Temporary Licenses

  1. Law
  2. Tennessee Code
  3. Professions of the Healing Arts
  4. Tennessee Veterinary Practice Act
  5. Tennessee Veterinary Practice Act
  6. Temporary Licenses

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The board may issue a temporary license to practice veterinary medicine, to be used only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, upon payment of a fee as set by the board, to:

  1. A veterinarian who meets all qualifications and requirements pursuant to this chapter and who has applied to take the examination as provided in § 63-12-115. Such license shall remain valid until the results of the examinations are made known to the applicant;
    1. Failure on both examinations will result in immediate termination of the license;
      1. If the applicant fails one (1) of the examinations, the applicant may be issued a second temporary license but must continue under direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian and only until the results of the next regularly scheduled examination are known;
      2. If an applicant fails the same examination on two (2) separate testing dates, the applicant may, in the discretion of the board, and upon agreeing to meet any additional requirements of the board, be issued a third temporary license for up to one (1) year, plus the time until the results of the second regularly scheduled examination after issuance of the temporary license are made known;
      3. No applicant shall be allowed to take the same examination more than three (3) times;
    2. During the validity of the temporary license, the applicant must be under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian;
    3. New graduates applying for such temporary license must provide the name and address of practice of the supervising veterinarian and any other requirements specified by the board in rules and regulations;
    1. A veterinarian duly licensed according to the laws of another state and who has made application for permanent licensure in Tennessee;
      1. A temporary license issued under this section shall be valid until the board rules on the applicant's request;
      2. If the board's decision is to issue a license without examination, the temporary license expires on receipt of the permanent license;
      3. If the board's decision is for examination, then the law applies as stated in subdivision (1);
    2. An applicant who holds a license in another state or states must provide the name or names of such states, meet all qualifications and requirements pursuant to this chapter, provide the name and address of practice of the supervising veterinarian, and meet such other requirements as specified by the board in rules and regulations. All information submitted by an applicant will be subject to verification by the board;
  3. A graduate of a nonaccredited or nonapproved college of veterinary medicine who has satisfactorily completed the fourth year of clinical study at an accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine, successfully passed the examination as provided in § 63-12-115 and is enrolled in the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program of the American Veterinary Medical Association or other certification program deemed by the board to be equivalent to the ECFVG program may be granted a temporary license. The holder of a temporary license issued under this section must practice under the direct supervision of a veterinarian licensed in Tennessee. The temporary license is valid until the candidate obtains the ECFVG or equivalent certification; provided, that a temporary license issued pursuant to this section shall not be valid for more than a maximum of eighteen (18) months from the date the temporary license is issued.


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