2026 Minnesota Statutes

156.001 DEFINITIONS.

Subdivision 1.Terms.

Except where the context otherwise indicates, for the purposes of this chapter, and acts amendatory thereof, the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them.

Subd. 2.Accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine.

"Accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine" means any veterinary college, school, or division of a university or college that offers the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine or its equivalent and that conforms to the standards required for accreditation or approval by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education.

Subd. 2a.Accredited program of veterinary technology.

"Accredited program of veterinary technology" means any postsecondary educational program that offers a degree in veterinary technology or its equivalent and is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities.

Subd. 3.Animal.

"Animal" means any organism, except humans, that has sensation and the power of voluntary movement and that requires oxygen and organic nutrients.

Subd. 4.Board.

"Board" means the state Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Subd. 4a.Client.

"Client" means a patient's owner, owner's agent, or other person presenting a patient for care.

Subd. 5.Compensation.

"Compensation" includes but is not limited to all fees, monetary rewards, discounts, remunerations, and emoluments received directly or indirectly.

Subd. 5a.Direct supervision.

"Direct supervision" means:

(1) when a supervising veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician is in the immediate area and within audible or visual range of an animal and the unlicensed veterinary employee treating the animal;

(2) the supervising veterinarian has met the requirements of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship under section 156.16, subdivision 12; and

(3) the supervising veterinarian assumes responsibility for the professional care given to an animal by a person working under the veterinarian's direction.

Subd. 5b.Consent.

"Consent" means verbal or written permission given by a client for performing an examination, administering a diagnostic test, administering a procedure, or providing treatment to a patient. Consent includes permission that is express or implied from the circumstances.

Subd. 5c.Consulting.

"Consulting" means seeking and receiving advice in person, by telephone, electronically, or by any other method of communication from a licensed veterinarian or any other person whose expertise, in the opinion of the person seeking advice, would benefit the management of the case.

Subd. 5d.Dispensing.

"Dispensing" means distributing veterinary drugs requiring a prescription for the use of a patient, over-the-counter veterinary drugs for the use of a patient, or human drugs for the extra-label use of a patient by a person licensed as a pharmacist by the Board of Pharmacy or a person licensed by the Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Subd. 5e.Donor.

"Donor" means:

(1) an individual at least 18 years of age if the drug or medical supply that is donated is obtained legally and meets the requirements of section 151.555 for donation; or

(2) any entity legally authorized to possess medicine with a license or permit in good standing in the state in which the entity is located, without further restrictions, including but not limited to a health care facility, skilled nursing facility, assisted living facility, pharmacy, wholesaler, and drug manufacturer.

Subd. 6.Educational commission for foreign veterinary graduates certificate; ECFVG certificate.

"Educational commission for foreign veterinary graduates certificate" or "ECFVG certificate" means a certificate issued by the American Veterinary Medical Association Education Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates, indicating that the holder has demonstrated knowledge and skill equivalent to that possessed by a graduate of an accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine.

Subd. 6a.Firm.

"Firm" includes a corporation, limited liability company, and limited liability partnership, wherever incorporated, organized, or registered.

Subd. 6b.Emergency stabilization.

"Emergency stabilization" means care provided to a patient that has a life-threatening condition when immediate treatment is necessary to sustain the patient's life, prevent the deterioration of the patient's bodily functions, or alleviate or end the patient's suffering.

Subd. 6c.Extra-label use.

"Extra-label use" means the actual or intended use of a human drug or veterinary drug in the treatment of an animal in a manner that is not in accordance with the drug's labeling.

Subd. 7.Foreign college of veterinary medicine.

"Foreign college of veterinary medicine" means a college of veterinary medicine other than an accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine.

Subd. 7a.Licensed veterinary technician or veterinary technician.

"Licensed veterinary technician" or "veterinary technician" means a person licensed by the board under section 156.077.

Subd. 7b.Licensed veterinarian.

"Licensed veterinarian" means any veterinarian who holds an active license from the board under section 156.02 to practice veterinary medicine in the state.

Subd. 8.Licensee.

"Licensee" means a person licensed to practice veterinary medicine or veterinary technology in the state of Minnesota.

Subd. 9.

MS 2024 [Repealed, 2026 c 53 s 63]

Subd. 9a.Patient.

"Patient" means any animal or group of animals receiving veterinary care from a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician.

Subd. 9b.Person.

"Person" means any individual; firm; partnership, including a general, limited, or limited liability partnership; association; joint venture; cooperative; corporation; limited liability company; or any other group or combination acting in concert, and whether or not acting as a principal, partner, member, trustee, fiduciary, receiver, or as any other kind of legal or personal representative, or as the successor in interest, assignee, agent, factor, servant, employee, director, officer, or any other representative of the person.

Subd. 9c.Physical rehabilitation.

"Physical rehabilitation" means the use of therapeutic exercise and the application of modalities intended to restore or facilitate a patient's movement and physical function impacted by disease, injury, or disability.

Subd. 10.Practice of veterinary medicine.

"Practice of veterinary medicine" has the meaning given by section 156.12.

Subd. 10a.Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence; PAVE certificate.

A "Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence" or "PAVE" certificate is issued by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, indicating that the holder has demonstrated knowledge and skill equivalent to that possessed by a graduate of an accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine.

Subd. 10b.Remote supervision.

"Remote supervision" means:

(1) a veterinarian is not available to provide direct supervision but is acquainted with the keeping and care of an animal by virtue of an examination of the animal or medically appropriate and timely visits to the premises where the animal is kept; and

(2) the supervising veterinarian has given written or oral instructions to a licensed veterinary technician for ongoing care of an animal and is available by telephone or other form of immediate communication.

Subd. 10c.Surgery.

"Surgery" means a treatment that is performed for the purpose of structurally altering a patient through the incision or destruction of tissues in the practice of veterinary medicine.

Subd. 10d.Telemedicine.

"Telemedicine" means the practice of veterinary medicine through the use of telecommunications technology that allows a licensed veterinarian with a properly established veterinarian-client-patient relationship to virtually evaluate, virtually diagnose, and virtually treat a patient.

Subd. 10e.Teletriage.

"Teletriage" means a safe, appropriate, and timely assessment and management of a patient, including providing first aid or making an immediate referral to a licensed veterinarian, without the need for a veterinarian-client-patient relationship and under uncertain and urgent conditions, by telephone or electronically. Teletriage does not include providing a diagnosis to a patient.

Subd. 10f.Veterinarian.

"Veterinarian" means an individual who has received a doctor of veterinary medicine degree or its equivalent from an accredited or approved college of veterinary medicine or is the holder of an ECFVG or a PAVE certificate.

Subd. 10g.Veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

"Veterinarian-client-patient relationship" has the meaning given in section 156.16, subdivision 12.

Subd. 10h.Veterinary medical facility.

"Veterinary medical facility" means the premises, office, unit, structure, mobile unit, or area used for the practice of veterinary medicine. Veterinary medical facility does not include the premises of an owner when the owner's animal is treated on the owner's premises.

Subd. 11.Veterinary medicine.

"Veterinary medicine" includes veterinary surgery, obstetrics, pathology, radiology, dentistry, ophthalmology, cardiology, dermatology, laboratory animal medicine, and all other branches or specialties of veterinary medicine.

Subd. 11a.Veterinary specialist.

"Veterinary specialist" means a veterinarian who has been awarded and maintains certification from a veterinary specialty organization recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association or other veterinary specialty organization that maintains comparable certification requirements as determined by the board.

Subd. 11b.Veterinary Technician National Exam.

"Veterinary Technician National Exam" means the examination administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards to evaluate the competency of entry-level veterinary technicians and veterinary technologists.

Subd. 11c.Veterinary technician specialist.

"Veterinary technician specialist" means a veterinary technician or veterinary technologist who has been awarded and maintains certification from a veterinary technician specialty academy recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America or another veterinary technician specialty organization that maintains comparable certification requirements as determined by the board.

Subd. 11d.Veterinary technologist.

"Veterinary technologist" means a person who has earned a baccalaureate degree in veterinary technology from a four-year program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities or the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

Subd. 12.Veterinary technology.

"Veterinary technology" means the science and practice of providing professional support to veterinarians, including the direct supervision of unlicensed veterinary employees. Veterinary technology does not include veterinary diagnosis, prognosis, surgery, or medication prescription.

History:

1965 c 204 s 1; 1975 c 271 s 6; 1976 c 285 s 1; 1985 c 228 s 1; 1996 c 415 s 2,3; 1999 c 231 s 151-153; 2008 c 297 art 1 s 32; 2024 c 127 art 20 s 1-4; 2026 c 53 s 1-28