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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
veterinary technicians; certification; education alternative
Purpose
Adds alternative pathways for a person to become certified as a veterinary technician.
Background
The Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board (Board) is charged with protecting the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified, impaired or unprofessional practitioners of veterinary medicine through licensure and regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine and the voluntary certification of veterinary technicians (A.R.S. § 32-2207).
A person desiring to be certified as a veterinary technician must apply in writing to the Board and meet the following requirements: 1) be at least 18 years old; 2) submit satisfactory evidence of graduation from a two-year curriculum in veterinary technology, or the equivalent of such graduation as determined by the Board, in a college or other institution approved by the Board; 3) pass a national and state veterinary technician examination as adopted by the Board in rules; and 4) pay all applicable fees. A certified veterinary technician may perform those services, authorized by the Board in accordance with statute, in the employment of and under the direction, supervision and control of a licensed veterinarian who must be responsible for the performance of the certified veterinary technician (A.R.S. §§ 32-2201 and 32-2242).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows an applicant for a veterinary technician certification to furnish to the Board satisfactory evidence of graduation, or the equivalent of such graduation, from a two-year curriculum in a nonprofit organization approved by the Board.
2. Allows an applicant for a veterinary technician certificate, in lieu of the two-year curriculum requirement, to furnish to the Board a record of working for at least 4,000 hours, within six years, under direct supervision of a state licensed veterinarian during which the applicant learned skills pursuant to the veterinary technology student essential and recommended skills list prescribed by a national nonprofit organization that prescribes and enforces standards for veterinary education.
3. Deems an applicant, who satisfies the requirements for the alternative supervised work training route of certification, eligible to take:
a) the Veterinary Technician National Examination; and
b) any state examination for veterinary technicians approved by the Board.
4. Requires, for the alternative route of certification, the supervised work to include:
a) a description of the skill or skills the applicant developed; and
b) the affidavit of the responsible veterinarian.
5. Requires, the responsible veterinarian, before beginning any supervised work, to provide the Board on a form approved by the Board the following information:
a) the name of the applicant;
b) the name of the responsible veterinarian;
c) the location of the premises at which the supervised work will occur; and
d) a description of the training that will be provided to the applicant to meet the certification requirements.
7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Removes the authorization of an applicant for a veterinarian technician certification, in lieu of the two-year curriculum requirement, to furnish to the Board at least 4,000 hours of on-the-job training.
2. Requires the supervised work to include an affidavit, rather than a signature, from a responsible veterinarian.
3. Requires the responsible veterinarian, before beginning any supervised work, to provide the Board on a form approved by the Board the following information:
a) the name of the applicant;
b) the name of the responsible veterinarian;
c) the location of the premises at which the supervised work will occur; and
d) a description of the training that will be provided to the applicant to meet the certification requirements.
4. Defines responsible veterinarian as a veterinarian who is licensed in Arizona and who is responsible for the supervised work of an applicant for certification under the alternative supervised work requirements and for any veterinarians who provide direct supervision of the applicant.
5. Makes conforming changes.
Senate Action
RAGE 2/4/26 DPA 6-1-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2026
JT/HD/ci