CODE OF VIRGINIA

(EFFECTIVE UNTIL JULY 1, 2018) EXCEPTIONS (§ 54.1-3801)

This chapter shall not apply to:

   1.  The owner of an animal and the owner’s full-time, regular employee
   caring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the
   ownership of the animal was transferred for the purpose of circumventing the
   requirements of this chapter;

   2.  Veterinarians licensed in other states called in actual consultation with
   veterinarians licensed in the Commonwealth who do not open an office or
   appoint a place to practice within the Commonwealth;

   3.  Veterinarians employed by the United States or by the Commonwealth while
   actually engaged in the performance of their official duties;

   4.  Veterinarians providing free care in underserved areas of Virginia who (i)
   do not regularly practice veterinary medicine in Virginia, (ii) hold a current
   valid license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in another state,
   territory, district or possession of the United States, (iii) volunteer to
   provide free care in an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the
   auspices of a publicly supported all volunteer, nonprofit organization that
   sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people,
   (iv) file copies of their licenses or certificates issued in such other
   jurisdiction with the Board, (v) notify the Board at least five business days
   prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such
   service, and (vi) acknowledge, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall
   only be valid, in compliance with the Board’s regulations, during the
   limited period that such free health care is made available through the
   volunteer, nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with
   the Board. The Board may deny the right to practice in Virginia to any
   veterinarian whose license has been previously suspended or revoked, who has
   been convicted of a felony or who is otherwise found to be in violation of
   applicable laws or regulations. However, the Board shall allow a veterinarian
   who meets the above criteria to provide volunteer services without prior
   notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization
   verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another
   state; or

   5.  Persons purchasing, possessing, and administering drugs in a public or
   private shelter as defined in § 3.2-6500, provided that such purchase,
   possession, and administration is in compliance with § 54.1-3423.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 54-786; c. 574; 1978, c. 539; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 740;
2008, c. 674; 2009, cc. 149, 169; 2014, c. 148; 2016, c. 479.