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S. B. No. 2282 *SS36/R467* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Agriculture
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) McCaughn
SENATE BILL NO. 2282
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 73-39-53, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO EXPAND THE DEFINITION OF A VETERINARIAN TO INCLUDE GRADUATES OF 2
FOREIGN COLLEGES OR SCHOOLS OF VETERINARY MEDICINE WHO ARE BOARD 3
CERTIFIED IN A SPECIALTY; TO AMEND SECTION 73-39-59, MISSISSIPPI 4
CODE OF 1972, TO INCLUDED GRADUATES OF FOREIGN COLLEGES OR SCHOOLS 5
OF VETERINARY MEDICINE WHO ARE BOARD CERTIFIED IN A SPECIALTY AS 6
QUALIFIED TO PRACTICE VETERINARY MEDICINE IN THE STATE OF 7
MISSISSIPPI; TO AMEND SECTION 73-39-61, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 8
TO INCLUDE A VETERINARIAN LICENSED UNDER 73-39-53(u)(ii) TO BE 9
ALLOWED TO LECTURE AND PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING HIS OR HER 10
SPECIALTY AREA AT A VETERINARY MEDICAL SCHOOL IN CONNECTION WITH A 11
CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE OR SEMINAR; TO AMEND SECTION 73-39-67, 12
MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO ALLOW APPLICANTS THAT SATISFY THE 13
VETERINARIAN QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AS PROVIDED IN 14
73-39-53(u)(ii) TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A LICENSE TO PRACTICE 15
VETERINARY MEDICINE; TO AMEND SECTION 73-39-71, MISSISSIPPI CODE 16
OF 1972, TO ALLOW APPLICANTS THAT SATISFY THE VETERINARIAN 17
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS AS PROVIDED IN 73-39-53(u)(ii) TO BE 18
ELIGIBLE FOR A LICENSE BY ENDORSEMENT TO PRACTICE VETERINARY 19
MEDICINE; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 20
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 21
SECTION 1. Section 73-39-53, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 22
amended as follows: 23
73-39-53. When used in this chapter, these words and phrases 24
shall be defined as follows: 25
(a) "Abandoned" means to forsake entirely, to neglect 26
or refuse to provide or perform legal obligations for the care and 27
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support of an animal or to refuse to pay for treatment or other 28
services without an assertion of good cause. 29
(b) "Accredited college of veterinary medicine" means 30
any veterinary college, school or division of a university or 31
college that offers the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine or 32
its equivalent and that is accredited by the Council on Education 33
of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). 34
(c) "Accredited program in veterinary 35
technology/technician" means any postsecondary educational program 36
that is accredited by the Committee on Veterinary Technician 37
Education and Activities of the AVMA. 38
(d) "Animal" means any animal other than a human. 39
(e) "Board" means the Board of Veterinary Medicine. 40
(f) "Client" means the patient's owner, owner's agent 41
or other person responsible for the patient. 42
(g) "Complementary, alternative and integrative 43
therapies" means a heterogeneous group of preventive, diagnostic, 44
and therapeutic philosophies and practices, which at the time they 45
are performed may differ from current scientific knowledge, or 46
whose theoretical basis and techniques may diverge from veterinary 47
medicine routinely taught in accredited veterinary medical 48
colleges, or both. These therapies include, but are not limited 49
to, veterinary acupuncture, acutherapy and acupressure; veterinary 50
homeopathy; veterinary manual or manipulative therapy (therapies 51
based on techniques practiced in osteopathy, chiropractic medicine 52
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or physical medicine and therapy); veterinary nutraceutical 53
therapy; and veterinary phytotherapy. 54
(h) "Consultation" means when a licensed veterinarian 55
receives advice in person, telephonically, electronically or by 56
any other method of communication, from a veterinarian licensed in 57
this or any other state or other person whose expertise, in the 58
opinion of the licensed veterinarian, would benefit a patient. 59
(i) "Certified veterinary technician" means a 60
veterinary technician certified by the board. 61
(j) "Direct supervision" means a licensed veterinarian 62
is readily available on the premises where the patient is being 63
treated. 64
(k) "Educational equivalence" means the holder has 65
demonstrated knowledge and skill equivalent to that possessed by a 66
graduate of an accredited college of veterinary medicine. 67
(l) "Extralabel use" means actual use or intended use of a 68
drug in an animal in a manner that is not in accordance with the 69
approved labeling. This includes, but is not limited to, use in 70
species not listed in the labeling, use for indications (disease 71
or other conditions) not listed in the labeling, use at dosage 72
levels, frequencies, or routes of administration other than those 73
stated in the labeling, and deviation from the labeled withdrawal 74
time based on these different uses. 75
(m) "Impaired veterinarian" means a veterinarian who is 76
unable to practice veterinary medicine with reasonable skill and 77
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safety because of a physical or mental disability as evidenced by 78
a written determination from a competent authority or written 79
consent based on clinical evidence, including deterioration of 80
mental capacity, loss of motor skills, or abuse of drugs or 81
alcohol of sufficient degree to diminish the person's ability to 82
deliver competent patient care. 83
(n) "Indirect supervision" means a veterinarian has 84
given either written or oral instructions for treatment of the 85
patient and is readily available by telephone or other form of 86
communication. 87
(o) "Informed consent" means the veterinarian has 88
informed the client, in a manner that would be understood by a 89
reasonable person, of the diagnostic and treatment options, risk 90
assessment and prognosis and has provided the client with an 91
estimate of the charges for veterinary services to be rendered and 92
the client has consented to the recommended treatment. 93
(p) "Licensed veterinarian" means a person licensed to 94
practice veterinary medicine in this state. 95
(q) "Patient" means an animal that is examined or 96
treated by a veterinarian. 97
(r) "Person" means any individual, firm, partnership 98
(general, limited or limited liability), association, joint 99
venture, cooperative, corporation, limited liability company or 100
any other group or combination acting in concert and whether or 101
not acting as a principal, partner, member, trustee, fiduciary, 102
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receiver or as any other kind of legal or personal representative 103
or as the successor in interest, assignee, agent, factor, servant, 104
employee, director, officer or any other representative of such 105
person. 106
(s) "Practice of veterinary medicine" means: 107
(i) To diagnose, treat, correct, change, alleviate 108
or prevent animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, 109
injury or other physical, dental or mental conditions by any 110
method or mode, including: 111
1. The prescribing, dispensing, administering 112
or applying of any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, anesthetic 113
or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or medical or 114
surgical technique; or 115
2. The using of complementary, alternative 116
and integrative therapies; or 117
3. The rendering of advice or recommendation 118
by any means including telephonic and other electronic 119
communications with regard to any of the above. 120
(ii) To represent, directly or indirectly, 121
publicly or privately, an ability and willingness to do an act 122
described in this paragraph. 123
(iii) To use any title, words, abbreviation or 124
letters in a manner or under circumstances that induce the belief 125
that the person using them is qualified to do any act described in 126
this paragraph. 127
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(t) "Practice of veterinary technology" means to 128
perform patient care or other services that require a technical 129
understanding of veterinary medicine on the basis of written or 130
oral instruction of a veterinarian, excluding diagnosing, 131
prognosing, performing surgery or prescribing drugs, medicine or 132
appliances. 133
(u) "Veterinarian" means a person who * * * falls 134
within one (1) of the following categories: 135
(i) 1. Is a graduate of an accredited college or 136
a school of veterinary medicine accredited by the American 137
Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education or possesses 138
an ECFVG or PAVE certificate or substantial equivalent; and 139
2. Has passed a board approved examination; 140
provided, however, that the board may provide by rule or 141
regulation for a waiver of any part of such examination for 142
veterinarians who are licensed as such by another state and who 143
are in good standing therein; or 144
(ii) 1. Is a graduate of a foreign college or 145
school of veterinary medicine; and 146
2. Has completed a residency program or 147
similar training duration program of two (2) or more years and has 148
received board certification from a veterinary medical specialty 149
organization recognized by the American Veterinary Medical 150
Association, the American Board of Veterinary Specialties or other 151
American Veterinary Medical Association board approved 152
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organization; provided, however, that such application upon 153
licensure shall only be authorized to practice veterinary medicine 154
in the area of his or her certified veterinary medical specialty; 155
and provided, further, that any other practice of veterinary 156
medicine shall be deemed a violation of Sections 73-39-67 and 157
73-39-91. 158
(v) "Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" means 159
that all of the following are required: 160
(i) The veterinarian has assumed the 161
responsibility for making clinical judgments regarding the health 162
of the animal and the need for medical treatment, and the client 163
has agreed to follow the veterinarian's instructions. 164
(ii) The veterinarian has sufficient knowledge of 165
the animal to initiate at least a general or preliminary diagnosis 166
of the medical condition of the animal because the veterinarian 167
has recently seen and is personally acquainted with the keeping 168
and care of the animal either by virtue of an examination of the 169
animal or by medically appropriate and timely visits to the 170
premises where the animal is kept. 171
(w) "Veterinary medicine" means all branches and 172
specialties included within the practice of veterinary medicine. 173
(x) "Veterinary premises" means any premises or 174
facility where the practice of veterinary medicine occurs, 175
including, but not limited to, a mobile clinic, outpatient clinic, 176
satellite clinic or veterinary hospital or clinic, but shall not 177
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include the premises of a veterinary client, research facility, a 178
federal military base or an accredited college of veterinary 179
medicine. 180
(y) "Veterinary prescription drug" means a drug that 181
may not be dispensed without the prescription of a veterinarian 182
and that bears the label statement: "CAUTION: Federal law 183
restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed 184
veterinarian." 185
(z) "Veterinary technician" means a person certified by 186
the board as a veterinary technician. 187
(aa) "Veterinary technologist" means a graduate of a 188
four-year accredited program in veterinary technology. 189
SECTION 2. Section 73-39-59, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 190
amended as follows: 191
73-39-59. (1) No person may practice veterinary medicine in 192
the state who is not a licensed veterinarian * * *, the holder of 193
a valid temporary permit issued by the board, is considered a 194
veterinarian as defined in Section 73-39-53(u)(ii) or unless 195
otherwise exempt under this chapter. 196
(2) No person may practice veterinary medicine in the state 197
except within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient 198
relationship. 199
(3) A veterinarian-client-patient relationship cannot be 200
established solely by telephonic or other electronic means. 201
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SECTION 3. Section 73-39-61, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 202
amended as follows: 203
73-39-61. This chapter shall not be construed to prohibit: 204
(a) Any employee of the federal, state or local 205
government performing his or her official duties. 206
(b) Any student in an accredited college of veterinary 207
medicine or an accredited program in veterinary technology 208
performing duties or actions assigned by instructors or working 209
under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. 210
(c) Any person advising or performing acts that the 211
board has designated by rule as accepted livestock management 212
practices. 213
(d) Any person providing consultation to a licensed 214
veterinarian in this state on the care and management of a 215
patient. 216
(e) Any member in good standing of another licensed or 217
regulated profession within any state, or any member of an 218
organization or group approved by the board, providing assistance 219
requested by a veterinarian licensed in the state, acting with 220
informed consent from the client, and acting under the direct or 221
indirect supervision and control of the licensed veterinarian. 222
Providing assistance involves hands-on active participation in the 223
treatment and care of the patient. The licensed veterinarian 224
shall maintain responsibility for the veterinarian-client-patient 225
relationship. 226
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(f) Any veterinarian employed by an accredited college 227
of veterinary medicine providing assistance requested by a 228
veterinarian licensed in the state, acting with informed consent 229
from the client, and acting under the direct or indirect 230
supervision and control of the licensed veterinarian. Providing 231
assistance involves hands-on active participation in the treatment 232
and care of the patient. The licensed veterinarian shall maintain 233
responsibility for the veterinarian-client-patient relationship. 234
(g) Any pharmacist, merchant or manufacturer selling at 235
his or her regular place of business medicines, feed, appliances 236
or other products used in the prevention or treatment of animal 237
diseases as permitted by law. 238
(h) Any person lawfully engaged in horseshoeing. 239
(i) Any person rendering advice without expectation of 240
compensation. 241
(j) Any owner of an animal and any of the owner's 242
regular employees caring for and treating the animal belonging to 243
such owner, except when the ownership of the animal was 244
transferred for purposes of circumventing this chapter. A 245
veterinarian-client-patient relationship must exist when 246
prescription drugs or nonprescription drugs intended for 247
extralabel use are administered, dispensed or prescribed. 248
(k) Any instructor at an accredited college of 249
veterinary medicine or accredited program in veterinary technology 250
performing his or her regular functions or any person lecturing or 251
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giving instructions or demonstrations at an accredited college of 252
veterinary medicine, accredited program in veterinary technology 253
or in a veterinary or veterinary technology continuing education 254
course or seminar. 255
(l) Any person selling or applying pesticides, 256
insecticides or herbicides as permitted by law. 257
(m) Any person engaging in bona fide scientific 258
research that reasonably requires experimentation involving 259
animals. 260
(n) Any certified veterinary technician or other 261
employee of a licensed veterinarian performing duties other than 262
diagnosis, prognosis, prescription or surgery under the direction 263
and supervision of the veterinarian who shall be responsible for 264
the performance of the employee. 265
(o) Any graduate of a nonaccredited college of 266
veterinary medicine who is in the process of obtaining educational 267
equivalence and is performing duties or actions assigned by 268
instructors in an accredited college of veterinary medicine. 269
(p) Any person who, without expectation of 270
compensation, provides emergency veterinary care in an emergency 271
or disaster situation. 272
(q) Any animal shelter employee acting under the 273
supervision of a licensed veterinarian or authorized by the board 274
to perform euthanasia in the course and scope of employment. 275
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(r) Any wildlife rehabilitator that is licensed by a 276
federal or state agency performing duties in accordance with its 277
licensure authority. 278
(s) Any person considered a veterinarian permitted to 279
practice veterinary medicine in the area of his or her certified 280
veterinary medical specialty as outlined in Section 281
73-39-53(u)(ii). 282
(t) Any person licensed pursuant to Section 283
73-39-53(u)(ii) from lecturing or giving instructions or 284
demonstrations in an area within his or her certified veterinary 285
medical specialty at an accredited college or school of veterinary 286
medicine or school of veterinary technology and in connection with 287
a continuing education course or seminar. 288
SECTION 4. Section 73-39-67, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 289
amended as follows: 290
73-39-67. (1) To obtain a license to practice veterinary 291
medicine, a person shall file a written application and 292
application fee with the board. The application shall show that 293
the applicant: 294
(a) Is a graduate of an accredited college of 295
veterinary medicine; 296
(b) Is a graduate of a foreign college or school of 297
veterinary medicine and has completed a residency program or 298
similar training duration program of two (2) or more years and is 299
recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the 300
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American Board of Veterinary Specialties or other American 301
Veterinary Medical Association board approved organization; 302
provided, however, that such application upon licensure shall only 303
be authorized to practice veterinary medicine in the area of his 304
or her certified veterinary medical specialty; and provided, 305
further, that any other practice of veterinary medicine shall be 306
deemed a violation of Sections 73-39-67 and 73-39-91; or 307
(c) Has the educational equivalence as set by the 308
board. 309
The application shall also show that the applicant is a 310
person of good moral character and any other information and proof 311
as the board may require. 312
(2) If the board determines that the applicant possesses the 313
proper qualifications, it shall admit the applicant to the next 314
examination, or if the applicant is eligible for license by 315
endorsement, the board may grant him or her a license. If an 316
applicant is found not qualified to take the examination or for a 317
license by endorsement, the board shall notify the applicant in 318
writing within thirty (30) days of its finding and the grounds for 319
its findings. An applicant found unqualified may request a 320
hearing before the board. 321
(3) The board may grant a temporary license to an applicant 322
to practice veterinary medicine until the scheduled state board 323
examination, if the applicant pays the application fee, provides 324
sufficient evidence that he or she meets the qualifications for 325
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licensure, and provides evidence that he or she resides in the 326
State of Mississippi. The board may grant a second temporary 327
permit, but the board may not grant more than two (2) temporary 328
permits to any one (1) person. 329
(4) A person licensed by the board shall display the license 330
in the facility in which the licensee practices. 331
SECTION 5. Section 73-39-71, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 332
amended as follows: 333
73-39-71. (1) The board may issue a license by endorsement 334
to an applicant who furnishes satisfactory proof that he or she: 335
(a) Is a graduate of an accredited college of 336
veterinary medicine; 337
(b) Is a graduate of a foreign college or school of 338
veterinary medicine and has completed a residency program or 339
similar training duration program of two (2) or more years and is 340
recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the 341
American Board of Veterinary Specialties or other American 342
Veterinary Medical Association board approved organization; 343
provided, however, that such application upon licensure shall only 344
be authorized to practice veterinary medicine in the area of his 345
or her certified veterinary medical specialty; and provided, 346
further, that any other practice of veterinary medicine shall be 347
deemed a violation of Sections 73-39-67 and 73-39-91; or 348
(c) Has the educational equivalence as set by the 349
board. 350
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ST: Veterinarians; allow to practice when
educated at foreign institution and satisfied
additional requirements.
The applicant must also show that he or she is a person of 351
good moral character and is licensed to practice veterinary 352
medicine in at least one (1) state, territory or district of the 353
United States and has practiced veterinary medicine in one or more 354
of those states without disciplinary action by any state or 355
federal agency for at least the three (3) years immediately before 356
filing the application. 357
(2) The board may examine any person qualifying for 358
licensing under this section. 359
(3) The issuance of a license by endorsement to a 360
military-trained applicant, military spouse or person who 361
establishes residence in this state shall be subject to the 362
provisions of Section 73-50-1 or 73-50-2, as applicable. 363
SECTION 6. This act shall take effect and be in force from 364
and after July 1, 2026. 365