Veterinary Medicine

➢Veterinarians, please see our Hot Topics for information on Recovery Efforts and Temporary Licensing.

Ruthanne Christie, Executive Director

The Board of Veterinary Medicine is responsible for licensing and regulating veterinarians. The board meets regularly to consider applications for licensure, to review disciplinary cases, and to conduct informal hearings relating to licensure and discipline. The board engages in rulemaking to implement the provisions set forth in its statutes and conducts other general business, as necessary.

Reciprocity and Substantially Equivalent Exams

Getting Started in Veterinary Medicine

License Types

Veterinarian

VM – A “veterinarian” means a person who is licensed to engage in the following activities:

diagnosing of medical conditions of animals;
prescribing, dispensing, or administering drugs, medicine, appliances, applications, or treatment of whatever nature for the prevention, cure, or relief of a wound, fracture, bodily injury, or disease thereof;
performing any manual procedure for the diagnosis of or treatment for pregnancy or fertility or infertility of animals; or
determining the health, fitness, or soundness of an animal; and
surgery, acupuncture, obstetrics, dentistry, physical therapy, radiology, theriogenology, and other branches or specialties of animal medicine.

Veterinary Establishment (Premises Permit)

VE – a “premises permit” is required for an establishment, permanent or mobile, where a licensed veterinarian practices.

Limited-Service Veterinary Medical Practice Permit

VL – A “limited-service veterinary medical practice” means offering or providing veterinary services at any location that has a primary purpose other than that of providing veterinary medical service at a permanent or mobile establishment permitted by the board; providing veterinary medical services for privately owned animals that do not reside at that location; operating for a limited time; and providing limited types of veterinary medical services.

Apply for a License

The requirements for becoming licensed in Florida are described in the statutes and rules. Choose a license type to apply.

Veterinarian

Veterinarian – Initial License – Senior Applicants (VM 1)

Use this application if:

You are in the second semester of your Senior Year at an AVMA Accredited University.
You have passed or are in the process of taking the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE).

Veterinarian – Initial License – Graduate Applicants (VM 1)

Use this application if:

You have graduated from an AVMA accredited School of Veterinary Medicine.
You have not been licensed in another state for at least 3 years.
You have passed or are in the process of taking the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE).

Veterinarian – Initial License – Foreign Graduate Applicants (VM 1)

Use this application if:

You graduated from a school that is not an AVMA accredited School of Veterinary Medicine.
You have not been licensed in another state for at least 3 years.
You have passed or are in the process of taking the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE).
You have completed or are enrolled in either Education Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates Program (ECFVG) or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).

Veterinarian – Initial License – Endorsement with Florida Laws and Rules Course (VM 1)

Use this application if:

You have been licensed in another state for at least 3 years.
You have taken and passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) or NBE & CCT prior to 2000.
You have never had any disciplinary action taken against any professional license by any jurisdiction. If you have ever had disciplinary action taken against any professional license by any jurisdiction, you must apply by Endorsement with Exam below and take the Florida Laws and Rules Exam.

Veterinarian – Initial License – Endorsement with Florida Exam (VM 1)

Use this application if:

You have been licensed in another state for at least 3 years.
You have taken and passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) or NBE & CCT prior to 2000.

Veterinarian – Professional Licensure for Military Personnel/Veterans/Military Spouses (MVL 003)

Use this application if:

You are currently serving, or have formerly served and received an honorable discharge, as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or a spouse or surviving spouse of such member.
You have been licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, any United States territory or possession, or a foreign jurisdiction.

Veterinarian – Professional Licensure under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA 1)

Use this application if:

You have relocated to Florida due to military orders, and hold a valid license or certification for the corresponding profession in another state, District of Columbia, any possession or territory of the United States, or any foreign jurisdiction.
You are currently serving as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or are a spouse of such member who wishes to qualify for Professional License Portability in Florida under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act (SCRA) pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 4025(a).

Veterinarian – Temporary License (VM 14)

Use this application if:

You hold a current, active license in another state.
Your license has never been revoked, suspended or otherwise acted on by the licensing authority.

Authorization for Interstate Exchange of Examination and Licensure Information (VM 10)

Use this form to have other jurisdictions verify your license status and disciplinary history. We will accept other jurisdictions forms or verifications on their letterhead.

Veterinary Establishment (Premises Permit)

Veterinary Establishment (Premises Permit) (VM 2)

Limited-Service Veterinary Medical Practice Permit and Clinic

Continuing Education Provider and Course Approval

Examination Information

Applicants for licensure as a veterinarian must take and pass both the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) developed by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA), as well as the Florida laws and rules examination developed by the department. For more information, including scheduling and the laws and rules examination study guide, visit the Veterinary Medicine Examinations Information page.

Fee Waiver Applications

Note: If you have previously applied for your license, you may check your application status.

Manage My License

Renew My License

Veterinarians

Licenses expire May 31st every even year.

DBPR will send you a notification that the renewal period is open, at which time you can renew your license(s). This will be 90-120 days before the expiration. All notices will be provided via email. We encourage you to keep your information up-to-date and renew online. DBPR online services offer a quick and easy way to renew your license, find license requirements, apply for a license and update a license.

Before midnight EST on May 31, 2024, you will need to complete the following requirements to renew your license:

Complete the continuing education requirement; and
Pay the renewal fee

See the “CE Requirements” tab for further information on Continuing Education to renew your license.

For more information concerning your license’s unique requirements, please click the relevant link below:

Limited-Service Veterinary Medical Practice Permits

Licenses expire May 31st every even year.

Before midnight EST on May 31, 2024, you will need to complete the following requirements to renew your license:

Pay the renewal fee

For more information concerning your license’s unique requirements, please click the relevant link below:

Renewal information for Limited Service Permit licensees

Limited-Service Veterinary Medical Practice Clinics

Clinics registered under a Limited-Service Veterinary Medical Practice Permit expire May 31st every year.

Before midnight EST on May 31, 2024, you will need to complete the following requirements to renew your license:

If you wish to continue offering these clinics, you must re-register each clinic location and pay a $25 per location fee. Once approved, the registration will be valid until May 31, 2025.

For more information concerning your license’s unique requirements, please click the relevant link below:

Renewal information for Limited-Service Veterinary Medical Practice Clinics

Veterinary Establishments (aka Premises Permits)

Premises permits have no expiration date. They are valid for the life of the clinic as long as the clinic does not change ownership or change location.

Continuing Education Providers

Continuing Education Provider licenses expire May 31st every other even year.

DBPR will send you a notification that the renewal period is open, at which time you can renew your license. This will be 90-120 days before the expiration. All notices will be provided via email. We encourage you to keep your information up-to-date and renew online. DBPR online services offer a quick and easy way to renew your license, find license requirements, apply for a license and update a license.

Before midnight EST on May 31, 2022, you will need to complete the renewal requirements.

We encourage you to renew online. However, you can mail your renewal form and fee to:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783

Print a Blank Renewal Form

CE Requirements

Education Course List

Continuing Education Courses (Drug Dispensing, Laws & Rules, General)

Drug Dispensing Courses

Laws & Rules Courses

General Courses

You may also use the department’s Find a CE Course tool to locate specific subject areas or course topics.

License Types	Continuing Education Requirements	Fee	Expiration Date
Veterinarian	Completion of 30 hours of continuing professional education in veterinary medicine every biennium. Of the 30 hours one credit must be in drug dispensing and two credits must be in laws and rules governing the practice of veterinary medicine.	$265	5/31 Even Year
Veterinary Establishment (aka Premise Permit)	N/A	N/A	N/A
Limited Service Permit	N/A	$255	5/31 Even Year

See the Continuing Education FAQ for more information.

Quick Links

Need Help?

All requests for publications, documents, forms, applications for licenses, permits and other similar certifications can be obtained by contacting the Customer Contact Center.

Division of Professions
Board of Veterinary Medicine
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783

Telephone: 850.487.1395
Facsimile: 850.488.8040

Veterinary Medicine