Board Information
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation supports the Governor in meeting his obligation to appoint qualified, representative and appropriate people to the important leadership roles within the department’s Professional Boards, Council and Commissions. Members are appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
The Board of Veterinary Medicine members work with the department in meeting its mission to, “License Efficiently. Regulate Fairly.” There are approximately 13,600 licensees pursuant to Chapter 474, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 61G18, Florida Administrative Code.
Veterinarians are health care practitioners who are licensed to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in Florida. Veterinary medicine means diagnosing the medical condition of animals and prescribing, dispensing or administering drugs, medicine, appliances, application or treatment of whatever nature for the prevention, cure or relief of a wound, fracture, bodily injury or disease. An animal is defined to mean any mammal other than a human being or any bird, amphibian, fish or reptile, wild or domestic, living or dead.
The Board Veterinary Medicine consists of seven members, five of whom shall be licensed veterinarians and two of whom shall be laypersons who are not and have never been veterinarians or members of any closely related profession or occupation. No member may serve for more than the remaining portion of a previous member’s unexpired term, plus two consecutive 4-year terms.
As the terms of the members expire, the Governor shall appoint successors for terms of four years; and such members shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. The Governor may remove any member for cause. No person shall be appointed to serve more than two consecutive terms. Any vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Governor for the unexpired portion of the term.
Each board member shall receive per diem and mileage allowances as provided in Section 112.061, Florida Statutes, from the place of her or his residence to the place of the meeting and return to the residence.
The Board meets approximately four times a year for one day, plus teleconferences as necessary. Prior to each meeting, there is an average of four hours of pre-meeting preparation required. Preparation activities may include such activities as reviewing agenda items, reviewing application information, reviewing disciplinary information, and/or reading Florida Statutes and Florida Administrative Code.
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Division of Professions
Board of Veterinary Medicine
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783
Telephone: 850.487.1395
Facsimile: 850.488.8040