S 1708

Florida Senate - 2026  SB 1708
By Senator Gaetz
1-00917-26  20261708__
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to veterinary licensure; amending s.
3474.217, F.S.; deleting the requirement for an
4applicant for licensure by endorsement to have held a
5valid active license to practice veterinary medicine
6in another state, the District of Columbia, or a
7territory of the United States for a specified amount
8of time; requiring applicants to hold a valid, active
9license in good standing to practice veterinary
10medicine in another state, the District of Columbia,
11or a territory of the United States; reenacting s.
12474.2125(1), F.S., related to temporary license to
13provide veterinary services, to incorporate the
14amendment made to s. 474.217, F.S., in a reference
15thereto; providing an effective date.
16
17Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 474.217, Florida
20Statutes, is amended to read:
21474.217 Licensure by endorsement.—
22(1) The department shall issue a license by endorsement to
23any applicant who, upon applying to the department and remitting
24a fee set by the board, demonstrates to the board that she or
25he:
26(a) Has demonstrated, in a manner designated by rule of the
27board, knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of
28veterinary medicine in this state; and
29(b)1. Holds[, and has held for the 3 years immediately]
30[preceding the application for licensure,] a valid, active license
31in good standing to practice veterinary medicine in another
32state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a
33territory of the United States, provided that the applicant has
34successfully completed a state, regional, national, or other
35examination that is equivalent to or more stringent than the
36examination required by the board; or
372. Meets the qualifications of s. 474.207(2)(b) and has
38successfully completed a state, regional, national, or other
39examination which is equivalent to or more stringent than the
40examination given by the department and has passed the board’s
41clinical competency examination or another clinical competency
42examination specified by rule of the board.
43Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
44made by this act to section 474.217, Florida Statutes, in a
45reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 474.2125, Florida
46Statutes, is reenacted to read:
47474.2125 Temporary license.—
48(1) The board shall adopt rules providing for the issuance
49of a temporary license to a licensed veterinarian of another
50state for the purpose of enabling her or him to provide
51veterinary medical services in this state for the animals of a
52specific owner or, as may be needed in an emergency as defined
53in s. 252.34(4), for the animals of multiple owners, provided
54the applicant would qualify for licensure by endorsement under
55s. 474.217. No temporary license shall be valid for more than 30
56days after its issuance, and no license shall cover more than
57the treatment of the animals of one owner except in an emergency
58as defined in s. 252.34(4). After the expiration of 30 days, a
59new license is required.
60Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.