Veterinary Medicine – FAQs

The testing vendor that administers the Laws and Rules examination is Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE has multiple test centers throughout the United States from which you may choose to sit for your examination. For more information on the dates and locations of the examination, you may contact Pearson VUE at www.pearsonvue.com or 888.204.6230.

The examination is computer based and given daily.

Yes, once you contact the vendor to schedule the examination, they will explain the procedures on how to schedule the examination in your state.

The study material is located on the main page, Apply For A License, Examination Information.

You must contact the testing vendor to reschedule a date and time. You do not have to reapply with the department or pay any additional fees. You have two years from the date your application was approved to take the examination as many times as you need to pass.

If a candidate has failed the NAVLE five times and wants to take the test a sixth time, they will need to file an appeal with the ICVA. Candidates will be required to have a state licensing board support their appeal request by completing the NAVLE Retake Policy Appeal Form. This form is available on the ICVA website at NAVLE | ICVA under the NAVLE Retake Policy.

Florida candidates will need to complete the candidate section of the form and mail the form to the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine for completion.

Mail to:
Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine
Attn: NAVLE Appeals
PO Box 5377
Tallahassee, FL 32314-5377

The application package and other various forms are located on the main page, Apply For A License.

If you have any questions or need assistance completing your application, please contact the Department’s Customer Contact Center at 1.850.487.1395.

Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Central Intake Unit
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0783

A fee of $345.25 is required for application, exam and licensure. A fee of $24.75 is paid to the vendor at the time of scheduling.

A completed application for licensure and all required supporting documentation must be received in the board office before you are eligible to sit for the examination. Once all documentation has been received, you will receive an email from the testing vendor with scheduling information. You will be responsible for contacting the testing vendor to schedule the examination yourself.

You must send in a licensure application and the fee. You must also ask the dean of your veterinary college to send a letter of good standing directly to the Board of Veterinary Medicine, stating you are enrolled in the school and indicating when you are scheduled to graduate.

Students in their senior year of Veterinary School may begin the application process for Florida licensure as a Veterinarian during their last semester of school.  You will need to submit the items below before you will be approved to take the Florida Laws and Rules Exam:

1. 1. Complete application VM-1.
   2. Required fee.
   3. Letter of enrollment and good standing from dean of veterinary school.

Once the application has been reviewed and found complete, an exam authorization will be sent from the Department to PearsonVue.  Applicants will receive an email from PearsonVue with their ID number.  The ID number is required to schedule to take the exam.

Licenses will not be issued until the Department receives and processes final transcripts confirming graduation and passing NAVLE Scores form ICVA or AAVSB.

Once the license is issued you will receive an email notifying you it has been issued.  You will need to sign into your online account to print the license.  Licenses are not mailed.

Veterinarians and Limited Service Practice license holders need to renew their licenses by May 31 of every even numbered year.

Veterinarian (Active) – $265 (fee includes $260 renewal fee + $5 Unlicensed Activity Fee)
Veterinarian (Inactive) – $55 (fee includes $50 renewal fee + $5 Unlicensed Activity Fee)
Limited Service Practice – $255 (fee includes $250 renewal fee + $5 Unlicensed Activity Fee)

If the license is renewed after the expiration date, the delinquent fee is $25.00, in addition to the renewal fee.

Limited Service Clinic Location Registrations need to be renewed every year by May 31. Registrations that are not renewed by the deadline will become null and void and a new application will be required to register that location after May 31.

Limited Service Clinic Locations – $25 renewal fee

You are required to take 30 hours 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.

In addition to courses approved by the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine licensees can get credit for continuing education courses provided by:

• National, State and International veterinary association meetings and Board meetings;
• University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine sponsored courses, including clinical grand rounds, veterinary resident’s seminars and Board specialty review sessions;
• The Registry of Approved Continuing Education Courses (RACE); and
• United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services.
• Any AVMA accredited school of veterinary medicine.

Yes, the Board accepts RACE approved courses for continuing education requirements.

No, you are exempt; however, you will be required to take continuing education for your next renewal.

You must submit a change of status application (VM 11) and request to reactivate your license. You must pay a fee of $260 and provide proof of 30 hours of continuing education. Of the 30 hours of continuing education, one must be in dispensing drugs and two hours in laws and rules. The continuing education courses must be taken during the last, or current, renewal cycle.

You must reapply with a new application and all of the required documentation. You must meet the current eligibility requirements.

You can apply to the board for reinstatement of a null and void license based upon illness or undue hardship. You can find the application to reinstate a null and void license on the main page, Manage My License.

Please refer to the Continuing Education course list for a list of approved courses in Drug Dispensing, General credit and Laws and Rules.  You may also use the department’s Find a CE Course tool to locate specific subject areas or course topics.

You can only obtain 15 hours of continuing education through correspondence.

No. Credits earned must be within the required two-year renewal period. Additional credits earned will not count towards the next renewal period. Credits earned outside the two-year period will be credited towards the next renewal period.

Yes, the Board allows licensees to complete all 30 hours of continuing education online.

No, it is the responsibility of the licensee to keep track of his or her continuing education hours. If you are audited by the board, you will be required to show proof of your 30 hours.

In addition to courses approved by the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine licensees can get credit for continuing education courses provided by:

• National, State and International veterinary association meetings and Board meetings;
• University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine sponsored courses, including clinical grand rounds, veterinary resident’s seminars and Board specialty review sessions;
• The Registry of Approved Continuing Education Courses (RACE); and
• United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services.
• Any AVMA accredited school of veterinary medicine.

Yes, the Board accepts RACE approved courses for continuing education requirements.

The fee to become a provider is $200.00 effective May 31, 2006, and renewal will be every four years for every other even-numbered year. An application for a provider of continuing education is available on the main page, Apply For A License.

Contact the department’s Customer Contact Center at 850.487.1395 or file a complaint online at www.MyFloridaLicense.com > File a Complaint.

Contact the department’s toll-free unlicensed activity complaint line at 1.866.532.1440 or file a complaint online at www.MyFloridaLicense.com > File a Complaint.

The Department of Health, Board of Pharmacy. You may reach them at 850.488.0595.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You may reach them at 850.410.0900.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You may reach them at 850.410.0900.

Rule 61G18-18.002(1), Florida Administrative Code, provides that you must keep records three years from the date of last entry, including X-rays.

The USDA/APHIS Veterinary Services Area office in Gainesville, at 352-313-3060; or the USDA APHIS Miami Import/Export Center, 305-526-2926.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You may reach them at 850.410.0900 or download the form online at https://forms.freshfromflorida.com/09085.pdf.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. You may reach them at 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352) or 850-410-3800.

Contact the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Drugs, Devices, and Cosmetics. Please refer to their website www.MyFloridaLicense.com or call 850.717-1800 if you have questions.

Yes, the requirements for a premise permit include a DEA license.  The DEA requires a separate DEA registration for each principle place of business or professional practice where controlled substances are stored or dispensed by a person.

Once the application is received and processed a temporary license will be issued for the premise, the temporary premise permit is only valid for 120 days, the premise must pass inspection for the permanent premise permit to be issued before the temporary permit expires.  Do not submit your application until you are sure the premise will be ready for inspection within 120 days.  Temporary premise permits cannot be extended.  If your temporary premise permit expires before you are ready for inspection you will need to reapply.

No, there must be a sink in the examination area of the clinic that is not in a restroom, but it does not have to be in the exam room.

The requirements for a premise permit are listed in Rule 61G18-15.002, F.A.C.

Please call 850-487-1395 to request an inspection.

Complete the application and return it with the $250.00 fee. After receipt of the application, an inspection of the facility will be requested by the board. A temporary permit will be issued until the inspection process is complete. You are allowed to operate under the temporary permit until the permanent permit is issued. After licensure the clinic will be inspected once every two years. The fee per inspection is $60.

Yes, you must submit a premise permit application and a fee of $250.00 to receive a new license number. The premise permit application is located on the main page, Apply For A License.

The new owner is required to submit a new application for a permit in his or her name, and a new inspection will be required.

Send the request for name change in writing with a check for $25.00.

The permit holder will have 10 days to notify the board in writing of the name of the new responsible veterinarian. There is no fee for the change of responsible veterinarian. Please complete and submit form VM 13 to make the change. It is also the duty of the responsible veterinarian to notify the Board in writing when he or she ceases to be the responsible veterinarian for a location.

Premise 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.

No, any individual or corporation can own a clinic. According to section 474.215, Florida Statutes, each establishment must have a licensed veterinarian responsible for the management of the establishment.

No, you do not need a permit but you must have a relationship with a clinic or hospital for emergencies.

A mobile premise permit is required if the licensed veterinarian is treating his or her patients in a vehicle, such as a van or motor home. If a licensed veterinarian is going to the patient’s home for treatment (house calls), he or she is not required to have a premise permit.

No, equine only establishments or agricultural only establishments are not required to have a premise permit. However, they must comply with the minimum standards for a veterinary practice for agricultural animals. A recent change to the minimum standards for a mobile veterinary practice for agricultural animals rule requires that if controlled substances are on the unit, a locking secure cabinet for storage and an accurate controlled substance log must be maintained.

The services that can be provided to the public are limited to vaccinations and/or immunizations against disease on multiple animals, preventative procedures for parasitic control and microchipping.

An application for a Limited Service Permit is available on the main page, Apply For A License. The fee is $250.00. The permit will need to be renewed every even year by May 31.

Clinics held inside climate controlled buildings may be held up to 2 days per week for up to 8 hours per day. All other clinic locations are limited to once every two weeks and no more than four hours in any one day for any single location.

Yes, the permit holder should register each clinic site with the department at least 28 days prior to offering a limited service clinic. The fee is $25.00 per site. The registration must be renewed every year by May 31.

Yes, an individual record must be maintained for every patient.

Yes, the department does inspect limited service clinics on a random basis.

You can verify your license to another state instantly by using DBPR’s Online Services. Create an online account or logon to your existing account at www.myfloridalicense.com. Select “Request License Certification” from the License Menu. Complete the online application and pay the $25 fee by credit card or electronic check. A copy of your license record will be created and emailed directly to the State Board selected during the transaction.
Note: Certain jurisdictions are not set up to receive verifications electronically, in those cases the verification will be mailed within 10 business days.

If you need to send certification of your license to multiple states you will repeat the instructions above and pay the required $25 application fee for each request.

Jurisdictions outside the United States may not be found in the online drop down menu, in this case please follow the instructions below.
You must submit a letter of request and a fee of $25.00 per request to:
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Board of Veterinary Medicine
2601 Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0783.
Please allow 30-45 days to process your request.

Florida law permits licensees to offer telehealth services. Review sections 474.202 and 474.201 F.S., for requirements and restrictions.

No, a veterinarian must be licensed in Florida to provide telehealth services to an animal located in Florida.

To offer veterinary telehealth in other states, contact that state to determine the requirements. If the veterinarian is located in Florida when offering telehealth services, they are also subject to Florida law.

Section 474.2021(3), F.S. The board has jurisdiction over a veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth, regardless of where the veterinarian’s physical office is located. The practice of veterinary medicine is deemed to occur when the veterinarian, the patient, or both are located within this state at the time the veterinarian practices veterinary telehealth.