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Kentucky Revised Statutes Title XXVI. Occupations and Professions § 321.251.Allied animal health professional licenses; qualifications; areas of practices; administrative regulations; requirements

Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(1) The board shall issue an allied animal health professional license to a person who is qualified to be licensed under this section. A person is qualified to be licensed as an AAHP if the person:

(a) Has completed an application for AAHP licensing approved by the board through the promulgation of an administrative regulation;

(b) Has paid the application fee and the appropriate examination fee;

(c) Is a person of good moral character. As an element of good moral character, the board shall require each applicant for licensure to submit a full set of the applicant's fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining criminal records checks pursuant to KRS 321.189 and any other applicable law. All good moral character information, including the information obtained through the criminal background checks, shall be relevant to licensure eligibility determinations to the extent permitted by law;

(d) Has graduated and received a certification from an approved allied animal health professional program;

(e) Has achieved a passing score on any examinations required by the board in an administrative regulation;

(f) Has been approved for an AAHP license by the board; and

(g) Has complied with any other requirements of this chapter or the administrative regulations promulgated by the board.

(2) An AAHP licensee may work on animals in one (1) of the following areas of the practice of veterinary medicine so long as that practice is in accordance with and within the limitations established by the board in an administrative regulation promulgated in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A, including requirements for candidate qualifications, examinations, and applications:

(a) Animal chiropractic; or

(b) Equine dentistry.

(3)(a) An allied animal health professional seeking to work within the allowable scope of practice on animals shall be required to apply for an AAHP license from the board to practice on animals.

(b) If an applicant is approved for a license, the board shall designate the area of practice specific to the AAHP licensee on the license.

(c) A separate AAHP license shall be required for each scope of practice as listed in subsection (2) of this section.

(4)(a) The board may establish by administrative regulation procedures to license candidates for qualification in each distinct area of practice allowable under the AAHP license class by substituting experience for the education requirements in subsection (1)(d) of this section.

(b) As part of the application for an AAHP license, candidates who apply under this subsection shall:

1. Have been a Kentucky resident for at least twelve (12) months immediately preceding the date of application;

2. Provide a letter of recommendation from a minimum of two (2) Kentucky-licensed veterinarians;

3. Provide proof of employment or an Internal Revenue Service form 1099 showing self-employment in an area of practice as identified in subsection (2) of this section for a minimum of ten (10) years prior to the date of application for animal chiropractic, and a minimum of five (5) years prior to the date of application for equine dentistry;

4. Provide details regarding the duration of experience and times during which practice occurred, including average number of hours of practice per year; and

5. Provide a letter of good standing from any other jurisdictions in which the applicant is credentialed.

(c) The candidate application window under this subsection shall not exceed eighteen (18) months from the effective date of the administrative regulation governing applications for the AAHP license area of the practice. After the application window closes, individuals applying for a new AAHP license shall be required to meet the current standards of KRS Chapter 321 and administrative regulations promulgated by the board.

(5) AAHP licensees shall be required to register each premises or mobile unit from which he or she practices on animals as a registered AAHP facility in accordance with KRS 321.203, 321.205, and 321.236.

(6) AAHP licensees and AAHP registered facilities shall:

(a) Maintain an active credential with the board to maintain authorization to operate;

(b) Pay the application, renewal, reinstatement, and other required fees as established by the board in an administrative regulation;

(c) Renew the board credential on a schedule as established by the board in administrative regulation;

(d) Comply with all applicable provisions of KRS Chapter 321 and any administrative regulations promulgated thereunder and other applicable state and federal laws; and

(e) Be subject to disciplinary measures for failure to comply.

(7) Controls shall be established by the board in an administrative regulation promulgated in accordance with Chapter 13A regarding acquisition, distribution, and administration of drugs by AAHP licensees and their clients for use by the AAHPs in the services offered.

(8)(a) 1. Only a board-licensed allied animal health professional who is also licensed as a chiropractor with the Kentucky Board of Chiropractic Examiners and is qualified in the State of Kentucky to perform animal chiropractic within the limits established by the board in an administrative regulation may use the titles “animal chiropractor,” “animal chiropractic practitioner,” “ACP,” or “AC.”

2. A chiropractor shall not use the titles “veterinary chiropractor” or “veterinary adjuster” unless the chiropractor is also licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Kentucky.

3. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a licensed veterinarian from using the titles “animal adjuster” or “animal spinal manipulation practitioner.”

(b) 1. Only a duly licensed allied animal health professional who is a board-licensed equine dental provider and is qualified in the State of Kentucky to perform equine dentistry within the limits established in KRS 321.255 may use the titles “equine dental provider,” “equine dental practitioner,” “certified equine dental provider,” “CEPD,” or “EDP.”

2. An equine dental provider shall not use the titles “equine dentist,” “veterinary dentistry,” or “veterinary dentist” unless the equine dental provider is also licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the state of Kentucky.

3. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a licensed veterinarian from using the titles “animal dentist” or “equine dentist.”

(9) An AAHP licensee shall be held to the same standard of care as a veterinarian when the provider practices on animals.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Kentucky Revised Statutes Title XXVI. Occupations and Professions § 321.251.Allied animal health professional licenses; qualifications; areas of practices; administrative regulations; requirements - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ky/title-xxvi-occupations-and-professions/ky-rev-st-sect-321-251/

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