Procedures For Licensure

(1) Veterinarian by Examination (a) An applicant shall obtain an application from the Board’s administrative office, and re- spond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information. (b) Applications for licensure must be submitted to the Board’s administrative office in ac- cordance with the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME) deadline. (c) An applicant shall pay, at the time of application, the non-refundable application fee and the State Regulatory fee as provided in Rule 1730-01-.06. (d) An applicant shall submit with his/her application two recent photographs, one signed and notarized. (e) An applicant shall cause a graduate transcript from an approved college or school of veterinary medicine to be submitted directly from the college or school to the Board’s administrative office. The transcript must show that the degree has been conferred and carry the official seal of the institution. (f) An applicant shall pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) within the five (5) years preceding licensure application. Official scores shall be submit- ted to the Board’s administrative office directly from American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). (g) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following: 1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, ex- cept minor traffic violations. Driving Under the Influence is not a minor traffic vio- lation. 2. Denial of a licensure application or the discipline of a license by any other state. 3. Loss or restriction of certification, licensure privileges, state or federal accredita- tion. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING VETERINARIANS CHAPTER 1730-01 4. Any final or settled legal action that relates to the applicant’s professional services in any profession, or, any pending legal action that relates to the applicant’s pro- fessional services and to which the applicant is a party. (h) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board’s administrative office, directly from the vendor identified in the Board’s licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check. (i) An applicant shall submit proof of United States or Canada citizenship or evidence of being legally entitled to live in the United States. Such evidence may include a copy of a birth certificate, naturalization papers, or current visa status. (j) Where necessary, all required documents shall be translated in English. The original document and the translation must be certified as authentic by the issuing source. (k) Application review and licensure decisions are governed by Rule 1730-01-.07. (l) If an applicant has ever held a license to practice veterinary medicine in any other state or Canada, the applicant shall submit the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of En- dorsement from each such licensing board. The document submitted should indicate the license number, the date of issuance, the license status, expiration date, and infor- mation concerning any disciplinary action. (2) Veterinarian by Reciprocity. The Board may grant full licensure by reciprocity to veterinarians licensed in another state. The process for obtaining a license by reciprocity is as follows: (a) An applicant shall obtain an application form from the Board’s administrative office and respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for information. (b) An applicant shall submit proof of successful completion of the North American Veteri- nary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) or the National Board Examination and Clinical Compe- tency Test, with official scores submitted to the Board’s administrative office directly from American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). (c) An applicant shall pay, at the time of application, the non-refundable application, reci- procity, and State Regulatory fees as provided in Rule 1730-01-.06. (d) An applicant shall submit with his or her application two recent photographs, one signed and notarized. (e) An applicant shall cause a graduate transcript from an approved college or school of veterinary medicine to be submitted directly from the college or school to the Board’s administrative office. The transcript must show that the degree has been conferred and carry the official seal of the institution. (f) An applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following: 1. Conviction of any criminal law violation of any country, state, or municipality, ex- cept minor traffic violations. Driving Under the Influence is not a minor traffic vio- lation. 2. Denial of licensure application or the discipline of a license by any other state. 3. Loss or restriction of certification or licensure privileges or state or federal accred- itation. GENERAL RULES GOVERNING VETERINARIANS CHAPTER 1730-01 4. Any final or settled legal action that relates to the applicant’s professional services in any profession, or, any pending legal action that relates to the applicant’s pro- fessional services and to which the applicant is a party. (g) An applicant shall cause to be submitted to the Board’s administrative office, directly from the vendor identified in the Board’s licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background check. (h) An applicant shall submit proof of United States or Canadian citizenship or evidence of being legally entitled to live in the United States. Such evidence may include a copy of a birth certificate, naturalization papers, or current visa status. (i) Where necessary, all required documents shall be translated into English. The original document and the translation must be certified as authentic by the issuing source. (j) Application review and licensure decisions are governed by Rule 1730-01-.07. (k) If an applicant has ever held a license to practice veterinary medicine in any other state or Canada, the applicant shall submit the equivalent of a Tennessee Certificate of En- dorsement from each such licensing board. The document submitted should indicate the license number, the date of issuance, the license status, expiration date, and infor- mation concerning any disciplinary action. (l) An applicant for licensure by reciprocity shall furnish an affidavit or other proof that he or she has engaged actively in the practice of veterinary medicine for three (3) of the five (5) years preceding licensure application for an average of at least twenty-five (25) hours per week in another state or jurisdiction. (m) An applicant for licensure by reciprocity shall furnish independent documentation of at- tendance and completion of all continuing education courses as required under Rule 1730-01-.04(2)(f). (3) Foreign Graduates. In addition to meeting the prerequisites outlined in Rule 1730-01-.04(1) or (2), graduates from a Foreign Veterinary Medical School must: (a) Be certified by 1. the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG), which is a committee of the American Veterinary Medical Association; or 2. the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE), which is a program of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards; or 3. a certification agency deemed by the Board to be equivalent to ECFVG or PAVE; and (b) Be a graduate from a veterinary school approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the Board; and (c) Provide an official copy of grades and curriculum, translated if not in English. The origi- nal document and the translation must be certified as authentic by the issuing source.