§90-186. Special powers of the Board

In addition to the powers set forth in G.S. 90-185 above, the Board may:

(1)        Fix minimum standards for continuing veterinary medical education for veterinarians and technicians, which shall be a condition precedent to the renewal of a veterinary license, limited license, veterinary faculty certificate, zoo veterinary certificate, or veterinary technician registration, respectively, under this Article;

(2)        Inspect any hospitals, clinics, mobile units or other facilities used by any practicing veterinarian, either by a member of the Board or its authorized representatives, for the purpose of reporting the results of the inspection to the Board on a form prescribed by the Board and seeking disciplinary action for violations of health, sanitary, and medical waste disposal rules of the Board affecting the practice of veterinary medicine, or violations of rules of any county, state, or federal department or agency having jurisdiction in these areas of health, sanitation, and medical waste disposal that relate to or affect the practice of veterinary medicine;

(3)        Upon complaint or information received by the Board, prohibit through summary emergency order of the Board, prior to a hearing, the operation of any veterinary practice facility that the Board determines is endangering, or may endanger, the public health or safety or the welfare and safety of animals, and suspend the license of the veterinarian operating the veterinary practice facility, provided that upon the issuance of any summary emergency order, the Board shall initiate, within 10 days, a notice of hearing under the administrative rules issued pursuant to this Article and Chapter 150B of the General Statutes for an administrative hearing on the alleged violation;

(4)        Provide special registration for "veterinary technicians," "veterinary student interns" and "veterinary student preceptees" and adopt rules concerning the training, registration and service limits of such assistants while employed by and acting under the supervision and responsibility of veterinarians. The Board has exclusive jurisdiction in determining eligibility and qualification requirements for these assistants. Renewals of registrations for veterinary technicians shall be required at least every 24 months, provided that the certificate of registration for the veterinary technician is otherwise eligible for renewal;

(5)        Provide, pursuant to administrative rules, requirements for the inactive status of licenses and limited veterinary licenses;

(6)        Set and require fees pursuant to administrative rule. The Board may increase the following fees, provided (i) no fee shall be increased more than fifteen percent (15%) within a calendar year and (ii) the cumulative total increases of any fee shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the fee amounts set in this subdivision:

a.         Issuance or renewal of a certificate of registration for a professional corporation, in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

b.         Administering a North Carolina license examination for applicants for licensure, certification, and registration, in the amount of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00).

c.         Administering competency examinations for applicants seeking licensure or registration, in amounts directly related to costs to the Board. Fees associated with administering national competency examinations shall be set in rules adopted by the Board.

d.         Inspection of a veterinary practice facility in the amount of one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00).

e.         Issuance or renewal of a license or a limited license, in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

f.          Issuance or renewal of a veterinary faculty certificate, in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

g.         Issuance or renewal of a zoo veterinary certificate, in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

h.         Reinstatement of a revoked license, a limited license, a veterinary faculty certificate, a zoo veterinary certificate, a veterinary technician registration, or a professional corporation registration, in the amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00).

i.          Issuance or renewal of a veterinary technician registration, in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00).

j.          Issuance of a veterinary student intern registration, in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

k.         Issuance of a veterinary student preceptee registration, in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

l.          Late fee for renewal of a license, a limited license, a veterinary technician registration, a veterinary faculty certificate, a zoo veterinary certificate, or a professional corporation registration, in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00).

m.        Issuance of a temporary permit to practice veterinary medicine, in the amount of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

n.         Repealed by Session Laws 2014-63, s. 1, effective October 1, 2014.

The fees set under this subdivision for the renewal of a license, a limited license, a registration, or a certificate apply to each year of the renewal period.

(7)        Pursuant to administrative rule, to assess and recover against persons holding licenses, limited licenses, temporary permits, or any certificates issued by the Board, costs reasonably incurred by the Board in the investigation, prosecution, hearing, or other administrative action of the Board in final decisions or orders where those persons are found to have violated the Veterinary Practice Act or administrative rules of the Board issued pursuant to the Act; provided, that all costs shall be the property of the Board.

(1973, c. 1106, s. 1; 1981, c. 767, s. 4; 1987, c. 827, s. 1; 1993, c. 500, s. 8; 2014-63, s. 1.)