Veterinary technicians will now be included in Minnesota’s Veterinary Practice Act, a feat that veterinary professionals in the state have been working toward for over 20 years. The Licensed Veterinary Technician Bill was included in a 1,430-page omnibus package approved by the Minnesota state legislature on May 19 and signed into law May 25, 2024, by Governor Tim Walz. Its passage means a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) will be regulated by the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine. A huge thank you to all the veterinarians and veterinary technicians that supported the licensure initiative!
For over forty years, the MVMA has offered a voluntary certification program for veterinary technicians, which requires passing the VTNE and once the grandfather clause ended in 1990, graduating from a CVTEA-accredited program. However, there was no legal definition of the title so anyone could call themselves a veterinary technician, regardless if they were individuals trained on the job or those who did not pass the VTNE. Currently, veterinary technicians can only work under direct supervision (within visual or audible range) of a veterinarian, who assumes all responsibility for an employee’s professional performance. Now the scope of practice will be expanded to allow remote supervision of LVTs and will also allow them to provide direct supervision of unlicensed staff members. This scope of practice will still be under the direction and delegation of tasks from a licensed veterinarian.
Now what? We expect a lot of questions about what happens next. Please be patient, as we anticipate this to be a lengthy process and we don't currently have all the answers to the questions we know you have. The legislation authorizes the Board of Veterinary Medicine to establish licensure and related practice requirements for LVTs. The process is expected to take 12 to 18 months and the rules will become effective July 1, 2026. Drs. Ann Brownlee and Al Balay will represent MVMA along with Kim Horne, CVT, and Sam Geiling, CVT, representing MAVT to serve on a task force for the Board of Veterinary Medicine.
Final Bill Language (article 20, starts on page 323; enter 323.7 in the Jump to Page/Line number and hit enter in the search bar).
AVMA News (5/30/24): Minnesota creates title protection, licensure pathway for veterinary technicians
If you have further questions or feedback, please contact Dr. Allen Balay at ( [email protected] ) or 320-905-6423) or Kim Horne, AAS, CVT, VTS (Dermatology) at ( [email protected] ) or 952-270-5439).
View this important FAQ Document to help answer some basic questions and concerns
Introduced on Thursday, February 2nd, 2023, by Rep. John Huot-click here for more information
Introduced on Thursday, February 9th, 2023, by Senator Robert Kupec-click here for more information
1) Article's from the "Getting to the Bottom of the Veterinary Technician Shortage in Minnesota":