Louisiana suspends licensing rules for out-of-state veterinarian volunteers

Baton Rouge

-- Out-of-state veterinarians and veterinary technicians in good standing can volunteer in Louisiana without fear of state board reprisal.

The emergency measure was crafted to help foster volunteerism following a natural disaster.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal issued Emergency Rule Gustav-1, which suspends the requirement for a Louisiana issued license/registration to those out-of-state licensed/registered/certified veterinarians and/or out of state licensed/registered/certified veterinary technicians who are unrestricted in another jurisdiction of the United States.

Rules include:

1. the veterinarian and/or veterinary technician has photo identification and verification of a current license/registration/certification in good standing and unrestricted in another jurisdiction of the United States, and properly applies and obtains registration from the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine (LBVM) prior to providing any veterinary services in Louisiana;

2. the veterinarian or veterinary technician is engaged in a legitimate relief effort during the emergency period, and provides satisfactory documentation to the LBVM of the location site(s) that he will be providing gratuitous veterinary services (applicants are requested to contact LA Incident Command Post at martha@ldaf.state.la.us regarding deployment orders and emergency training credentials);

3. the veterinarian or veterinary technician shall comply with the LA Veterinary Practice Act, LBVM's Rules, and other applicable laws, as well as practice in good faith, and within the reasonable scope ofhis skills, training, and ability; and

4. The veterinarian or veterinary technician renders veterinary services on a gratuitous basis with no revenue of any kind to be derived whatsoever from the provision of veterinary services within the state of Louisiana.

The rule is effective until Sept. 26, 2008.