News & Events
News!
NEW: COVID-19 VACCINES FOR VETERINARIANS
Every county will progress through their vaccine phases at a different rate. Veterinarians are considered essential workers in Phase 1B. Veterinarians can check the phase progress of their county of residence here (https://azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/index.php#novel-coronavirus-find-vaccine) and at their county public health department website. Some counties have already begun Phase 1B, and pre-registration will be made available at that link. Veterinarians should check that site on a regular basis to see if they are eligible to pre-register for a vaccine appointment. It is the responsibility of the county health department to coordinate their own vaccine distribution, not the state health department. Additionally, some counties may determine priority groups within each Phase since these are large, large groups of people among every category. For example, Maricopa County is planning to split Phase 1B: https://www.maricopa.gov/5651/Phase-1B Questions regarding COVID-19 vaccines should be directed to the county health department.
Scam Alert - Licensing Boards and DEA Being Spoofed
Some state boards (not AZ) are reporting that licensees are receiving phone calls from people claiming to be staff from the licensing board or law enforcement in an attempt to obtain sensitive license or personal information. The callers will often falsely claim that the licensee is under investigation or that their license is in danger of being suspended. The phone number that appears on the caller ID can sometimes appear authentic. This is a common fraud technique known as spoofing. If you are a licensee or certificate holder that receives a suspicious phone call, please do not share any sensitive information over the phone! Scammers appear to be impersonating DEA agents as well: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/pressreleases/extortion_scam.htm
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Volunteer opportunity: We have an opening on our afternoon Investigative Committee (IC) for a public member. The IC members serve a vital role in the Board's mission to protect the public and the animals in our state. The primary responsibility is to conduct reviews of complaint cases and make a recommendation to the Board regarding whether a violation of the statutes and/or administrative rules has occurred. Meetings are typically held on the first or second Tuesday of the month at 1740 W. Adams Street in Phoenix, starting at 1:00 p.m. and running into the late afternoon. The time commitment requires several hours of preparation time prior to a meeting to review case file materials, plus the meeting time itself. Because it is a small group, regular attendance by all is very important. For more details and to apply, please submit this form: IC Candidate Information Form
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COVID-19 Announcements:
New as of 5/12/20: Governor Ducey issues Executive Order 2020-36: Stay Healthy, Return Smarter, Return Stronger -- includes requirements for all businesses to develop, establish, and implement policies based on guidance from the CDC, Department of Labor, OSHA, and the Arizona Department of Health Services to limit and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
As of 4/23/20: Beginning May 1st, there is no restriction on elective or non-essential surgical procedures for veterinarians!
As of 4/1/20: Governor Ducey issues Executive Order 2020-19: Telemedicine for Pets and Animals
The requirements and parameters for telehealth services established by the Board may be viewed via the link below.
AZ Veterinary Medical Board Parameters & Requirements for Telemedicine
1. For everyone's safety, please do not bring any documents/applications to our office! Our office is now closed to walk-ins! Please send them by mail, email to [email protected], or fax to 602-364-1039. For documents pertaining to complaints/investigations, please email to [email protected]. If you need to speak to a staff member, please call 602-364-1738. Some staff members are working from home, so please leave a message!
2. Veterinarians/CVTs/Veterinary Hospital staff:
*For guidance on many related topics, refer to the AVMA website COVID-19 webpage.
* UPDATE: As of May 1, 2020, veterinarians have no restrictions on elective or non-essential surgeries! On March 19th, Governor Ducey had issued Executive Order 2020-10 that prohibits all non-essential or elective surgeries, including dental surgeries, that utilize personal protection equipment. See this LINK to read the entire Order.
* Per Executive Order 2020-12, veterinary care and all heath care services provided to animals are considered Essential Services.
*Important information from DEA. See this LINK.
*We understand that CE conferences have been cancelled. At all times, all CE can be completed online via an interactive course that is "board-approved" (i.e. RACE-approved, offered by a veterinary college (for vets), offered by a veterinary technician program (for CVTs), sponsored by AZVMA, SAVMA, AAHA, AAVSB, or specifically approved by the Arizona Veterinary Board (see list on the Continuing Education link). At this time, the Board has not made any other decision regarding changing/postponing CE requirements toward license/certificate renewal. However, the Board has approved that CE that is "pending RACE approval" will be accepted for CE towards renewals and encourages licensees to complete COVID-related CE.
*The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering disaster assistance.
3. Veterinary License/CVT Applicants:
*VETERINARY LICENSE APPLICANTS: the required examination will be done via a "take home" exam that will be provided to applicants with complete applications. See the Licensing page for details about the exam and many other application changes!
4. Animal Crematory Operators:
* Per Executive Order 2020-12, cremation and related services are considered Essential Services.
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The Board recently took action against an unlicensed person who was performing veterinary services in the community. See the "Licensing" tab and scroll down to the bottom to the "Unlicensed Practitioner" section.
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December 2019: FDA warnings about CBD. See FDA press release here.
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REQUIREMENT FOR VETERINARIANS TO COMPLY WITH ARIZONA BOARD OF PHARMACY STATUTES TO UTILIZE ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING PUT ON HOLD
On February 14, 2019, Governor Ducey signed HB 2075, a bill which in part, removed the Board of Pharmacy's waiver process for electronic prescribing. The new law states that a veterinarian is not required to comply with the electronic prescribing requirements noted in A.R.S. 36-2525(D) and (N) until the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board determines that electronic prescribing software is widely available for veterinarians and notifies the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy of that determination.
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2018 Arizona Opioid Epidemic Act - NEW Requirements for Veterinarians begin April 26, 2018!
See information under the "Statutes & Rules" tab above.
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For DEA questions, please contact the DEA Phoenix Diversion Group at (571) 362-0600.
PLEASE SEE THE ABOVE "FORMS" TAB - PREMISES section - to view a list of DEA registered Reverse Distributors!
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LEPTOSPIROSIS UPDATE:
The Arizona Administrative Code R3-2-402 requires that veterinarians report animal cases of leptospirosis to the Arizona Department of Agriculture's Office of the State Veterinarian (Dr. Peter Mundschenk) by the end of each month at the latest.
Veterinarians can report animal cases of leptospirosis by submitting a fax to 602-542-4290 or by e-mail at [email protected].
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“Regulation Rollback” is a strategic step in our state’s ongoing work to make Arizona the best state in the nation for businesses and consumers alike. We’ve made great progress in growing our economy and streamlining state government over the past two years. We still have a lot of work to do to make sure outdated regulations aren’t slowing us down. No longer will regulations remain in place “just because they’re on the books and nobody’s bothered to change them.”
“Regulation Rollback” is offering a new online service to crowd source recommendations on how to update Arizona’s regulatory system. At Redtape.AZ.gov, associations, organizations, and individuals across the state can recommend ways to improve or eliminate outdated regulations.
We need your help. You are the experts. Visit this portal for your opportunity to provide specific input to the Governor’s office on an outdated rule or regulation that stifles Arizona’s consumers and job creators.
Submit your suggestions at www.Redtape.AZ.gov
We thank you for your help in highlighting ways to improve state government and to better serve Arizonans.
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**PLEASE NOTE: OUR AGENCY OFFICE RELOCATED TO THE CAPITOL MALL AREA AS OF JANUARY 8, 2018.
Our address is 1740 W. Adams St., Suite 4600, Phoenix, AZ, 85007. When coming to our building, please first stop at "Window 6" in the main lobby for assistance.
Public parking is available on the first floor of the adjacent parking garage or the 1740 Visitor lot adjacent to the parking garage's east side.
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In 2017, the Board entered into an agreement with the plaintiffs in a lawsuit. The Judgment by Consent regarding animal massage can be viewed here.
