Veterinary Medicine – Hot Topics/Important Information

*Attention Florida Veterinarians*

On May 12, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 89 into law. Effective July 1, 2026, before dispensing a prescription medication, a licensed veterinarian or an authorized member of the veterinary staff is required to clearly inform clients of:

Their right to receive a written prescription that can be filled at the pharmacy of their choice; or the option to have the prescription filled at the veterinary establishment, if the establishment is able to fill the prescription.

The client’s selection must be documented using a one-time acknowledgement signed by the client in substantial compliance with the language specified under section 474.224(1)(c)1., F.S., and it must be documented in the patient’s medical record.

Additionally, the new law requires a veterinary establishment to post a clear and conspicuous sign near the point of sale or where checkout occurs, with a client’s prescription filling options that substantially follows the language specified in section 474.224(1)(d), F.S.

To meet the conspicuous sign requirement, an example has been created and is available to print HERE.

Veterinarians should review their policies, forms, medical record procedures, systems, telehealth practices, and office signage to ensure compliance with House Bill 89.

The full text of the law is available for review HERE.

Governor DeSantis Signed HB 1509 to Expand Eligibility for Veterinary Licensure by Endorsement

On May 12, 2026, Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1509 into law. The new law is effective on July 1, 2026, and reduces the requirements for a veterinarian to apply for licensure by endorsement in Florida.

Previously, applicants were required to have held a veterinarian license for the three years immediately preceding the application. Under the new law, a veterinarian who holds a valid, active license in good standing in another state, the District of Columbia, or a U.S. territory who have passed the national examination are eligible to apply for licensure by endorsement in Florida.

The full text of the law is available for review HERE.

Emergency Order 2024-11 has been issued in response to Hurricane Milton.

The Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine has a 30-Day Temporary Veterinarian License available to out-of-state veterinarians who wish to come to Florida to provide relief veterinary services but do not hold a current Florida Veterinary License. The application form for the 30-Day Temporary Veterinarian License is available HERE.

Florida licensed veterinarians interested in offering volunteer services should contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Veterinary Corps for information at 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352).

Emergency Order 2024-08 has been issued in response to Hurricane Helene.

The Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine has a 30-Day Temporary Veterinarian License available to out-of-state veterinarians who wish to come to Florida to provide relief veterinary services but do not hold a current Florida Veterinary License. The application form for the 30-Day Temporary Veterinarian License is available HERE.

Florida licensed veterinarians interested in offering volunteer services should contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Veterinary Corps for information at 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352).

IMPORTANT UPDATE!

Licensees,

Effective July 1, 2024, the Board of Veterinary Medicine has jurisdiction over a veterinarian practicing veterinary telehealth, regardless of where the veterinarian is located under HB 849.  Additionally, the new law provides requirements and conditions for veterinarians providing telehealth services.

Specific details on this bill can be found in the FAQ’s and for the full text of this new law, see Chapter 2024-260.

Continuing Education Exemption

On May 17, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 382 into law.  SB 382 reduces regulatory burdens on Department of Business and Professional Regulation license holders by exempting certain licensees from continuing education requirements.  Pursuant to SB 382, a licensee is exempt from continuing education requirements if they meet the following criteria:

1. The licensee is licensed by one of the following Department of Business and Professional Regulation Boards, Councils, or Licensing Programs:
   1. Barbers’ Board
   2. Building Code Administrators and Inspectors Board
   3. Board of Cosmetology
   4. Home Inspectors Licensing Program
   5. Mold-Related Services Licensing Program
   6. Board of Pilot Commissioners
   7. Regulatory Council of Community Association Managers
   8. Board of Veterinary Medicine
2. The licensee holds an active license.
3. The licensee has held their license continuously for at least 10 years.
4. No discipline has been imposed against the license.

Effective July 1, 2024, all licensees who meet the above requirements will be exempted from their current continuing education requirements and will be able to verify their exemption status through their online account or by searching the Department’s online licensing portal, at: https://www.myfloridalicense.com/portalsearches/VerifyLicensee?mode=0&SID.

The Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine has a 30-Day Temporary Veterinarian License available to out-of-state veterinarians who wish to come to Florida to provide relief veterinary services but do not hold a current Florida Veterinary License. The application form for the 30-Day Temporary Veterinarian License is available HERE.

Florida licensed veterinarians interested in offering volunteer services should contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Veterinary Corps for information at 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352).

Veterinarian Education

On June 30, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis signed “The Occupational Freedom and Opportunity Act” (HB 1193) which eliminates unnecessary regulations and reduces barriers to entry for certain professions. The bill adds the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) to the statute for applicants who graduated from a foreign program. Applicants who have completed Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinarian Graduates (ECFVG) or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) can qualify for licensure in Florida.

Limited Service Clinics

Effective October 1, 2019 Limited Service Clinics can offer microchipping services in addition to vaccinations/immunizations and parasitic control. 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.

Hurricane Michael Emergency Order Information:

• Temporary Permits issued for Veterinary Premises that expire before 11/30/2018 are extended until 11/30/2018.
• Veterinary Premises damaged as a result of Hurricane Michael may request to have premise permit application fees waived if relocating (through 12/31/18).

In the wake of Hurricane Michael, Florida licensed veterinarians interested in offering volunteer services should contact the Florida Department of Agriculture, Florida Veterinary Corps for information at 1-800-HELP-FLA (1-800-435-7352).

Verify your license to another state quickly and easily by using DBPR’s Online Services.

• Logon to your existing account or create a new account at 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.

Paperless Licensing, effective 02/06/2018

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation is excited to announce an advancement in how we license veterinarians in the State of Florida.
The Department has implemented an innovative way to expedite the licensing process for veterinarians and veterinary establishments (premise permits).  The Department will no longer be mailing licenses upon issuance, as licensees can now print their licenses by logging into their secure online account with the Department.  This will allow new licensees to enter the work force at least 7 to 10 business days early, whereas, in the past, they would have to wait for the license to arrive in the mail.  In addition to new licenses, this process will allow licensees to renew online and print the license at their convenience, as well as print duplicate licenses as needed without paying a fee.

On November 18, 2012, the changes to Chapter 61G18-18.002 Florida Administrative Code – Maintenance of Medical Records, adopted by the Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine, became effective. Click here for more information.

HB 517 was approved by Governor Rick Scott on April 6, 2012 and reduces the continuing education required to activate an inactive license. You now only have to complete one renewal cycle of continuing education instead of completing continuing education for all the renewal cycles your license was in an inactive status. Effective July 1, 2012, in order to reactivate an inactive license, you will need to complete the continuing education requirements in place at the time of the last renewal for your profession. That includes 30 hours of board-approved continuing education that was taken during the last, or current, renewal period. Of the 30 hours one hour must be in drug dispensing and two hours in laws and rules.

Licensed veterinarians shall complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of continuing professional education in veterinary medicine every biennium. Beginning on June 1, 2012, no less than one (1) hour of continuing education shall be in the area of dispensing legend drugs and no less than two (2) hours of continuing education shall be in the area of the laws and rules governing the practice of veterinary medicine. Please refer to rule 61G18-16.002, FAC, for more information.

The department will no longer mail the study guide materials for the Veterinary Medicine laws and rules examination.  For your convenience the study guide materials are now available on the Veterinary Medicine Examinations page.  You can view and print from this link.

Archives