Meeting of the Board of Regents | January 2008

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

 

TO:
FROM:	Frank Muñoz
SUBJECT:	Proposed Amendment to the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education Relating to the Licensing Examination for Veterinary Technicians
DATE:	December 20, 2007
STRATEGIC GOAL:	Goal 3
AUTHORIZATION(S):

 

SUMMARY

 

Issue for Decision (Consent Agenda)

 

Should the Board of Regents approve the proposed amendment of section 62.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education relating to the professional education requirement for admission to the licensing examination for veterinary technicians?

 

Reason for Consideration

              Review of Policy.

 

Proposed Handling

 

The proposed amendment will come before the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee for adoption as a permanent rule at the January 2008 Regents meeting.

 

Procedural History

 

The proposed rule was discussed at the meeting of the Higher Education and Professional Practice Committee at the October 2007 Regents meeting.  A Notice of Proposed Rule Making was published in the State Register on October 31, 2007.  Supporting materials are available upon request from the Secretary of the Board of Regents. 

 

Background Information

 

Under existing regulations, an applicant for New York State licensure as a veterinary technician must have completed all professional education requirements before being admitted to the licensing examination for veterinary technicians. The licensing examination for veterinary technicians is administered twice each year in the months of January and June.  Accordingly, a June graduate of a program of education for veterinary technology must wait several months before being able to sit for the licensing examination.  Other states, however, allow veterinary technology students to sit for the licensing examination before completion of their educational program. 

 

As a result, New York State students are at a competitive disadvantage as compared to out-of-state students who can enter the national job market as licensed veterinary technicians shortly after completion of their educational program.  New York State graduates must wait several months for admission to the licensing examination and then must await the approval of their application for professional licensure and issuance of a professional license before they can begin to practice.

 

The purpose of the proposed amendment is to change the professional education requirement for admission to the licensing examination for veterinary technicians so that students completing registered or accredited programs of education for veterinary technology may be admitted to the licensing examination within their final six months of such professional study. The amendment is needed to align examination admission requirements in this field with practice in other states and thereby remove the competitive disadvantage that New York State students confront. The State Board for Veterinary Medicine has approved this change.

 

              This proposed amendment will not compromise the public health or professional competency, because, by the time of application for licensure, the applicant must have completed the professional education requirement and passed the licensing examination.  Moreover, licensed veterinary technicians must always practice under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

 

Recommendation

 

Staff recommend the Board of Regents take the following action:

 

VOTED:  That section 62.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education be amended, as submitted, effective February 7, 2008.

 

Timetable for Implementation

 

The proposed amendment will become effective on February 7, 2008.

 

Attachment

 

AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION

              Pursuant to sections 207, 6504, 6506, 6507, and 6711 of the Education Law.

Section 62.5 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education is amended, effective February 7, 2008, as follows:

(a)  Each applicant for licensure as a veterinary technician [who meets the requirements of section 62.4 of this Part] shall pass a written examination in the basic and clinical sciences.  The Department may accept grades acceptable to the State Board for Veterinary Medicine on the uniform examination in veterinary technology prepared by the Professional Examination Service, or other examination satisfactory to the State Board.  The passing score for the written examination shall be 75.0 as determined by the State Board.

(b)  To be admitted to the professional licensing examination for veterinary technicians, the applicant shall have satisfied the professional education requirements for licensure set forth in section 62.4 of this Part, or shall be within his or her final six months of professional study in a program of education for  veterinary technology registered by the department or accredited by an accrediting organization acceptable to the department.