(a) It is unlawful for any licensed veterinarian to practice veterinary medicine as an employee of any person other than a veterinarian duly licensed in this state or a veterinary facility operated at all times under the direct medical supervision of a veterinarian duly licensed in this state.

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 63-12-137

  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Licensed veterinarian: means a person who is validly and currently licensed to practice veterinary medicine in this state. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
  • Person: includes a corporation, firm, company or association. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Veterinarian: means a person who has received a doctor of veterinary medicine degree or its equivalent from an approved school or college of veterinary medicine. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
  • Veterinary facility: means a building, place, or mobile unit from which the practice of veterinary medicine is conducted. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
  • Veterinary medicine: includes veterinary surgery, obstetrics, dentistry and all other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine. See Tennessee Code 63-12-103
(b) No person, corporation or other similar organization, public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, other than a veterinarian duly licensed in this state, shall own or operate a veterinary facility within this state, except as follows:

(1) Any person, corporation or other similar organization, public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, shall apply for and receive a premises permit before the commencement of operations at the veterinary facility; and
(2) The owner of the veterinary facility shall not restrict or interfere with medically appropriate veterinary diagnostic or treatment decisions by the licensed veterinarians employed at the veterinary facility.
(c) The following are exempt from this section:

(1) A veterinarian employed by a person, corporation or other similar organization, public or private, for-profit or not-for-profit, to treat such employer’s animals;
(2) A veterinarian employed by an official agency of the federal or state government or any subdivision thereof; and
(3) A veterinarian employed by any licensed research facility.
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