Unauthorized practice a criminal offense in some states
The American Veterinary Medical Association says 10 states are believed to have some form of criminal penalties on the books for those who practice veterinary medicine without a license.
The American Veterinary Medical Association says 10 states are believed to have some form of criminal penalties on the books for those who practice veterinary medicine without a license.
A May 2007 summary report posted on the group's Web site identifies those states as Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Oklahoma. Most other states, the report says, authorize sanctions such as civil penalties, injunctions and citations, which can carry stiff fines.
Cases of individuals fraudulently claiming to be veterinarians and performing medical procedures are rare, an AVMA spokesperson reports, but it's likely all cases are not reported to the association.
DVM credentials can be verified by contacting state veterinary licensing boards. Contact information is available on the American Association of Veterinary State Boards' Web site www.aavsb.org.
