License Requirement for Practice of Veterinary Medicine; Practice by Business Employee

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Professions and Businesses
  4. Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians
  5. Licensing
  6. Veterinarians
  7. License Requirement for Practice of Veterinary Medicine; Practice by Business Employee

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  1. No person may practice veterinary medicine in this state who is not a licensed veterinarian or the holder of a valid temporary license issued by the division director pursuant to this article.
  2. A licensed veterinarian may practice veterinary medicine as an employee of a corporation, partnership, or other business organization, provided that the licensed veterinarian is not subject to the direction of anyone not licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Georgia in making veterinary medical decisions or judgments.

(Code 1933, § 84-1503, enacted by Ga. L. 1965, p. 92, § 1; Ga. L. 1973, p. 260, § 1; Code 1981, §43-50-22; Ga. L. 2000, p. 1706, § 19; Code 1981, §43-50-30, as redesignated by Ga. L. 2003, p. 615, § 1-1; Ga. L. 2018, p. 770, § 3/HB 956.)

The 2018 amendment, effective July 1, 2018, substituted "organization, provided that" for "organization provided the articles of incorporation, partnership, or business organization documents clearly state that" in the middle of subsection (b).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Editor's notes.

- In light of the similarity of the statutory provisions, opinions under former Code 1933, § 84-1501, as it read prior to revision of the chapter by Ga. L. 1965, p. 92, are included in the annotations for this Code section.

Embryo transfer process constitutes the practice of veterinary medicine under O.C.G.A. § 43-50-3. 1984 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 84-86.

It is not unlawful for a county agent to advise farmers about what might be wrong with the farmers' livestock. 1962 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 393 (decided under former Code 1933, § 84-1501).

County agent teaching farmers how to treat livestock is not practicing veterinary medicine. 1962 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 393 (decided under former Code 1933, § 84-1501).

Examination to discover whether or not an animal is pregnant is not practicing veterinary medicine as defined in former Code 1933, §§ 84-1502 (see now O.C.G.A. § 43-50-3) and 84-1503 (see now O.C.G.A. §§ 43-50-21 and43-50-22) for the reason that pregnancy is not considered a disease; the intention of the law is to prohibit laymen from practicing veterinary medicine as defined. 1962 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 393 (decided under former Code 1933, § 84-1501).

Castrating, dehorning, and hoof trimming do not constitute the practice of veterinary medicine. 1962 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 393 (decided under former Code 1933, § 84-1501).

Deworming and treatment of foot rot might be considered practicing veterinary medicine. 1962 Op. Att'y Gen. p. 393 (decided under former Code 1933, § 84-1501).

RESEARCH REFERENCES

ALR.

- Single or isolated transactions as falling within provisions of commercial or occupational licensing requirements, 93 A.L.R.2d 90.

Recovery back of money paid to unlicensed person required by law to have occupational or business license or permit to make contract, 74 A.L.R.3d 637.

Medical malpractice: who are "health care providers," or the like, whose actions fall within statutes specifically governing actions and damages for medical malpractice, 12 A.L.R.5th 1.


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