Assigned to RAGE AS PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1658
veterinary technicians; certification; education alternative
Purpose
Adds an alternative pathway, through December 31, 2030, for a person to be certified as a
veterinary technician in lieu of the prescribed educational requirement.
Background
The Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board (Board) is charged with protecting
the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified, impaired or unprofessional practitioners of
veterinary medicine through licensure and regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine and
the voluntary certification of veterinary technicians (A.R.S. § 32-2207).
A person desiring to be certified as a veterinary technician must apply in writing to the
Board and meet the following requirements: 1) be at least 18 years old; 2) submit satisfactory
evidence of graduation from a two-year curriculum in veterinary technology, or the equivalent of
such graduation as determined by the Board, in a college or other institution approved by the
Board; 3) pass a national and state veterinary technician examination as adopted by the Board in
rules; and 4) pay all applicable fees. A certified veterinary technician may perform those services,
authorized by the Board in accordance with statute, in the employment of and under the direction,
supervision and control of a licensed veterinarian who must be responsible for the performance of
the certified veterinary technician (A.R.S. §§ 32-2201 and 32-2242).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows an applicant for a veterinary technician certification to submit to the Board, through
December 31, 2030, and in lieu of educational requirements, a record of having two years of
on-the-job training or working for two years under the direct supervision of a licensed
veterinarian where skills are learned in accordance with the veterinary technology student
essential and recommended skill prescribed by the American Veterinary Medical Association's
Center for Veterinary Education Accreditation's policies and procedures.
2. Requires the Board adopt rules governing the hours required for each skill.
3. Allows an applicant who satisfies the requirements for the alternative route of certification to
take the Veterinary Technician National Examination and any state examination for veterinary
technicians approved by the Board. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B. 1658
Page 2
4. Requires the supervised work or training of the applicant to be subject to the approval of the
Board and include:
a) a description of the skill or skills the applicant developed; and
b) the signature of the licensed veterinarian who directly supervised the applicant while the
applicant worked on the skill.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
• Specifies that an applicant may apply for a veterinary technician certification using the
alternative pathway through December 31, 2030.
Senate Action
RAGE 2/19/25 DPA 4-2-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 19, 2025
JT/KP/ci