Reciprocity

Any person licensed or registered in another state may obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine in the Commonwealth by meeting the following requirements: (1) Each applicant shall file an application and fee as required by the Board; (2) Each applicant shall have obtained a passing score on a Board approved veterinary licensing examination. The passing scores are those required by the Board at the time the applicant obtained the certificate of registration or license in the other state; Examination; (4) The Board at its discretion may require an oral examination and/or interview; and (5) Each applicant must provide a current licensing history certified or attested to by the board of examiners of any other state board whose standards in the opinion of the Board are equivalent to the requirements of the Commonwealth. (MA REG. # 1339, Dated 5-19-17) (6) The Board may waive the requirement for a Board approved international veterinary graduate certificate or Board approved veterinary licensing examination in the case of a veterinary specialist who has been certified as a specialist in a particular field of practice. Where the Board grants such a waiver, the Board may restrict the licensee's veterinary practice to his or her specialty. Each veterinary specialist who receives such a waiver shall inform the Board of any change in the status of his or her certification as a specialist. After a license expires or becomes inactive, a veterinarian who continues to practice or holds out him or herself as a licensed veterinarian may be subject to penalties for unlicensed practice pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112, § 59 and/or M.G.L. c. 112, § 65A (1) Where a license has been inactive for less than three cycles, a license may be made active by: (a) paying the outstanding annual license fees accrued during the period of inactive status; and (b) completing all outstanding continuing education requirements for each year of inactive status. (2) Where a license has been inactive for more than three cycles, a license may be made active by: (a) paying the outstanding annual license fees from the inactive period; (b) filing with the Board an affidavit containing the circumstances of the inactive period and the reasons for requesting activation of the license; (c) obtaining a passing grade in a clinical competency examination, if so requested by the Board; (d) obtaining a passing grade on the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination; (e) appearing before the Board for an interview, if so requested by the Board; and (f) completing outstanding continuing education requirements for the three cycles preceding the application for reinstatement. (1) Each veterinarian engaged in practice shall have all current required licenses, certificates and permits on display. This includes a copy of the license certificate to practice veterinary medicine in the Commonwealth, and any applicable certifications by AVMA specialty boards. (2) Each licensee practicing at a location where the display of certificates is not possible or practical shall have on his or her person a license card as proof that his or her license is current. The Board shall not license international veterinary graduates, except veterinary specialists and international veterinary graduates who are otherwise eligible for licensure by reciprocity, to practice veterinary medicine within the Commonwealth unless the applicant has a Board approved international veterinary graduate certificate. An international veterinary graduate who is a veterinary specialist may qualify to practice veterinary medicine within the Commonwealth pursuant to the provisions of 256 CMR 3.03(1). All international veterinary graduates seeking a temporary permit shall meet the requirements of 256 CMR 4.00: Temporary Permits.