Establishes institutional license for veterinarians employed at accredited veterinary schools.

S3971

SENATE, No. 3971

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� JOHN J. BURZICHELLI

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes institutional license for veterinarians
employed at accredited veterinary schools.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning institutional licensure for veterinarians
and supplementing chapter 16 of Title 45 of the Revised Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.�������� An individual
who practices veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery as an employee of an
accredited veterinary school in the State shall be:

���� (1)�� currently licensed in
the State as a veterinarian; or

���� (2)�� eligible for
institutional licensure in the State as a veterinarian and issued an
institutional license to practice veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery
only as it relates to the individual�s regular function as an employee of the
accredited veterinary school.

���� b.��� An individual seeking
institutional licensure shall submit to the board:

���� (1)�� documentation, as
determined by the board, demonstrating proof that the applicant has been
awarded a degree in veterinary medicine and has passed the New Jersey
Jurisprudence Examination;

���� (2)�� proof of the applicant�s
employment at, or offer of employment from, an accredited veterinary school in
the State;

���� (3)�� certification that the
applicant understands and agrees that the institutional license shall only be
valid for the practice of veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery
associated with the applicant�s employment at the accredited veterinary school
where the applicant is or will be employed;

���� (4)�� a fee as determined by
the board; and

���� (5)�� any other information
required by the board through regulation.

���� c.���� An accredited
veterinary school in the State may submit applications for institutional
licensure of its employees or future employees to the board in a compiled
format accessible to the board and with a single form of payment for the
applicable fees.

���� d.��� An institutional license
issued pursuant to this section shall be revoked by the board upon receipt of
information that indicates the licensee is no longer employed at an accredited
veterinary school in the State.

���� e.���� An individual licensed
pursuant to this section shall act in compliance with all existing laws and
regulations governing the practice of veterinary medicine, dentistry, and
surgery in the State.

���� f.���� In accordance with
chapter 16 of Title 45 of the Revised Statutes:

���� (1) practicing veterinary medicine beyond the scope of
an institutional license shall be the equivalent of practicing veterinary
medicine, dentistry, and surgery without a license, and shall be grounds for
discipline; and

���� (2)��
an institutional license issued pursuant to this section may
be revoked or suspended or the licensee may be otherwise disciplined.

���� g.��� An individual issued an institutional license pursuant
to this section shall be remunerated for the practice of veterinary medicine,
dentistry, and surgery within the State solely from State, federal, or
institutional funds and not from the patient-owner beneficiary of the
individual�s practice efforts.

���� 2.��� The State Board of
Veterinary Medical Examiners, pursuant to the �Administrative Procedure Act,�
P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), shall adopt rules and regulations to
effectuate the purposes of this act.

���� 3.��� This act shall take
effect on the first day of the 18th month next following the date of enactment,
except that the board may take any anticipatory administrative action in
advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes an
institutional license for individuals to practice veterinary medicine,
dentistry, and surgery while employed at an accredited veterinary school in the
State.

���� Under the bill, an
institutional license would permit the licensee to practice veterinary
medicine, dentistry, and surgery only as it relates to the licensee�s regular
function as an employee of an accredited veterinary school in the State.� The
bill requires applicants for institutional licensure to submit proof, as
determined by the board, (1) that the applicant has been awarded a degree in
veterinary medicine and has passed the New Jersey Jurisprudence Examination;
(2) proof of employment at, or an offer of employment from, an accredited
veterinary school in the State; and (3) certification that the applicant
understands the institutional license only permits the licensee to practice
veterinary medicine, dentistry, and surgery in association with the licensee�s
employment at an accredited veterinary school in the State.�

���� The bill also permits an
accredited veterinary school in the State to submit applications for
institutional licensure on behalf of employees and future employees of the
school in a compiled format and with one form of payment for the applicable
fees.

���� The board is required by the
bill to revoke an institutional license upon receipt of information by the
board that indicates the licensee is no longer employed at an accredited
veterinary school in the State.

���� A veterinarian issued an
institutional license under the provisions of the bill is required to act in
compliance with all other regulations governing veterinarians licensed in the
State and is required to
be
remunerated solely from State, federal, or institutional funds and not from the
patient-owner beneficiary of the veterinarian�s practice efforts.