2019 US Virgin Islands Code
Title 27 - Professions and Occupations
Chapter 3 - The Practice of Veterinary Medicine in the Virgin Islands
§ 175. Exemptions
(a) This chapter may not be construed to prohibit:
(1) A federal or local government employee from performing the employee’s official duties.
(2) A student who is enrolled in:
(A) an accredited college of veterinary medicine from performing duties or actions assigned by instructors or working under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian, or
(B) an accredited program of veterinary technology from performing duties or actions other than diagnosis, prognosis, prescription, or surgery, as assigned by instructors or working under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(3) A person from advising the Board with respect to, or performing acts that the Board has designated by rule as accepted livestock management practices.
(4) Any person from providing consultation to a licensed veterinarian in the Territory on the care and management of a patient.
(5) A licensed individual of a licensed or regulated profession in the Virgin Islands from providing assistance when requested by a veterinarian licensed in the Virgin Islands, acting with owner consent from the client, and acting under the supervision of the licensed veterinarian. The licensed veterinarian maintains responsibility for the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
(6) A veterinarian employed by an accredited college of veterinary medicine from providing assistance when requested by a veterinarian licensed in the Virgin Islands, acting with owner consent from the client, and acting under the direct or indirect supervision of the licensed veterinarian. The licensed veterinarian maintains responsibility for the veterinarian-client-patient relationship.
(7) A pharmacist, merchant, or manufacturer from selling at his regular place of business medicines, feed, appliances, or other products used in the prevention or treatment of animal diseases as permitted by law.
(8) A person from lawfully engaging in the art or profession of farriery.
(9) Subject to the Virgin Islands animal cruelty laws, 14 V.I.C., chapter 7, an owner of an animal and any of the owner’s regular employees from caring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the ownership of the animal was transferred for purposes of circumventing this chapter. Individuals shall comply with all laws and regulations relative to the use of medicines and biologics.
(10) A person from providing training for animals that does not include diagnosing or the prescribing or dispensing of any therapeutic agent.
(11) An instructor at an accredited college of veterinary medicine or accredited program in veterinary technology from performing his regular functions or a person from lecturing or giving instructions or demonstrations at an accredited college of veterinary medicine or accredited program in veterinary technology or in connection with a veterinary or veterinary technology continuing education course or seminar.
(12) A person from selling or applying pesticides, insecticides, or herbicides as permitted by law.
(13) A credentialed veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, or other employee of a licensed veterinarian from performing lawful duties under the direction and supervision of such veterinarian who is responsible for the performance of the employee.
(14) A veterinarian licensed or a veterinary technician credentialed in any other state, commonwealth, district, territory or possession of the United States, or foreign country from practicing in the Virgin Islands during an emergency or natural disaster within the scope and location of assigned veterinary medical duties of the response efforts without written examination or other qualification if:
(A) an official declaration of the disaster or emergency has been made by the Governor; and
(B) an official invitation has been extended to the veterinarian or veterinary technician for a specified time by the authority that has jurisdiction for coordinating the animal/agricultural issues in the Virgin Islands during emergencies.
(15) A person who, without expectation of compensation, from providing immediate veterinary care in the event of an emergency or accident situation.
(16) A person from acting under the direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian to provide care to animals that are the property of an animal shelter when the four following conditions are met:
(A) The person is an employee of an animal shelter or its associated agencies;
(B) The person is performing tasks in compliance with a written protocol developed in consultation with a licensed veterinarian; and
(C) The person has received proper training.
(D) These persons are not allowed to diagnose, prescribe or perform surgery.
(17) A person from lawfully providing care and rehabilitation of wildlife species under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian; and
(18) Veterinarians providing free care in underserved areas of the Virgin Islands who:
(A) do not regularly practice veterinary medicine in the Virgin Islands;
(B) hold a current, valid license or certificate to practice veterinary medicine in another state, commonwealth, territory, district or possession of the United States;
(C) volunteer to provide free care in an underserved area of the Virgin Islands under the auspices of a publicly supported, all volunteer, nonprofit organization that sponsors the provision of health care to populations of underserved people;
(D) file required license documentation issued in such other jurisdiction with the Board;
(E) notify the Board at least five business days prior to the voluntary provision of services of the dates and location of such service; and
(F) acknowledge, in writing, that such licensure exemption is only valid, in compliance with the Board’s regulations, during the limited period that such free health care is made available through the volunteer, nonprofit organization on the dates and at the location filed with the Board.
(b) The Board may deny the right to practice in the Virgin Islands to any veterinarian whose license has been previously suspended or revoked, who has been convicted of a felony or who is otherwise found to be in violation of applicable laws or regulations.
