N.H. Admin. Code § Vet 102.01 - Terms Used

As used in these rules, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

(a) "Accredited veterinary medical program" means a school of veterinary medicine or a veterinary medical education program that has been approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA);

(b) "Accredited veterinary technology program" means a school of veterinary technology or a veterinary technology education program or a veterinary nursing program that has been approved by the AVMA;

(c) "Animal" means "animal" as defined in RSA 332-B:1, I;

(d) "Animal shelter" means a public or private humane society, animal shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, animal protection or control agency, or animal rescue group that provides shelter and care for homeless animals;

(e) "Approved program of continuing education" means an educational program approved by the board or offered by an approved provider of continuing education;

(f) "Approved provider of continuing education" means any person, professional association, university or college, corporation, or other entity that has met the requirements of the board to provide educational courses that are designed to assure continued competence in the practice of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology;

(g) "Board of veterinary medicine (Board)" means "Board" as defined in RSA 332-B:1, VIII;

(h) "Client" means an entity, person, group, or corporation that has entered into an agreement with a licensed veterinarian for the purposes of obtaining veterinary medical services;

(i) "Clinical Competency Test (CCT)" means the national clinical examination given prior to November 2000;

(j) "Complainant" means the individual(s) submitting written allegations of professional misconduct against a person licensed by the board;

(k) "Complementary and alternative veterinary medicine or therapies" means a heterogeneous group of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic philosophies and practices that are not considered part of conventional veterinary medicine. These therapies include but are not limited to:

(1) Veterinary acupuncture, acutherapy, and acupressure;

(2) Veterinary homeopathy;

(3) Veterinary manual or manipulative therapy such as therapies based on techniques practiced in osteopathy, chiropractic medicine, or physical medicine and therapy;

(4) Veterinary nutraceutical therapy; and

(5) Veterinary phytotherapy;

(l) "Consultation" means when a licensed veterinarian receives advice or assistance in person, telephonically, electronically, or by any other method of communication, from a licensed veterinarian or other person whose expertise, in the opinion of the licensed veterinarian, would benefit an animal;

(m) "Continuing education" means training which is designed to assure continued competence in the practice of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology;

(n) "Continuing education contact hour" means a 50 to 60-minute clock hour of instruction, not including breaks or meals;

(o) "Conviction" means conviction of a crime by a court of competent jurisdiction and includes a finding or verdict of guilt, whether or not the adjudication of guilt is withheld or not entered on admission of guilt, a consent plea, a plea of nolo contendere, or a guilty plea;

(p) "Direct supervision" means supervision where the supervising veterinarian is on the premises of the animal treatment facility and is available on an immediate basis and has given written or oral instructions for treatment of the animal patients involved;

(q) "Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG)" means a program to test educational equivalency of graduates of non-AVMA accredited schools;

(r) "Examination" means a written or oral test approved by the board and given to a veterinarian;

(s) "Felony" means a criminal act as defined by this state or any other state under federal law;

(t) "Immediate supervision" means the supervising veterinarian is in the immediate area and within audible and visual range of the animal patient and the person treating the patient;

(u) "Indirect supervision" means supervision where the supervising veterinarian is not required to be in the same facility or in close proximity to the individual being supervised but the supervising veterinarian:

(1) Has given written or oral instructions for treatment of the animal patients involved; and

(2) Is available to provide supervision by electronic or telephonic means; and

(3) Has arranged for telephonic consultation with a licensed veterinarian, if necessary.

(v) "Informed consent" means the licensed veterinarian has informed the client or the client's authorized representative, in a manner understood by the client or representative, of the diagnostic and treatment options, risk assessment, and prognosis, and has provided the client with an estimate of the charges for veterinary services to be rendered and the client has consented to the recommended treatment;

(w) "Jurisdiction" means any commonwealth, state, or territory, including the District of Columbia, of the United States of America, or any province of Canada;

(x) "Licensed veterinarian" means "licensed veterinarian" as defined in RSA 332-B:1, V;

(y) "Licensure transfer" means the method whereby a veterinarian or a veterinary technician currently licensed in another jurisdiction can also become licensed as a veterinarian or veterinary technician in New Hampshire;

(z) "Medical records" means all written or electronic progress notes, laboratory results, documentation of informed client consent, cage charts, dental charts, surgical reports, anesthesia reports, and diagnostic imaging including, but not limited to, radiographs, ultrasound, and other images. The term excludes invoices and financial documentation;

(aa) "National Board Examination (NBE)" means the national examination given prior to November 2000;

(ab) "National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME)" means the national board that establishes examinations for use by state veterinary boards;

(ac) "New Hampshire Professionals' Health Program (NH PHP)" means the program for substance abuse disorders, behavioral/mental health conditions and other issues impacting the health and well-being of the licensee;

(ad) "North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE)" means the national board examination first given in November 2000;

(ae) "Permittee" means a person holding a temporary permit pursuant to RSA 332-B:12 and this term excludes licensed veterinarians;

(af) "Person" means "person" as defined in RSA 332-B:1, VII;

(ag) "Practice of Veterinary Medicine" means "practice of veterinarian medicine" as defined in RSA 332-B:1, III;

(ah) "Premises" means veterinary facility as defined below;

(ai) "Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education" means "PAVE" as defined in RSA 332-B:1I, XI;

(aj) "Respondent" means a licensee, permittee, or other person holding a right or privilege issued by the board who is the subject of a board investigation or hearing;

(ak) "Specialist" means AVMA-recognized board-certified veterinary specialist;

(al) "Supervising veterinarian" means a licensed veterinarian who assumes responsibility for the professional veterinary care performed by a person working under his or her direction;

(am) "Telemedicine" means the practice of veterinary medicine by any electronic or telephonic or similar means;

(an) "Veterinarian" means "veterinarian" as defined in RSA 332-B:1;

(ao) "Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR)" means the licensed veterinarian has assumed responsibility for making medical judgements regarding the health of the animal(s) and the need for medical treatment;

(ap) "Veterinarian manager" is a licensed veterinarian who supervises the management and operation of a veterinary facility. This term includes medical director;

(aq) "Veterinary assistant" means a person who aids a veterinarian, veterinary nurse, or veterinary technician in patient care and who is not qualified as a credentialed veterinary nurse or veterinary technician;

(aq) "Veterinary facility" means any premises, place, or facility where the practice of veterinary medicine is performed, including but not limited to, a mobile clinic, outpatient clinic, humane society, rescue, shelter, breeder, satellite clinic, or veterinary hospital or clinic, or premises of a client;

(ar) "Veterinary Information Verifying Agency (VIVA)" means the agency that keeps the national disciplinary database;

(as) "Veterinary technician" means an individual who is trained through an AVMA accredited program and assists a veterinarian with diverse medical tasks and:

(1) Is a graduate of an AVMA accredited veterinary technology or veterinary nursing program;

(2) Has passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE); and

(3) Is credentialed as having the appropriate training and experience by a state government or an organization recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America to issue the credential; or

(1) Has passed the VTNE prior to May 2, 2026; and

(2) Is credentialed as having the appropriate training and experience by a state government or an organization recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America to issue the credential.

The term includes "veterinary nurse".

Notes

N.H. Admin. Code § Vet 102.01

#1557, eff 4-1-80; ss by #2294, eff 2-1-83; ss by #2892, eff 10-26-84; ss by #5024, eff 12-4-90; ss by #6450, INTERIM, eff 2-8-97, EXPIRES: 6-8-97; ss by #6480, eff 3-29-97; ss by #7417, eff 12-21-00; ss by #9386, eff 2-11-09

Amended by Volume XLI Number 41, Filed October 14, 2021, Proposed by #13269, Effective 9/29/2021 (formerly Vet 102.02). Amended by Number 37, Filed September 14, 2023, Proposed by #13722, Effective 10/15/2023.