Chapter VE 2

VE 2.12   Renewal of certification.

VE 2.14   Continuing education; requirements.

VE 2.16   Continuing education; programs and courses.

Subchapter III – Standards of Practice and Unprofessional Conduct

VE 2.18   Prohibited acts.

VE 2.20   Change of name and address.

VE 2.22   Display of certificate.

VE 2.24   Standards of practice.

VE 2.26   Unprofessional conduct.

VE 2.28   Board action.

Ch. VE 2 Note Note: Chapter VE 2 as it existed on September 30, 1989 was repealed and a new Chapter VE 2 was created effective October 1, 1989. Chapter VE 2 as it existed on July 31, 2022, was repealed and a new Chapter VE 2 was created effective August 1, 2022.

subch. I of ch. VE 2 Subchapter I – Authority and Definitions

VE 2.01 VE 2.01 Authority. The rules in this chapter are adopted by the veterinary examining board pursuant to the authority delegated by ss. 15.08 (5), 89.03 (1) and (2), and 227.11 (2), Stats.

VE 2.01 History History: CR 21-062: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

VE 2.02 VE 2.02 Definitions. In this chapter:

VE 2.02(1) (1) “Accredited college or university” means an educational institution that is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

VE 2.02(2) (2) “AVMA” means the American veterinary medical association.

VE 2.02(3) (3) “Board” means the veterinary examining board.

VE 2.02 Note Note: The board office is located at 2811 Agriculture Drive, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, Wisconsin 53708-8911.

VE 2.02(4) (4) “Certificate” means a document issued to a person by the board, after the person has met the requirements of s. 89.06 (3), Stats., signifying that the person has met the statutory requirements to practice veterinary technology in Wisconsin.

VE 2.02(5) (5) “Client” has the meaning set forth at s. 89.02 (3), Stats.

VE 2.02(6) (6) “Department” has the meaning set forth at s. 89.02 (3d), Stats.

VE 2.02(7) (7) “Patient” has the meaning set forth at s. 89.02 (4s), Stats.

VE 2.02(8) (8) “VTNE” means the veterinary technician national exam.

VE 2.02 History History: CR 21-062: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

subch. II of ch. VE 2 Subchapter II – Certification

VE 2.04 VE 2.04 Certification.

VE 2.04(1) (1) The board may issue a certificate to practice as a veterinary technician to an applicant who does all of the following:

VE 2.04(1)(a) (a) Submits an application form provided by the board which includes the applicant’s notarized signature.

VE 2.04 Note Note: Applications are available upon request to the board office located at 2811 Agriculture Drive, P.O. Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708-8911 or at the website at www.datcp.wi.gov.

VE 2.04(1)(b) (b) Meets the age and training requirements of s. 89.06 (3), Stats.

VE 2.04(1)(c) (c) Pays one of the following nonrefundable fees as applicable:

VE 2.04(1)(c)1. 1. $115 for an applicant who has never been credentialed in Wisconsin or another jurisdiction.

VE 2.04(1)(c)2. 2. $185 for an applicant who has previously been credentialed in Wisconsin or another jurisdiction.

VE 2.04(1)(d) (d) Has successfully completed both the VTNE and an examination on state laws and rules related to the practice of veterinary technology, the results of which shall be submitted directly to the board by the department’s office of examinations or the interstate reporting services.

VE 2.04(1)(e) (e) Provides verification of licensure records and status which has been provided directly to the board by the jurisdictions or the American Association of Veterinary State Boards for every state or country in which the applicant has ever held a license or certificate to practice veterinary technology.

VE 2.04 Note Note: The board accepts the classification of “veterinary nurse” in other jurisdictions as equivalent to “veterinary technician.”

VE 2.04(1)(f) (f) Does not have a conviction record or pending criminal charge relating to an offense the circumstances of which substantially relate to the practice of veterinary technology. An applicant who has a conviction record or pending criminal charge shall request appropriate authorities to provide information about the record or charge directly to the board in sufficient specificity to enable the board to make a determination.

VE 2.04(1)(g) (g) Provides all supporting documents in English.

VE 2.04(2) (2) The board shall review its records to determine eligibility of the applicant. Within 30 business days of determining an applicant is eligible for certification, the board shall issue a certificate to the applicant.

VE 2.04(3) (3) The board shall inquire as to whether the applicant is competent to practice as a veterinary technician in this state and shall impose any reasonable conditions on instatement of the certificate, including reexamination, as the board deems appropriate, if any of the following apply:

VE 2.04(3)(a) (a) The applicant has not previously been certified in any jurisdiction and passed the VTNE more than 5 years ago.

VE 2.04(3)(b) (b) The applicant was previously certified in Wisconsin or another jurisdiction and has not been certified in any jurisdiction for more than 5 years.

VE 2.04(3)(c) (c) The applicant has prior related discipline or litigation in another jurisdiction.

VE 2.04(3)(d) (d) The applicant has pending related discipline or litigation in any jurisdiction.

VE 2.04 History History: CR 21-062: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

VE 2.06 VE 2.06 Reciprocal credentials for service members, former services members, their spouses.

VE 2.06(1) (1) The board shall grant a certification to an individual who the board determines meets all of the requirements under s. 89.073, Stats.

VE 2.06(2) (2) A person applying for a reciprocal credential under s. 89.073, Stats., shall pay one of the following nonrefundable fees as applicable:

VE 2.06(2)(a) (a) $40 for a service member or former service member.

VE 2.06(2)(b) (b) $141 for a spouse as defined by s. 89.073 (1) (c), Stats.

VE 2.06 History History: CR 21-062: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22; correction in (1), (2) (intro.), (b) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register July 2022 No. 799.

VE 2.08 VE 2.08 Passing scores.

VE 2.08(1) (1) The passing score for veterinary technician applicants on the written national examination shall be based on the board’s determination of the level of examination performance required for minimum acceptable competence in the profession. The board shall make the determination after consultation with subject matter experts who have reviewed a representative sample of the examination questions and available candidate performance statistics, and shall set the passing score for the examination at that point that represents minimum acceptable competence in the profession. The board may accept the recommendation of the national examination provider.

VE 2.08(2) (2) The passing score for an examination on state laws and rules related to the practice of veterinary technology shall be based on the board’s determination of the level of examination performance required for minimum acceptable competence in the profession. The board shall make the determination after consultation with subject matter experts who have reviewed a representative sample of the examination questions and available candidate performance statistics, and shall set the passing score for the examination at that point that represents minimum acceptable competence in the profession.

VE 2.08 History History: CR 21-062: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

VE 2.10 VE 2.10 Administrative fees.

VE 2.10(1) (1) A person requesting a printed certificate shall pay a nonrefundable fee of $10.

VE 2.10(2) (2) A person requesting verification of certification to another state or organization shall pay a nonrefundable fee of $10.

VE 2.10 History History: CR 21-062: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

VE 2.12 VE 2.12 Renewal of certification. A certificate expires if not renewed by January 1 of even-numbered years. A certificate holder who allows the certificate to expire may apply to the board for renewal of the certificate as follows:

VE 2.12(1) (1) If the certificate holder applies for renewal of the certificate less than 5 years after its expiration, the certificate shall be renewed upon payment of the renewal fee and late fee and fulfillment of 15 hours of continuing education required under s. VE 2.14 completed before the certificate renewal.

VE 2.12(2) (2) If the certificate holder applies for renewal of the certificate 5 or more years after its expiration, in addition to requiring the certificate holder to pay the renewal fee and late fee, and to fulfill the continuing education hours required under s. VE 2.14 completed before the certificate renewal, the board shall inquire as to whether the applicant is competent to practice as a veterinary technician in this state and shall impose any reasonable conditions on renewal of the certificate including reexamination, as the board deems appropriate. An applicant under this subsection is presumed to be competent to practice as a veterinary technician in this state if at the time of application for renewal the applicant holds a full unexpired certificate issued by a similar licensing board of another state or territory of the United States or of a foreign country or province whose standards, in the opinion of the board, are equivalent to or higher than the requirements for certification in this state. Notwithstanding any presumptions of competency under this subsection, the board shall require each applicant under this subsection to pass the examination specified under s. VE 2.04 (2).

VE 2.12(3) (3) The certificate holder shall pay a nonrefundable renewal fee of $160.

VE 2.12(4) (4) A certificate holder who submits a certificate renewal after January 1 of even numbered years shall pay, in addition to the renewal fee under sub. (3), a nonrefundable late fee of $25.

VE 2.12 History History: CR 21-062: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

VE 2.14 VE 2.14 Continuing education; requirements.

VE 2.14(1) (1) 

VE 2.14(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), a veterinary technician shall complete at least 15 hours of continuing education pertinent to veterinary medicine or veterinary technology in each biennial renewal period. The 15 hours of continuing education shall include at least 10 hours of continuing education that relates to scientific topics pertinent to veterinary medicine.

VE 2.14(1)(b) (b) All 15 continuing education hours required in this subsection shall be documented. A minimum of 12 hours of continuing education shall be documented by an approved continuing education provider.

VE 2.14(1)(c) (c) A continuing education hour shall consist of 50 minutes of contact time.

VE 2.14(2) (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an applicant who applies to renew a certificate that expires on the first expiration date after the initial issuance of the certificate.

VE 2.14(3) (3) The board may waive the requirements under sub. (1) if it finds that exceptional circumstances, such as prolonged illness, disability, or other similar circumstances, have prevented an applicant from meeting the requirements.

VE 2.14(4) (4) Continuing education hours shall be completed during the preceding 2-year certification period.

VE 2.14(5) (5) To obtain credit for completion of continuing education hours, a certificate holder shall, at the time of each renewal, sign a statement saying that the certificate holder has completed, during the preceding 2-year certification period, the continuing education programs required under sub. (1).

VE 2.14(6) (6) A veterinary technician who fails to complete the continuing education requirements by the renewal date shall not practice as a veterinary technician until the certificate is renewed.

VE 2.14(7) (7) For auditing purposes, every veterinary technician shall maintain records of continuing education hours for at least 5 years from the date the certification statement required under sub. (5) is signed. The board may audit for compliance by requiring a veterinary technician to submit evidence of compliance to the board for the biennium immediately preceding the biennium in which the audit is performed. Documentation of completion of continuing education hours shall include one of the following:

VE 2.14(7)(a) (a) A certificate of attendance from an approved course provider.

VE 2.14(7)(b) (b) A grade report or transcript from an accredited college or university.

VE 2.14(7)(c) (c) A copy of a published work authored or co-authored by the licensee.

VE 2.14(7)(d) (d) A copy of a meeting syllabus, announcement, abstract or proceeding for a presentation.

VE 2.14(7)(f) (f) A signed document from an internship or residency institution certifying enrollment in a program.

VE 2.14 History History: CR 21-062: cr. Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

VE 2.16 VE 2.16 Continuing education; programs and courses.

VE 2.16(1) (1) Criteria for programs and course approval. To be approved, a continuing education program or course shall meet the following criteria:

VE 2.16(1)(a) (a) The subject matter of the program or course shall be pertinent to veterinary technology.

VE 2.16(1)(b) (b) The program or course sponsor agrees to record registration and furnish a certificate of attendance to each participant.

VE 2.16(2) (2) Unrelated subject matter. if a continuing education course includes subject matter that is not pertinent to veterinary technology, only those portions of the course that relate to veterinary technology will qualify as continuing education under this chapter.