{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-3801.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-3801.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-3801.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-3801.html"}],"law_id":62527,"edition_id":1,"section_id":62527,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3801","catch_line":"Exceptions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 54-786; c. 574; 1978, c. 539; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 740; 2008, c. 674; 2009, cc. 149, 169; 2014, c. 148; 2016, cc. 306, 479; 2018, c. 774.","full_text":"This chapter shall not apply to:\n\n1\n\nThe owner of an animal and the owner’s full-time, regular employee caring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the ownership of the animal was transferred for the purpose of circumventing the requirements of this chapter;2\n\nVeterinarians licensed in other states called in actual consultation with veterinarians licensed in the Commonwealth who do not open an office or appoint a place to practice within the Commonwealth;3\n\nVeterinarians employed by the United States or by the Commonwealth while actually engaged in the performance of their official duties, with the exception of those engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, pursuant to § 54.1-3800, as part of a veterinary medical education program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education and located in the Commonwealth;4\n\nVeterinarians providing free care in underserved areas of Virginia who (i) do not regularly practice veterinary medicine in Virginia, (ii) hold a current valid license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in another state, territory, district, or possession of the United States, (iii) volunteer to provide free care in an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people, (iv) file copies of their licenses or certificates issued in such other jurisdiction with the Board, (v) notify the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service, and (vi) acknowledge, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board’s regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer, nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board. The Board may deny the right to practice in Virginia to any veterinarian whose license has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony, or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations. However, the Board shall allow a veterinarian who meets the above criteria to provide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another state; or5\n\nPersons purchasing, possessing, and administering drugs and biological products in a public or private animal shelter as defined in § 3.2-6500, provided that such purchase, possession, and administration is in compliance with § 54.1-3423.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":228019,"text":"This chapter shall not apply to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":228020,"text":"The owner of an animal and the owner’s full-time, regular employee caring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the ownership of the animal was transferred for the purpose of circumventing the requirements of this chapter;","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":228021,"text":"Veterinarians licensed in other states called in actual consultation with veterinarians licensed in the Commonwealth who do not open an office or appoint a place to practice within the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":228022,"text":"Veterinarians employed by the United States or by the Commonwealth while actually engaged in the performance of their official duties, with the exception of those engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, pursuant to § 54.1-3800, as part of a veterinary medical education program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education and located in the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":228023,"text":"Veterinarians providing free care in underserved areas of Virginia who (i) do not regularly practice veterinary medicine in Virginia, (ii) hold a current valid license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in another state, territory, district, or possession of the United States, (iii) volunteer to provide free care in an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people, (iv) file copies of their licenses or certificates issued in such other jurisdiction with the Board, (v) notify the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service, and (vi) acknowledge, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board’s regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer, nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board. The Board may deny the right to practice in Virginia to any veterinarian whose license has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony, or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations. However, the Board shall allow a veterinarian who meets the above criteria to provide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another state; or","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":228024,"text":"Persons purchasing, possessing, and administering drugs and biological products in a public or private animal shelter as defined in § 3.2-6500, provided that such purchase, possession, and administration is in compliance with § 54.1-3423.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14647,"edition_id":1,"name":"Veterinary Medicine","identifier":"38","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:08","permalink":{"id":244139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14647,"identifier":"38","token":"54.1\/III\/38","url":"\/54.1\/III\/38\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86600,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3800","catch_line":"Practice of veterinary medicine","url":"\/54.1-3800\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3800","metadata":false},{"id":62527,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3801","catch_line":"Exceptions","url":"\/54.1-3801\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3801","metadata":false},{"id":59574,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3802","catch_line":"Board of Veterinary Medicine; appointment; officers; etc","url":"\/54.1-3802\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3802","metadata":false},{"id":56223,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3803","catch_line":"Nominations","url":"\/54.1-3803\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3803","metadata":false},{"id":61824,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3804","catch_line":"Specific powers of Board","url":"\/54.1-3804\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3804","metadata":false},{"id":76352,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3804.1","catch_line":"Expired","url":"\/54.1-3804.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3804.1","metadata":false},{"id":68519,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3805","catch_line":"License required","url":"\/54.1-3805\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3805","metadata":false},{"id":68948,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3805.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3805.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3805.1","metadata":false},{"id":73261,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3805.2","catch_line":"Continuing education","url":"\/54.1-3805.2\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3805.2","metadata":false},{"id":68436,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3805.3","catch_line":"Traineeships","url":"\/54.1-3805.3\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3805.3","metadata":false},{"id":61100,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3806","catch_line":"Licensed veterinary technicians","url":"\/54.1-3806\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3806","metadata":false},{"id":71910,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3806.1","catch_line":"Disclosure forms required","url":"\/54.1-3806.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3806.1","metadata":false},{"id":71328,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3807","catch_line":"Refusal to grant and to renew; revocation and suspension of licenses and registrations","url":"\/54.1-3807\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3807","metadata":false},{"id":86734,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3808","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3808\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3808","metadata":false},{"id":67713,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3809","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/54.1-3809\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3809","metadata":false},{"id":86705,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3810","catch_line":"Report of conviction or injunction to Board","url":"\/54.1-3810\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3810","metadata":false},{"id":57463,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3811","catch_line":"Veterinary professionals rendering services without charge exempt from liability","url":"\/54.1-3811\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3811","metadata":false},{"id":65614,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3812","catch_line":"Release of records","url":"\/54.1-3812\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3812","metadata":false},{"id":56784,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3812.1","catch_line":"Reporting of animal cruelty","url":"\/54.1-3812.1\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3812.1","metadata":false},{"id":57588,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3813","catch_line":"Registration of equine dental technicians","url":"\/54.1-3813\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3813","metadata":false},{"id":78406,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3814","catch_line":"Declawing cats; prohibition","url":"\/54.1-3814\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3814","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":86600,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3800","catch_line":"Practice of veterinary medicine","url":"\/54.1-3800\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3800","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":59574,"structure_id":14647,"section_number":"54.1-3802","catch_line":"Board of Veterinary Medicine; appointment; officers; etc","url":"\/54.1-3802\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3802","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-3801\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 8 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1978, chapter 539; in 1988, chapter 765; in 2002, chapter 740<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 674<\/a>; in 2009, chapters 149<\/a> and 169<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 148<\/a>; in 2016, chapters 306<\/a> and 479<\/a>; in 2018, chapter 774<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":86401,"section_number":"3.2-6500","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/3.2-6500\/"},{"id":87135,"section_number":"54.1-3423","catch_line":"Board to issue registration unless inconsistent with public interest; authorization to conduct research; application and fees","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3423\/"},{"id":86600,"section_number":"54.1-3800","catch_line":"Practice of veterinary medicine","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3800\/"}],"permalink":{"id":244145,"object_type":"law","relational_id":62527,"identifier":"54.1-3801","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3801","url":"\/54.1-3801\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-3801\/","token":"54.1\/III\/38\/54.1-3801","dublin_core":{"Title":"Exceptions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-3801","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

This chapter shall not apply to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> The owner of an animal and the owner’s full-time, regular employee caring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the ownership of the animal was transferred for the purpose of circumventing the requirements of this chapter; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Veterinarians licensed in other states called in actual consultation with veterinarians licensed in the Commonwealth who do not open an office or appoint a place to practice within the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Veterinarians employed by the United States or by the Commonwealth while actually engaged in the performance of their official duties, with the exception of those engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, pursuant to § 54.1-3800<\/a>, as part of a veterinary medical education program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education and located in the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Veterinarians providing free care in underserved areas of Virginia who (i) do not regularly practice veterinary medicine in Virginia, (ii) hold a current valid license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in another state, territory, district, or possession<\/span> of the United States, (iii) volunteer to provide free care in an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the auspices of a publicly supported all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people, (iv) file copies of their licenses or certificates issued in such other jurisdiction<\/span> with the Board, (v) notify the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service, and (vi) acknowledge, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in compliance with the Board’s regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer, nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board. The Board may deny the right to practice in Virginia to any veterinarian whose license has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony<\/span>, or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws<\/span> or regulations. However, the Board shall allow a veterinarian who meets the above criteria to provide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three days, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a valid, unrestricted license in another state; or <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Persons purchasing, possessing, and administering drugs and biological products in a public or private animal shelter as defined in § 3.2-6500<\/a>, provided that such purchase, possession<\/span>, and administration is in compliance with § 54.1-3423<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nEXCEPTIONS (\u00a7 54.1-3801)\n\nThis chapter shall not apply to:\n\n1. The owner of an animal and the owner’s full-time, regular employee\ncaring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the\nownership of the animal was transferred for the purpose of circumventing the\nrequirements of this chapter;\n\n2. Veterinarians licensed in other states called in actual consultation with\nveterinarians licensed in the Commonwealth who do not open an office or appoint\na place to practice within the Commonwealth;\n\n3. Veterinarians employed by the United States or by the Commonwealth while\nactually engaged in the performance of their official duties, with the exception\nof those engaged in the practice of veterinary medicine, pursuant to §\n54.1-3800, as part of a veterinary medical education program accredited by the\nAmerican Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education and located in the\nCommonwealth;\n\n4. Veterinarians providing free care in underserved areas of Virginia who (i) do\nnot regularly practice veterinary medicine in Virginia, (ii) hold a current\nvalid license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in another state,\nterritory, district, or possession of the United States, (iii) volunteer to\nprovide free care in an underserved area of the Commonwealth under the auspices\nof a publicly supported all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the\nprovision of health care to populations of underserved people, (iv) file copies\nof their licenses or certificates issued in such other jurisdiction with the\nBoard, (v) notify the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary\nprovision of services of the dates and location of such service, and (vi)\nacknowledge, in writing, that such licensure exemption shall only be valid, in\ncompliance with the Board’s regulations, during the limited period that\nsuch free health care is made available through the volunteer, nonprofit\norganization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board. The Board\nmay deny the right to practice in Virginia to any veterinarian whose license has\nbeen previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony, or who\nis otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations.\nHowever, the Board shall allow a veterinarian who meets the above criteria to\nprovide volunteer services without prior notice for a period of up to three\ndays, provided the nonprofit organization verifies that the practitioner has a\nvalid, unrestricted license in another state; or\n\n5. Persons purchasing, possessing, and administering drugs and biological\nproducts in a public or private animal shelter as defined in § 3.2-6500,\nprovided that such purchase, possession, and administration is in compliance\nwith § 54.1-3423.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 54-786; c. 574; 1978, c. 539; 1988, c. 765; 2002, c. 740;\n2008, c. 674; 2009, cc. 149, 169; 2014, c. 148; 2016, cc. 306, 479; 2018, c.\n774.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}