinary Medical Association board approved organization; provided, however, that such applicant upon licensure shall only be authorized to practice veterinary medicine in the area of his or her certified veterinary medicine specialty; and provided, further, that any other practice of veterinary medicine shall be deemed a violation of §30-10-1 of this code.

(f) A special permit to practice as veterinary technician shall be granted to Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates and Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence participants who have not yet passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination.

(1) This permit shall be granted to all veterinary technician graduates for up to one year pending their completion of licensure;

(2) The board shall promulgate rules regarding this temporary license and renewals thereof.

(g) A temporary license for veterinary technician graduates awaiting licensure to  authorize practice under existing WV licensed veterinarians supervision and practice:

(1) This license shall be granted to all veterinary technician graduates for up to one year pending their completion of licensure;

(2) The board shall promulgate rules regarding this temporary license and renewals thereof.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to provide reciprocity for licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are licensed and in good standing in other states and offer specialized and temporary licensures to foreign graduates through PAVE and ECFVG, and to permit recent graduates to have a temporary license to practice under supervision while awaiting licensure completion.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.