GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 1999

SESSION LAW 1999-203
HOUSE BILL 414

AN ACT ALLOWING THE NORTH CAROLINA VETERINARY MEDICAL BOARD TO LICENSE VETERINARIANS WHO ARE LICENSED IN OTHER STATES BUT HAVE NOT COMPLETED THE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR FOREIGN VETERINARY GRADUATES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1. G.S. 90-187.3(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	The Board may issue a license without written examination, other than the written North Carolina license examination, to applicants already licensed in another state provided the applicant presents evidence satisfactory to the Board that:
(1)	The applicant is currently an active, competent practitioner in good standing.
(2)	The applicant has practiced at least three of the five years immediately preceding filing the application.
(3)	The applicant currently holds an active license in another state.
(4)	There is no disciplinary proceeding or unresolved complaint pending against the applicant at the time a license is to be issued by this State.
(4a)	Any disciplinary actions taken against the applicant or his or her license by the other state in which he or she is licensed will not affect the applicant's competency to practice veterinary medicine as provided in this Article or any rules adopted by the Board.
(5)	The licensure requirements in the other state are substantially equivalent to those required by this State.
(6)	The applicant has achieved a passing score on the written North Carolina license examination."
Section 2.  G.S. 90-187.3 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
"(a1)	If an applicant fails to satisfy subdivision (a)(5) of this section because the applicant was not required by the state in which he or she is licensed to complete the certification program developed and currently administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates of the American Veterinary Medical Association or its predecessor program, the Board may consider the following in determining whether the applicant should be licensed in this State:
(1)	The length of time the applicant has been licensed in the other state, but the applicant shall have been licensed and engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine for at least 10 years.
(2)	The applicant's veterinary practice history, including the type and nature of practice.
(3)	The completion of continuing education courses satisfactory to the Board.
(4)	Affidavits from veterinarians licensed and in good standing in the other state who can attest to the applicant's competency to practice veterinary medicine.
(5)	Any other evidence that demonstrates the applicant's clinical proficiency and his or her ability to comprehend and communicate in English."
Section 3. This act is effective when it becomes law.  Section 2 of this act shall expire on July 1, 2001.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 10th day of June, 1999.

s/	Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

s/	James B. Black
Speaker of the House of Representatives

s/	James B. Hunt, Jr.
Governor

Approved 1:22 p.m. this 21st day of June, 1999