47-817. Practice without license prohibited; exceptions. No person shall practice veterinary medicine in this state who is not currently and validly a licensed veterinarian. This act shall not be construed to prohibit:

(a) An employee of the federal, state or local government performing such employee's official duties.

(b) A person from gratuitously giving aid, assistance or relief in veterinary emergency cases if such person does not represent themselves to be veterinarians or use any title or degree appertaining to the practice thereof.

(c) A veterinarian regularly licensed in another state consulting with a licensed veterinarian in this state.

(d) Fisheries biologists actively employed by the state of Kansas, the United States government, or any person in the production or management of commercial food or game fish while in the performance of such persons' official duties.

(e) Any feeder utilizing and mixing antibiotics or other disease or parasite preventing drugs as a part of such feeder's feeding operations.

(f) The owner of an animal and the owner's regular employee caring for and treating the animal belonging to such owner, except where the ownership of the animal was transferred to avoid this act.

(g) Before July 1, 2016, a member of the faculty of a school of veterinary medicine performing such member's regular functions or a person lecturing, or giving instructions or demonstrations at a school of veterinary medicine or in connection with a continuing education course for veterinarians. On or after July 1, 2016:

(1) The practice of veterinary medicine at a school of veterinary medicine in this state by a person possessing an institutional license;

(2) any person, including without limitation, a member of the faculty of a school of veterinary medicine, lecturing or giving instructions or demonstrations at a school of veterinary medicine or in connection with a continuing education course for veterinarians or veterinary technicians, except when such activities involve the practice of veterinary medicine on client-owned animals; or

(3) the temporary practice of veterinary medicine at a school of veterinary medicine in this state, for a period not exceeding 30 days per calendar year, by a person eligible to obtain a veterinary or institutional license upon examination and application for the same.

(h) Any person engaging in bona fide scientific research which reasonably requires experimentation involving animals or commercial production of biologics or animal medicines.

(i) A nonstudent employee, independent contractor or any other associate of the veterinarian or a student in a school of veterinary medicine who has not completed at least three years of study and who performs prescribed veterinary procedures under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or under the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian pursuant to rules and regulations of the board.

(j) A student who has completed at least three years of study in a school of veterinary medicine and who performs prescribed veterinary procedures assigned by such student's instructors or who works under direct or indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

History: L. 1969, ch. 261, § 4; L. 1980, ch. 155, § 2; L. 1993, ch. 129, § 4; L. 1999, ch. 25, § 2; L. 2015, ch. 61, § 4; July 1.