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Veterinary Technologists Regulations
made under Section 6 of the
Veterinary Medical Act
S.N.S. 2001, c. 13
O.I.C. 2014-438 (October 21, 2014), N.S. Reg. 160/2014
Citation
1 These regulations may be cited as the Veterinary Technologists Regulations.
Definitions
2 In these regulations,
“accredited veterinary technology program” means a veterinary technology program approved by the Council;
“Act” means the Veterinary Medical Act;
“direct supervision”, in relation to a registered veterinary technologist, means supervision of the registered veterinary technologist by a veterinarian who is at the same site where veterinary services are being performed by the registered veterinary technologist;
“EVTA” means the Eastern Veterinary Technicians’ Association of Canada, a non-profit organization created to promote unity and provide support and resources to practitioners of veterinary technology in the Atlantic Provinces;
“immediate supervision”, in relation to a registered veterinary technologist, means supervision of the registered veterinary technologist by a veterinarian who is within sight or unaided hearing range of the registered veterinary technologist;
“indirect supervision”, in relation to a registered veterinary technologist, means supervision of the registered veterinary technologist by a veterinarian who at least once a day is at the same site where the veterinary services are being provided by the registered veterinary technologist, and during that time gives direction to the registered veterinary technologist and has in-person communication with the registered veterinary technologist, but may or may not be at the site when the services are being performed;
“national examination” means an examination approved by the Council that tests the skill and knowledge of a graduate of an accredited veterinary technology program;
“practice of veterinary technology” means the performance of any of the veterinary services set out in Sections 14 to 16 on an animal, and includes related educational, managerial, research, administrative and commercial sales practices;
“prescribed fee” means an applicable fee fixed by the method established in the by-laws under the Act;
“registered veterinary technologist”, “registrant” or “RVT” means a person whose name appears in the RVT Register;
“RVT Register” means the register of registered veterinary technologists established by the Registrar under Section 4;
“RVT Credentials Committee” means the Registered Veterinary Technologists Credentials Committee established under Section 3;
“RVT licence” means an annual licence issued under Section 6 to an RVT;
“veterinarian” means a member who holds a general-practice licence or a temporary licence issued under the Act.
RVT Credentials Committee
3 The Council must establish the RVT Credentials Committee, to be made up of all of the following:
(a) 1 veterinarian;
(b) 1 registered veterinary technologist recommended by the EVTA;
(c) the Registrar.
RVT Register
4 (1) The Registrar must keep and maintain an RVT Register that contains the name of each person who qualifies for registration under Section 5.
(2) The RVT Register may be in any form the Registrar determines, including a book, binders, or an electronic database.
(3) The RVT Register must contain all of the following information for each registrant:
(a) name;
(b) address;
(c) date of registration;
(d) registration number;
(e) academic qualifications;
(f) other qualifications;
(g) a record of any disciplinary findings against the registrant under the Act or in any other licensing jurisdiction.
Qualifications for entry in RVT Register
5 (1) A person is qualified to have their name entered in the RVT Register if the person submits a completed application to the RVT Credentials Committee on the form approved by the Registrar, together with all of the following:
(a) the prescribed fee;
(b) any information required by the RVT Credentials Committee that establishes that the person
(i) has graduated from an accredited veterinary technology program;
(ii) has successfully passed the national examination;
(iii) subject to subsection (2), is not the subject of any existing or pending complaint or disciplinary finding under the Act or in any other licensing jurisdiction,
(iv) is competent, capable and of such character to safely and ethically practise veterinary technology, and
(v) is a member in good standing of the EVTA.
(2) An applicant may provide full details of any existing or pending complaint or disciplinary matter to the RVT Credentials Committee to prove to the Committee’s satisfaction that the matter is not a reason to refuse the application for registration.
(3) An applicant who does not meet the qualifications for registration in subsection (1) may be required by the RVT Credentials Committee to pass any examinations or complete any additional training or education the Committee considers necessary in order to re-apply for registration.
(4) The Registrar must enter the name of an applicant who meets the qualifications under subsection (1) in the RVT Register and must issue a certificate of registration to the applicant.
Annual licensing
6 (1) For the purposes of this Section, “licensing year” means the 12-month period approved by the EVTA Board of Directors.
(2) Notice of the RVT licence fee for the next licensing year must be sent to each registrant no later than 30 days before the beginning of the next licensing year.
(3) The Registrar must issue an RVT licence for the next licensing year to a registrant who, on or before the last day of the current licensing year, submits an application that meets the requirements of Section 7 and pays the RVT licence fee.
(4) An RVT licence remains in effect until the end of the licensing year in which it is issued, unless it is earlier suspended or revoked.
Applying for RVT licence
7 (1) An application for an RVT licence must be submitted to the RVT Credentials Committee in the form prescribed by the Registrar, together with any information required by the RVT Credentials Committee that establishes that the applicant
(a) subject to subsection (2), is not the subject of any existing or pending complaint or disciplinary finding under the Act or in any other licensing jurisdiction;
(b) is competent, capable and of such character to safely and ethically practise veterinary technology;
(c) is a member in good standing of the EVTA;
(d) meets 1 of the following criteria:
(i) has graduated from an accredited veterinary technology program, as required by subclause 5(1)(b)(i), in the 3 years preceding the date of their RVT licence application,
(ii) has practised veterinary technology for at least 1000 hours in the 5 years preceding the date of their RVT licence application,
(iii) has successfully completed any education or training prescribed by the RVT Credentials Committee; and
(e) has completed any continuing education required by the RVT Credentials Committee.
(2) An applicant may provide full details of any existing or pending complaint or disciplinary matter to the RVT Credentials Committee to prove to the Committee’s satisfaction that the matter is not a reason to refuse the application for an RVT licence.
Appeal from refusal of registration or RVT licence
8 On refusing an application for registration in the RVT Register or for an RVT licence, the Registrar must give reasons for the refusal to the applicant in writing, and the applicant may appeal the refusal to the Council in accordance with Section 12 of the Act.
Removing name from RVT Register and withdrawing RVT licence
9 (1) The Registrar must remove the name of a registrant from the RVT Register in any of the following circumstances:
(a) the registrant requests that their name be removed and surrenders their registration certificate;
(b) the registrant’s name is incorrectly entered on the RVT Register;
(c) the Registrar is notified of the registrant’s death;
(d) the registrant fails to pay a prescribed fee;
(e) the registrant’s registration is suspended, in which case the registrant’s name must be removed for the duration of the suspension;
(f) the registrant’s registration is revoked.
(2) The Registrar must withdraw a registrant’s RVT licence in any of the following circumstances:
(a) the registrant requests that their name be removed from the RVT Register and surrenders their registration certificate;
(b) the registrant’s name is incorrectly entered on their RVT licence;
(c) the Registrar is notified of the registrant’s death;
(d) the registrant fails to pay a prescribed fee;
(e) the registrant’s registration is revoked.
(3) The Registrar may restore a person’s name to the RVT Register and re-issue an RVT licence to the person if the person
(a) applies and pays the prescribed fee and any additional administrative fee as determined by the EVTA Board of Directors; and
(b) satisfies the applicable requirements set out in these regulations for registration and licensing.
RVT Credentials Committee may waive requirements
10 The RVT Credentials Committee may waive any of the requirements set out in these regulations for registration or licensing for either of the following reasons:
(a) the waiver is required by law;
(b) the waiver is consistent with the objects and purpose of the Association and the RVT Credentials Committee considers it appropriate.
Licensed registrant may use title
11 A registrant who holds a current RVT licence is entitled to call themself a “veterinary technologist” or a “registered veterinary technologist”, and to use the abbreviated title “RVT” or “R.V.T”.
Prohibition against person other than licensed registrant practising or using title
12 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a person other than a person whose name appears in the RVT Register and who holds a current RVT licence must not do any of the following:
(a) use the title “veterinary technician”, “veterinary technologist”, “registered veterinary technician” or “registered veterinary technologist”, or any abbreviation or derivation of them;
(b) describe their activities as the practice of veterinary technology, the practice of a veterinary technician or the practice of a veterinary technologist.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to any of the following persons while practising veterinary technology in the course of their employment:
(a) a person employed by the Government of Nova Scotia;
(b) a person employed in an animal-care facility of an educational institution approved by the Council;
(c) a person employed by the Government of Canada to practise veterinary technology and who is not required by the Government of Canada to be registered in the Province.
Limits on practice of veterinary technology
13 A registered veterinary technologist may practise veterinary technology only under the supervision of a veterinarian as required by Sections 14, 15 and 16, and only if the veterinarian has authorized the veterinary technology services and the services are within the registered veterinary technologist’s scope of practice.
Veterinary services requiring immediate supervision
14 A registered veterinary technologist must be under the immediate supervision of a veterinarian while performing any of the following veterinary services:
(a) administering IV induction anaesthetic;
(b) acting as a surgical assistant (sterile) to a veterinarian;
(c) performing dental extractions that do not require drilling or sectioning of teeth;
(d) veterinary services not described in clauses (a) to (c), as approved by the Council.
Veterinary services requiring direct supervision
15 A registered veterinary technologist must be under the direct supervision of a veterinarian while performing any of the following veterinary services:
(a) placing and maintaining arterial catheters;
(b) placing and maintaining urinary catheters;
(c) administering blood products and cross-matching;
(d) placing and maintaining nasal esophageal or gastric tubing;
(e) performing tracheal intubation or extubation;
(f) performing cystocentesis;
(g) preparing patient for surgery;
(h) maintaining and monitoring general anesthesia;
(i) performing dental prophylaxis;
(j) administering dental nerve blocks;
(k) placing and maintaining nasal cannulas;
(l) performing neonatal care;
(m) performing tracheostomy and airway maintenance;
(n) applying splints and slings;
(o) euthanizing animals;
(p) placing skin sutures;
(q) veterinary services not described in clauses (a) to (p), as approved by the Council.
Veterinary services requiring indirect supervision
16 A registered veterinary technologist must be under the indirect supervision of a veterinarian while performing any of the following veterinary services:
(a) administering treatments of drugs and medications by parenteral and injectable routes, including intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, rectal, nasal, intracardiac, oral balling gun, and esophageal feeder;
(b) applying minor bandages;
(c) administering cornual nerve blocks for dehorning;
(d) administering caudal epidurals;
(e) administering sedation;
(f) administering local anaesthesic;
(g) placing and maintaining intravenous catheters;
(h) initiating and monitoring fluid therapy;
(i) collecting blood;
(j) collecting biological samples, including collecting and preparing tissue, cellular or microbiological samples by skin scraping, impression or another non-surgical technique;
(k) monitoring blood pressure using a non-invasive technique;
(l) maintaining logs for the purpose of controlling the administration and inventory of narcotics;
(m) maintaining log books to record surgery, radiography, and similar procedures;
(n) administering vaccines, unless prohibited by Provincial or federal law;
(o) performing laboratory testing procedures;
(p) preparing radiographs, including determining settings, positioning the animal, following safety procedures and performing quality control, but not including interpretation;
(q) administering parenteral nutrition;
(r) performing preliminary physical examinations including temperature, pulse and respiration;
(s) collecting and submitting necropsy samples;
(t) managing minor wounds;
(u) performing physiotherapy;
(v) performing castration on large animals using a closed technique such as the crush/pinch technique;
(w) removing extra teats;
(x) dehorning calves;
(y) placing growth implants and electronic identification devices;
(z) implanting embryos;
(aa) expressing anal glands;
(ab) filling prescriptions;
(ac) performing tonometry, Schirmer tear tests or fluorescein stains;
(ad) performing routine maintenance of diagnostic and anaesthetic equipment;
(ae) handling and disposing of biohazardous waste materials;
(af) performing gastric tubing on horses;
(ag) any activity that is incidental to the services described in the preceding clauses and is not an activity to which Section 14 or 15 applies.
Professional conduct
17 (1) Subject to subsection (2), Part III of the Act and Sections 28 to 55 of the Veterinary Medical Regulations made under the Act apply to veterinary technologists with the necessary changes in detail.
(2) For a complaint that involves a veterinary technologist, the Council must appoint enough veterinary technologists to the panel of the Complaints Committee and the panel of the Professional Conduct Committee that decide the complaint to form a majority of each panel.
Registration and licensing for 2 years after effective date of regulations
18 (1) During the 2 years immediately after the effective date of these regulations, an applicant who submits a completed application on the form approved by the Registrar, together with all of the following, must have their name entered in the RVT Register and be issued an RVT licence:
(a) the prescribed fee;
(b) a letter of recommendation from a veterinarian with whom the applicant has worked;
(c) proof satisfactory to the RVT Credentials Committee that the applicant meets all of the qualifications set out in subsection (2).
(2) An applicant for registration and licensing under subsection (1) must meet all of the following qualifications:
(a) the requirements for licensing in clauses 7(1)(a) to (c);
(b) successful completion of courses as determined by the EVTA Board of Directors;
(c) accomplishment of 1 of the following:
(i) 7 years of practice in the equivalent of the practice of veterinary technology,
(ii) graduation from a non-accredited animal-health technician program or veterinary technician program in the 10 years immediately before the date of their application and at least 1000 hours of practice in the equivalent of the practice of veterinary technology in the 5 years immediately before the date of their application.