Board of Veterinary Medicine

Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Montana, all Montana Department of Labor & Industry offices are closed to the public to protect the health and safety of our clients and staff.  Our services are available through remote delivery.  We are available to assist customers through our online public portal at EBIZ.MT.GOV/POL (Professional and Occupational Licenses) and EBIZ.MT.GOV (for Permits). For other services, please contact us via email at DLIBSDWEBHELP@MT.GOV or by phone (406) 841-2300.

Click here for information regarding the COVID-19 Emergency Healthcare Registration

Prescribing and Dispensing Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Welcome to the Montana Board of Veterinary Medicine

Veterinarian Renewal has Started!
On August 31, 2020, the Board of Veterinary Medicine voted to extend the Continuing Education (CE) deadline for licensees to January 31, 2021.

Licensees are still required to renew by the November 1, 2020 renewal deadline. Licensees are encouraged to renew online.

ARM 24.225.511 requires that a licensee obtain no more than 10 hours of their 20-hour CE requirement from online courses. An “online course” is a course designed to be taken at the licensee’s convenience and that does not allow for back and forth interaction between the licensee, instructor/presenter, or other attendees. A presentation that has a live platform and allows for interaction between attendees and the presenter is considered an in-person course.

FAQ on COVID-19 Impacts to Licensees and the Public's Use of Licensees' Services
Note: This FAQ is specific to questions pertaining to the Board of Veterinary Medicine. For more general information that pertains to the entire Professional Licensing Bureau click on the link in the blue bar at the top of this page.

• This COVID-19 FAQ covers the most frequently asked questions to date (telemedicine, applying for a license, licensing, sanitation, etc.).
• Staff will continue to update the FAQ as new questions and new information become available. 
• If you have a question on this topic we encourage you to review the FAQ before you attempt to contact staff directly.
• If you have previously downloaded this FAQ we recommend you delete your cookies and browsing history to ensure you see the most current version of the FAQ. The current version is dated 5/4/20.
• Note that due to COVID-19 emergency, all board meetings will be held by conference call until further notice. No outside participant or stakeholders will be allowed access in the building. If you wish to attend a board meeting you must attend by phone.

Message to New Licensees & Applicants

• Even in normal years, graduation season is busy time for license application processing staff. The board recognizes that the current COVID-19 pandemic has created discord in the normal application, examination, and licensure process. We are striving to address these concerns and potential roadblocks as quickly as possible; however, please understand that this will not occur overnight. The board must continue its public safety mission while adapting to daily changes occurring from the pandemic. This will take time.
• Applicants are encouraged to begin their application for licensure and to complete as much of the required information as possible.
• Applications remain valid for one year under normal circumstances. If you submit your application and an item is missing, our licensing specialist will work with you to complete the application. We do not deny applicants for submitting an incomplete application. By completing the application’s remaining parts, exempting exams, etc., you can get ahead on the licensure process.
• Online applications are the most efficient application method and allow you to upload your own supplemental forms directly into your application at any time.  Click here to go to our online system to create an account and begin your application. 
• Paying the fee triggers the beginning of the staff review process. Be aware that to verify authenticity, some documents such as exam results, and transcripts must be sent to the department directly from the source and cannot be uploaded by the applicant.
  
  Make Sure Your Contact Information is Current

• Make sure your address and e-mail information are up-to-date. You can update your information at any time by logging into your online account.
• E-mail is the board's primary form of communication so a current e-mail helps ensure you stay current on board information.

Board meetings are usually held several times a year. 
Meeting minutes are posted within 3 days of board approval.

In general, board meetings are open to the public. 
There are certain meetings or parts (Screening Panel and Executive Session), which are closed to the public.

Scheduled and Proposed Meetings
 

Board members are appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation. Members serve 5 year terms with no limit on the number of terms a member may serve. 

Individual Board Members can be contacted by email at dlibsdvet@mt.gov. In your message please specify which board member you would like to contact. For additional contact information and information on board member terms, please visit the Governor’s Office link for Board Members and Councils at boards.mt.gov.

Thank you for your interest in contacting the Montana Board of Veterinary Medicine.

If you are already licensed, have applied for a license, are about to apply for a license, or are renewing your license from the Board of Veterinary Medicine:

Professional Licensing Customer Service:

(406) 444-6880

DLIBSDHELP@MT.GOV

If you have scope of practice questions or comments for the Board of Veterinary Medicine:

Rhonda Morgan, Executive Officer

DLIBSDVET@MT.GOV

If you have questions about continuing education:

(406) 444-5696

AUDIT@MT.GOV

If you have questions about filing a complaint against a licensee:

(406) 841-2312

DLIBSDCOMPLAINTS@MT.GOV

Mailing Address:

Board of Veterinary Medicine

PO Box 200513

Helena, MT 59620-0513

Physical Address:

Board of Veterinary Medicine

301 S. Park Avenue

4th Floor

Helena, MT 59620

Fiscal Years 2016-2017: Professional and Occupational Licensing Report

To apply using the online application please click here.

Below is the general licensing information for certifed euthanasia agencies.

• Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist
• Renewal Period: March 1 - May 30. Late renewal is possible for 45 days. Late fees apply
• Renewal Fee: $257 (plus a $200 annual inspection fee paid at renewal)

To apply using the online application please click here

Below is general licensing information for certifed embryo transfer technicians.

• Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist
• Renewal Period: Sept.1 - Nov. 1. Late renewal is possible for 45 day. Late fees apply.
• Renewal Fee: $145

To apply using the online application please click here

Below is the general licensing information for certifed euthanasia technicians. 

• Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist
• Renewal Period: March 1 - May 30. Late renewal is possible for 45 days. Late fees apply.
• Renewal Fee: $145

To apply using the online application please click here.

Below is the general licensing information for veterinarians.

• Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist - applicant NOT CURRENTLY licensed out-of-state
• Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist - applicant CURRENTLY licensed out-of-state
• Renewal Period: September 1 - November 1. Late renewal is possible for 45 days. Late fees apply.
• Renewal Fee: $145
• Continuing Education Requirements: 20 hours reported every even-numbered year.

Veterinarian National Exam

• For North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) deadlines and testing, visit the International Council for Veterinary Assessment website for more information.
• The state jurisprudence exam is open book and is included with the application.

Embryo Transfer Technician Exam

• Complete applications must be submitted by August 1 in order for applicants to be eligible for the board administered Fall exam.
   

You can determine if a person is licensed in Montana by using LicenseLookup.mt.gov.  Written requests are also welcome and the process to follow is outlined below.  

Individuals who are licensed in Montana and need a verification on the status of their license can use the official license verification form.

There are THREE types of Licensure Verification Requests:

1). Licensees for any profession can be verified by using LicenseLookup.mt.gov.
This website provides real-time connectivity to the Business Standards Licensing Database. There is no charge for this service.

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2). An individual may request licensure information directly from the board or program email link. The email should include first and last name, address, city, state, license number and any other type of identifying information. There is no charge for this service.

A response should occur within 3 days of receipt.

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3). To request an official Montana license verification be sent to another state licensing board, jurisdiction or individual for license confirmation status in the State of Montana. The fee for this is $20.00 per verification requested.

Once the fee and official license verification form are received, the request will be processed and mailed within 5 days.

Licensees can renew online by using the "Renew License" link under "Quick Links".

• Renewal Deadlines (license expiration) 
  • veterinarians and embryo transfer technicians - November 1 each year
  • certified euthanasia agencies and certified euthanasia technicians -  May 30 each year.
• Renewal opens 60 days prior to your expiration date.  We encourage you to renew your license early in the renewal cycle.
• Please note that our online system is available 24/7 during the renewal cycle; however, there is no staff available to assist you after 5:00 p.m.  Waiting until the last hours to renew could mean that there is no one available to assist you. This may cause your renewal to accrue late fees.
• Renewal after a license's expiration date will automatically result in a 100% late fee, in addition to the renewal fee. Please renew your license on time to avoid additional fees.

All of the Statutes and Rules listed here are applicable to this board.

Statutes are laws passed by the Legislature. All changes in statutes must go through the legislative process and be passed into law before they become effective. Title 37, Chapter 1, Part 3 is the Uniform Regulatory Act passed by the Legislature in 1995. All professional and occupational licensing is covered in these statutes.

Administrative Rules pertaining to veterinary medicine are written and adopted by the Board of Veterinary Medicine. The Board writes rules in order to administer the laws over which the Legislature has given the Board authority. Rules can be changed by going through the rule-making procedure. They do not go through the Legislative process. The Board of Veterinary Medicine continuously reviews rules to determine needed changes.

The Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) at this site contain what should be the same text as the official version published by the Office of the Secretary of State. There is a possibility, however, that the content may vary from the official version. In addition, the format has been changed for viewing on this web site. A copy of the official ARM in official format can be obtained from the ARM Bureau of the Office of the Secretary of State by e-mailing SOSARM@mt.gov. A web version of the ARM published by the Secretary of State can be viewed at Secretary of State's Administrative Rules of Montana.

• Chapter 225 - Board of Veterinary Medicine

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• Chapter 24 - Labor and Industry

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• Chapter 101 - Business Standards Division

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Title 2 Chapter 15 Part 17 - Board of Veterinary Medicine

Title 37 Chapter 1 - General Provisions

Title 37 Chapter 18  - Veterinary Medicine

Click here to find rules notices older than one year at the Montana Secretary of State website.

MONTANA ADMINISTRATIVE REGISTER (MAR) 24-101-308

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 24.101.417 registration for out-of-state volunteer professionals

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT (published May 29, 2020)

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT (effective July 25, 2020)

Montana Administrative Register (MAR)

MAR 24-225-41

In the matter of the amendment of ARM 24.225.301 definitions, 24.225.514 patient medical records and recordkeeping, 24.225.550 unprofessional conduct, 24.225.709 continuing education, 24.225.904 certified euthanasia technicians – license requirements, 24.225.907 board-approved training program criteria, 24.225.910 certified euthanasia technician examinations – written and practical, 24.225.920 application for certified euthanasia agencies, 24.225.921 inspections – initial and annual, 24.225.925 continuing education – certified euthanasia technicians, 24.225.950 unprofessional conduct; the adoption of New Rule I certified euthanasia agency operation standards, New Rule II change of attorney-in-fact, New Rule III closure of a certified euthanasia agency or loss of DEA permit; and the repeal of 24.225.901 definitions, 24.225.926 termination of certified euthanasia technician employment and retirement of certificate

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT, ADOPTION, AND REPEAL (published August 28, 2020)

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING on Proposed Amendment, Adoption, and Repeal (published 3/13/20)

MAR 24-225-40
In the matter of the amendment of ARM 24.225.301 definitions, 24.225.425 nonroutine applications, 24.225.501 temporary permits, 24.225.503, veterinarian licenses, 24.225.504 veterinarian examinations, 24.225.507 licensure of out-of-state veterinarians, 24.225.511 continuing education, and 24.225.513 continuing education instructors; the transfer of 24.225.410 (24.225.514) record-keeping standards, 24.225.415 (24.225.520) management of infectious wastes, and 24.225.420 (24.225.521) inspection and sanitation; and the repeal of 24.225.502 occasional case exemption

• Notice of Adoption on Proposed Amendment, Transfer, and Repeal (Eff. 7/7/18)
• Notice of Public Hearing on Proposed Amendment, Transfer, and Repeal

General Forms

• Complaint Form
• Complaint Process Brochure
• Certified Euthanasia Agency - Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist
• Certified Euthanasia Technician - Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist
• Embryo Transfer Technician - Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist
• Veterinarian - not currently licensed out-of-state - Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist
• Veterinarian - currently licensed out-of-state - Licensing Requirements & Application Submission Checklist

Renewal Forms

• Certified Euthanasia Agency License Renewal Form
• Certified Euthanasia Technician License Renewal Form
• Embryo Transfer Technician Renewal Form
• Veterinarian Renewal Form

License Application Forms

• Certified Euthanasia Agency DEA Power of Attorney
• Certified Euthanasia Technician Employment
• Jurisprudence Exam
• Certified Euthanasia Agency Application
• Certified Euthanasia Technician Application
• Veterinarian Application

The Montana Department of Labor & Industry and Professional and Occupational Licensing Boards are charged with taking appropriate action for unprofessional, incompetent, or unlawful practice. To learn more about the complaint process or to file a complaint, please visit our Complaint Information page.

Filing a Complaint

On August 31, 2020, the Board of Veterinary Medicine voted to extend the Continuing Education (CE) deadline for Veterinarian licensees to January 31, 2021.

Licensees are still required to renew by the November 1, 2020 renewal deadline. Licensees are encouraged to renew online.

ARM 24.225.511 requires that a licensee obtain no more than 10 hours of their 20-hour CE requirement from online courses. An “online course” is a course designed to be taken at the licensee’s convenience and that does not allow for back and forth interaction between the licensee, instructor/presenter, or other attendees. A presentation that has a live platform and allows for interaction between attendees and the presenter is considered an in-person course.

General Information

• Veterinarians are required to take 20 hours of relevant continuing education prior to renewal on November 1 of even-numbered years.
• The board does not pre-approve any courses or sponsors. Each licensee is responsible for taking courses which relate directly to the scope of practice of veterinary medicine as defined in board statute. Licensees are responsible for selecting quality programs that contribute to their knowledge and competence.
• Contact the board if you have questions regarding CE requirements.

Contact Information
Phone: 406-841-2305
Email: audit@mt.gov