Section 12.68.300. Veterinary technician scope of practice.

	(a)  A veterinary technician must be  
		(1) licensed by the board;  
		(2) the employee of a veterinarian licensed under AS 08.98; and  
		(3) knowledgeable in  
			(A) the care and handling of animals;  
			(B) the basic principles of animal health; and  
			(C) routine laboratory and clinical procedures.  
	(b)  The duties of a veterinary technician are limited to the performance of those services for which the veterinary technician is trained and which are compatible with the scope of AS 08.98. A veterinary technician may provide advanced animal care services, including the dispensing of medicine, only under the supervision and direction of a veterinarian licensed under AS 08.98.  
	(c)  A veterinary technician licensed under AS 08.98  may not  
		(1) prescribe medicine;  
		(2) perform surgery; or  
		(3) diagnose, prognose, or interpret diagnostic test results.  
	(d)  In this section, "under the supervision and direction of a licensed veterinarian" means that the veterinary technician is employed by the supervising veterinarian to perform only those animal care duties delegated by, and within the routine practice of, the supervising veterinarian and that the supervising veterinarian  
		(1) accepts all responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of the care provided by the veterinary technician;  
		(2) personally examines the animals cared for by the veterinary technician to assure that the animal has received the proper care; however, a licensed veterinary technician may provide care to an animal under the remote direction of the technician's employing veterinarian in communities that do not have an established veterinary practice;  
		(3) does all billing for the services provided by a veterinary technician.  
	(e)  A person who is obtaining on-the-job training to meet the requirements of 12 AAC 68.310(b)(4)(B), may perform veterinary technician duties described in 12 AAC 68.300 only under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician.  
	(f)  For the purpose of this section,  
		(1) "direct supervision" means the licensed veterinarian or the licensed veterinary technician who is supervising the person who is obtaining on-the-job training is on the premises and is quickly and easily available;  
		(2) "advanced animal care services" means the science and art of providing all aspects of professional medical care and treatment for animals; "advanced animal care services" does not include diagnosis, prognosis, surgery, and prescription for animals.  

Authorities

08.98.050;08.98.080;08.98.120

Notes

Reference

12 AAC 68.300

Authority

AS 08.98.050 AS 08.98.080 AS 08.98.120

History

Eff. 6/29/84, Register 90; am 10/21/92, Register 124; am 5/9/98, Register 146; am 8/13/2000, Register 155; am 9/2/2001, Register 159; am 8/10/2012, Register 203