The Louisiana Veterinary Practice Act forbids the “practice of veterinary medicine” in Louisiana by anyone who “is not a licensed veterinarian or the holder of a valid temporary permit issued by the board”. La. R.S. 37:1514. The Practice Act allows the board to use its discretion to decide whether to issue temporary permits and engage in Rulemaking to carry into effect these provisions. The Practice Act allows temporary permits in limited situations:
1. Section 1523 (A) (1) of the Practice Act gives the board the authority to, but does not mandate, issuance of a temporary permit to an otherwise qualified candidate for initial licensure pending examination. The Practice Act provides that if such a temporary permit is issued, the temporary permit expires the day after notice of the results of the first examination following issuance of the permit is received. A permit is not available under this subsection to any applicant who has previously failed the examination in Louisiana or in any other state.
2. Section 1523 (A) (2) allows the board to issue a temporary permit to a veterinarian licensed in another state who has applied for licensure, again pending examination. Such permit also expires the day after notice is received of the results of the first examination following issuance of the temporary permit.
| The Board has not engaged in Rulemaking to effect these provisions of the Practice Act and does not issue temporary permits under Section 1523 of the Practice Act. |
Temporary Permits can also be issued by the Board via its emergency rulemaking powers in cases of a state of a public health emergency as authorized by La. R.S. 29: 769 (E). The board addresses these temporary permits in Rule 309, which first requires a declaration of a state of public health emergency by the governor before the board can pass an emergency Rule that also meets the criteria of Rule 309.