(a) To be eligible for a license to practice veterinary medicine under the provisions of this article, the applicant must:

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 30-10-8

  • Animal: means any animal other than human, and the term includes fowl, birds, amphibians, fish, and reptiles, wild or domestic, living or dead. See West Virginia Code 30-10-3
  • Applicant: means a person making application for a license, certificate, registration or permit, under the provisions of this article. See West Virginia Code 30-10-3
  • Board: means the West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine. See West Virginia Code 30-10-3
  • Certificate: means an animal euthanasia technician certificate issued under the provisions of this article. See West Virginia Code 30-10-3
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • License: means a veterinary medicine license issued under the provisions of this article. See West Virginia Code 30-10-3
  • Offense: includes every act or omission for which a fine, forfeiture, or punishment is imposed by law. See West Virginia Code 2-2-10
  • Practice of veterinary medicine: means to diagnose, treat, correct, change, relieve or prevent any disease, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental condition, of any animal, or to prescribe for or to administer to any animal any drug, medicine, biologic, apparatus, application, anesthetic or other therapeutic or diagnostic substance or technique, or to render advice or any recommendation with respect to any of the foregoing. See West Virginia Code 30-10-3

(1) Be of good moral character;

(2) (A) Be a graduate of an accredited school approved by the board; or

(B) Be a graduate of a foreign veterinary school and hold a certificate of competence issued by a foreign veterinary graduate educational organization as approved by the board;

(3) Have passed the examinations required by the board;

(4) Be at least eighteen years of age;

(5) Be a citizen of the United States or be eligible for employment in the United States;

(6) Not have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude;

(7) Not have been convicted of a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction within five years preceding the date of application for licensure which conviction remains unreversed; and

(8) Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor or a felony under the laws of any jurisdiction at any time if the offense for which the applicant was convicted related to the practice of veterinary medicine or animal abuse or neglect.

(b) A person seeking a license under the provisions of this article shall submit an application on a form prescribed by the board and pay all applicable fees.

(c) An applicant from another jurisdiction shall comply with all the requirements of this article.

(d) A license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the board prior to July 1, 2010, shall for all purposes be considered a license issued under this article and may be renewed under this article.

(e) An application for a license to practice veterinary medicine submitted to the board prior to July 1, 2010, shall be considered in conformity with the licensing provisions of this article and the rules promulgated thereunder in effect at the time of the submission of the application.