An Act amending the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326), known as the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, further providing for definitions, for Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and for additional duties of board of examiners and veterinary technicians; providing for scope of practice for veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses; and further providing for biennial educational requirements, for records and inspection of records, for penalties and for exemptions and exceptions.

PRINTER'S NO. 3576
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2620
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY STENDER, FRITZ, GILLEN, GREEN, JAMES, KEPHART,
ROWE AND ZIMMERMAN, JUNE 9, 2026
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, JUNE 10, 2026
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326),
entitled "An act regulating the practice of veterinary
medicine and imposing penalties," further providing for
definitions, for Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary
Medical Examiners and for additional duties of board of
examiners and veterinary technicians; providing for scope of
practice for veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses;
and further providing for biennial educational requirements,
for records and inspection of records, for penalties and for
exemptions and exceptions.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 3(5), (8), (9), (10), (13), (14) and (15)
of the act of December 27, 1974 (P.L.995, No.326), known as the
Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, are amended and the section is
amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 3. Definitions.--As used in this act:
* * *
(5) "Current licensee or certificate holder" means the
holder of a current license to practice veterinary medicine or
the holder of a certificate [of veterinary technician] as a
veterinary technician or veterinary nurse, which license or
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
certificate was issued under this act and which has not been
suspended or revoked and has not expired.
* * *
(8) "Licensed doctor of veterinary medicine" or "licensed
veterinarian" means a person qualified by educational training
and experience in the science and techniques of veterinary
medicine and who is currently
licensed by the board to practice veterinary medicine.
(9) "Veterinary medicine" means that branch of medicine
which deals with the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment,
administration, prescription, operation or manipulation or
application of any apparatus or appliance for any disease, pain,
deformity, defect, injury, wound, physical condition or mental
condition requiring medication of any animal or for the
prevention of [or the testing for the presence of] any disease.
(10) "Practice of veterinary medicine" includes, but is not
limited to, the practice by any person who (i) diagnoses,
treats, corrects, changes, relieves or prevents animal disease,
deformity, defect, injury or other physical, mental or dental
conditions by any method or mode, including the prescription or
administration of any prescription drug, medicine, biologic,
apparatus, application, anesthetic or other therapeutic or
diagnostic substance or technique on any animal, (ii) performs a
surgical operation, including cosmetic surgery, upon any animal,
(iii) performs any manual, mechanical, biological or chemical
procedure upon an animal for [the diagnosis or treatment of
sterility or infertility of animals] reproductive management,
(iv) represents himself as engaged in the practice of veterinary
medicine, (v) offers, undertakes, or holds himself out as being
able to diagnose, treat, operate, vaccinate, or prescribe for
20260HB2620PN3576 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
any animal disease, pain, injury, deformity, or physical
condition, (vi) uses any words, letters, or titles in such
connection or under such circumstances as to induce the belief
that the person using them is engaged in the practice of
veterinary medicine and such use shall be prima facie evidence
of the intention to represent himself as engaged in the practice
of veterinary medicine, (vii) performs diagnostic veterinary
pathology, (viii) implants electronic identification, as
determined by the board, upon any animal, (ix) renders advice or
recommendation by any means, including the electronic
transmission of data with regard to any of the above, or (x)
removes any embryo from an animal for the purpose of
transferring such embryo into another animal or cryopreserving
such embryo, except it shall not be considered the practice of
veterinary medicine when: (a) a person or his full-time employe
removes or transfers an embryo from the person's own animals for
the purpose of transferring or cryopreserving the embryo so long
as ownership of the animal is not transferred or employment of
the person is not changed for the purpose of circumventing this
act or (b) a person independently, with indirect veterinary
supervision, implants any embryo into an animal.
* * *
(13) "Certified veterinary technician" or "certified
veterinary nurse" means an individual who has successfully
completed a board-approved post-high school program of
veterinary technology accredited by an accrediting agency for
veterinary technology programs recognized by the United States
Department of Education, is certified by the board as a
veterinary technician or veterinary nurse and [who may] practice
veterinary technology under appropriate supervision of a
20260HB2620PN3576 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
licensed veterinarian as defined by board regulation or under
section 11.1. Unless authorized to practice veterinary
technology under this act, an individual may not practice
veterinary technology nor use the title "certified veterinary
technician" or the abbreviation ["CVT."] "CVT" or use the title
"certified veterinary nurse" or the abbreviation "CVN."
(14) "Veterinary assistant" means an employe of a licensed
veterinarian who does not hold certification as a veterinary
technician or veterinary nurse and whom the licensed
veterinarian deems competent to perform tasks involved in the
care and treatment of animals as defined by board regulation.
(15) "Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" means a
relationship satisfying all of the following conditions: (i) the
veterinarian has assumed the responsibility for making
veterinary medical judgments regarding the health of an animal
and the need for veterinary medical treatment, and the client,
owner or caretaker of the animal has agreed to follow the
instructions of the veterinarian; (ii) the veterinarian has
sufficient knowledge of the animal to initiate at least a
general, preliminary or tentative diagnosis of the medical
condition of the animal; (iii) the veterinarian is acquainted
with the keeping and care of the animal by virtue of [an] at
least one on-site physical examination of the animal or has made
medically appropriate and timely on-site physical visits to the
premises where the animal is kept; (iv) the veterinarian is
available for consultation in cases of adverse reactions to or
failure of the regimen of therapy; (v) the veterinarian
maintains records on the animal examined in accordance with
regulations established by the board.
(16) "Client" means a person who engages the professional
20260HB2620PN3576 - 4 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
services of a licensed veterinarian.
(17) "Direct veterinary supervision" means supervision by a
licensed veterinarian who is in the immediate vicinity and able
to advise or physically intervene in each procedure.
(18) "Indirect veterinary supervision" means supervision by
a licensed veterinarian who is not physically present but has
given written or oral instructions to a certified veterinary
technician, certified veterinary nurse or veterinary assistant
and is readily available for communication in person or through
electronic information and communication technology.
(19) "Large animal" means a domesticated bovine, equine,
ovine, porcine, caprine, cervid or avian animal.
(20) "Schedule II controlled substance" means a controlled
substance listed in section 4(2) of the act of April 14, 1972
(P.L.233, No.64), known as "The Controlled Substance, Drug,
Device and Cosmetic Act."
Section 2. Sections 4(a)(4) and 11 of the act are amended to
read:
Section 4. Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medical
Examiners.--(a) There is hereby established within the
Department of State the State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The
board shall consist of nine members, as follows:
* * *
(4) One member, appointed by the Governor with the advice
and consent of a majority of the members elected to the Senate,
who is certified as a veterinary technician or veterinary nurse
in accordance with this act.
* * *
Section 11. Additional Duties of Board of Examiners;
Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Nurses.--It shall further
20260HB2620PN3576 - 5 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
be the responsibility of the board to promulgate by regulation
the qualifications and requirements for the certification and
regulation of veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses. Such
regulations shall provide for disciplinary action and shall
prescribe the grounds for such action. The board shall have
authority to establish reasonable fees for certification as
hereinafter provided in this act.
Section 3. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 11.1. Scope of Practice for Veterinary Technicians
and Veterinary Nurses.--(a) Notwithstanding section 11 or a
regulation promulgated under section 11, a certified veterinary
technician or certified veterinary nurse may, under indirect
veterinary supervision, perform a manual, mechanical, biological
or chemical procedure for reproductive management of a large
animal if all of the following apply:
(1) The licensed veterinarian providing indirect veterinary
supervision has an established veterinarian-client-patient
relationship with the client responsible for the care of the
large animal.
(2) The licensed veterinarian providing indirect veterinary
supervision has determined that the certified veterinary
technician or certified veterinary nurse is competent to perform
the procedure.
(3) The licensed veterinarian providing indirect veterinary
supervision retains control and authority over the care of the
large animal during the procedure.
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize
a certified veterinary technician or certified veterinary nurse
to diagnose a condition of infertility or administer a Schedule
II controlled substance.
20260HB2620PN3576 - 6 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Section 4. Sections 18, 27.1, 28(b) and (c) and 32
introductory paragraph and (1), (2), (6) and (7) of the act are
amended to read:
Section 18. Biennial Educational Requirements.--Each holder
of a license to practice veterinary medicine under this act
shall be required to complete thirty clock hours of educational
programs in the twenty-four months preceding each renewal date,
and each holder of a certificate to practice veterinary
technology as a certified veterinary technician or certified
veterinary nurse under this act shall be required to complete
sixteen clock hours of educational programs in the twenty-four
months preceding each renewal date. Certification of such
completion shall be in accordance with regulations of the board.
All such educational programs shall be first approved by the
board and shall meet the standards promulgated by the board to
ensure that the programs meet the educational and professional
requirements of the profession and are designed to keep the
members of the profession abreast with current learning and
scholarship. No credit shall be given for any course in office
management or practice building.
Section 27.1. Records; Inspection of Records.--(a) A
licensed veterinarian subject to the provisions of this section
shall, as required by regulation of the board, keep or cause to
be kept a written record of all animals or groups of animals, as
the case may be, receiving veterinary services and provide a
summary or copy of that record to the owner of the animals when
requested. The minimum amount of information which shall be
included in written or electronically maintained records and
summaries and the minimum duration of time for which a licensed
veterinarian shall retain the records or a complete copy of the
20260HB2620PN3576 - 7 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
records shall be established by the board.
(b) (1) Copies of all records required to be kept by a
licensed veterinarian under this section, including, but not
limited to, records pertaining to diagnosis and treatment of
animals and records pertaining to drugs or devices for use on
animals, shall be provided to the board immediately upon
request. The records shall also be open to inspection by the
board or its authorized representatives during an inspection as
part of an inspection program adopted by the board or during an
investigation initiated in response to a complaint that a
licensee has violated any law or regulation that constitutes
grounds for disciplinary action by the board.
(2) Equipment and drugs on the premises or any other place
where veterinary medicine, dentistry or surgery is being
practiced, or otherwise in the possession of a licensed
veterinarian for purposes of the practice of veterinary
medicine, shall be open to inspection by the board or its
authorized representatives during an inspection as part of an
inspection program adopted by the board or during an
investigation initiated in response to a complaint that a
licensee has violated any law or regulation which constitutes
grounds for disciplinary action by the board.
Section 28. Penalties.--* * *
(b) Any person who engages in the practice of veterinary
medicine without the license required by this act or who
[performs the duties of an animal health technician] practices
veterinary technology as a certified veterinary technician or
certified veterinary nurse without the certificate required by
this act commits a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall,
upon conviction, for a first offense, be sentenced to a fine not
20260HB2620PN3576 - 8 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or to imprisonment for
not more than six months or both. A second offense shall be
subject to a fine not to exceed two thousand dollars ($2,000) or
imprisonment for a term of six months to one year or both.
(c) In addition to any other civil remedy or criminal
penalty provided for in this act, the board, by a vote of the
majority of the maximum number of the authorized membership of
the board as provided by law or by a vote of the majority of the
duly qualified and confirmed membership or a minimum of four
members, whichever is greater, may levy a civil penalty of up to
one thousand dollars ($1,000) on any current licensee or
certificate holder who violates any provision of this act or on
any person who practices veterinary medicine or [performs the
duties of an animal health technician] practices veterinary
technology as a certified veterinary technician or certified
veterinary nurse without being properly licensed or certified to
do so under this act. The board shall levy this penalty only
after affording the accused party the opportunity for a hearing,
as provided in Title 2 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
(relating to administrative law and procedure).
* * *
Section 32. Exemptions and Exceptions.--This act shall not
apply to any of the following:
(1) Students in schools or colleges of veterinary medicine
and programs of veterinary technology approved by the board
pursuant to section 8 in the performance of duties or actions
assigned by their instructors or when working under the
[immediate] direct veterinary supervision of a licensee.
(2) [Licensed veterinarians in good standing with their
respective states who are called from their states, provinces of
20260HB2620PN3576 - 9 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Canada or United States territories] A veterinarian who holds a
license from another state, a province of Canada or a United
States territory, is in good standing with the licensing
jurisdiction and is called from that jurisdiction to consult
with licensees of this State, but who: (i) [do] does not open an
office or appoint a place to do business within this State; (ii)
[do] does not print or use letterhead or business cards
reflecting addresses in this State; (iii) [do] does not
establish answering services or advertise the existence of a
practice's address within this State; (iv) [do] does not
practice veterinary medicine as [consultants] a consultant
rendering services directly to the public without the direction
and consultation of licensees of this State more than 16 days
per calendar year; or (v) [are] is providing services for
[organizations conducting public events] an organization
conducting a public event lasting less than ten days that
[utilize] utilizes animals in need of veterinary examinations,
treatments or oversight to promote the safety and health of the
public, the event or the animal participants.
* * *
(6) Any [nurse,] laboratory technician or other employe of a
licensed doctor of veterinary medicine when administering
medication or rendering auxiliary or supporting assistance under
the responsible supervision of such licensed [practitioner]
veterinarian, provided that this exemption shall not apply to
the performance of duties by any employe other than a [nurse or]
laboratory technician if those duties require an understanding
of animal science and provided further that this exemption shall
not apply to any graduate of a board-approved school or college
of veterinary medicine or to any graduate of a board-approved
20260HB2620PN3576 - 10 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
program of [animal health] veterinary technology.
(7) Any person performing normal husbandry practices on
[bovine, porcine, caprine, ovine or equine animals or avis] a
bovine, porcine, caprine, ovine, cervid, equine or avian animal.
* * *
Section 5. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20260HB2620PN3576 - 11 -
1
2
3
4
5
6