Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 2068.5 - Practical Experience and Education as Equivalent Curriculum

In lieu of a two year curriculum in animal health technology, completion of a combination of practical experience and education in compliance with the following criteria is deemed to be "the equivalent thereof as determined by the board" pursuant to Section 4841.5 of the code:

(a) The education shall consist of a minimum of 20 semester units, 30 quarter units, or 300 hours of instruction. The education shall be provided by a postsecondary academic institution or a qualified instructor, who satisfies the qualification requirements of subsection (e)(1). The education shall be accumulated in the fundamentals and principles of all of the following subjects:

(1) Dental prophylaxis and extraction.

(2) Anesthetic instrumentation, induction, and monitoring.

(3) Surgical nursing and assisting, including instrumentation, suturing techniques, intravascular catheter placement and application of casts and splints.

(4) Radiography and radiation safety.

(5) Diseases and nursing of animals, including zoonotic diseases and emergency veterinary care.

(b) The education shall include instruction in chemistry, mathematics, biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology, and medical terminology, or these subjects may be obtained as separate courses.

(c) Interactive distance-learning shall be accepted if the course meets all the criteria listed in this section and the candidate achieves a documented passing score on the course final examination.

(d) The candidate shall provide the board with a syllabus or an outline for each course. The candidate shall provide documentation of attendance for each course in the form of one of the following:

(1) a certificate of attendance,

(2) an official transcript, or

(3) a letter on official stationery signed by the course instructor documenting that the candidate attended a particular course.

(e)

(1) In order for an instructor to be approved for qualification, the instructor must meet at least two of the following minimum requirements:

(A) A license, registration, or certificate in an area related to the subject matter of the course. The license, registration, or certificate shall be current, valid, and free from restrictions due to disciplinary action by this board or any other health care regulatory agency;

(B) A master's or higher degree from an educational institution in an area related to the subject matter of the course;

(C) Training, certification, or experience in teaching the subject matter of the course; or

(D) At least two years' experience in an area related to the subject matter of the course.

(2) The instructor shall provide each participant with a course syllabus or detailed outline which includes a description of the material covered.

(f) The directed clinical practice shall consist of at least 4,416 hours of directed clinical practice under the direct supervision of a California-licensed veterinarian who shall attest to the completion of that experience at the time the application is made to the board for the registered veterinary technician examination.

(g) The directed clinical practice required in subsection (f) shall have provided the applicant with knowledge, skills, and abilities in the areas of communication with clients, patient examinations, emergency procedures, laboratory procedures, diagnostic imaging, surgical assisting, anesthesia, animal nursing, nutrition, dentistry, animal behavior, and pharmacology. The supervising veterinarian(s) shall complete a check list attesting to proficiency in specific skill areas within the preceding categories.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 16, § 2068.5

Note: Authority cited: Section 4808, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 4841.5, Business and Professions Code.

Note: Authority cited: Section 4808, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Section 4841.5, Business and Professions Code.

1. New section filed 1-27-89; operative 4-1-89 (Register 89, No. 7). For history of former section, see Registers 79, No. 7 and 76, No. 36.
2. Repealer of subsections (a)-(b) and new subsections (a)-(e) filed 11-23-94; operative 12-23-94 (Register 94, No. 47).
3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b) filed 3-1-96 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 96, No. 9).
4. Amendment of subsections (c) and (d) filed 5-25-2000; operative 6-24-2000 (Register 2000, No. 21).
5. Amendment of section heading and section filed 4-2-2002; operative 5-2-2002 (Register 2002, No. 14).
6. Amendment of subsections (a)(3), (e)(3), (g) and (h) filed 6-12-2009; operative 7-12-2009 (Register 2009, No. 24).
7. Amendment of subsection (a), repealer of subsection (c), subsection relettering and amendment of newly designated subsections (e)(1), (f) and (g) filed 1-9-2024; operative 4/1/2024 (Register 2024, No. 2).