THE BILL ITSELF
SB 1708
Veterinary Licensure
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1708 By Senator Gaetz 1-00917-26 20261708__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to veterinary licensure; amending s.
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474.217, F.S.; deleting the requirement for an
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applicant for licensure by endorsement to have held a
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valid active license to practice veterinary medicine
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in another state, the District of Columbia, or a
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territory of the United States for a specified amount
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of time; requiring applicants to hold a valid, active
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license in good standing to practice veterinary
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medicine in another state, the District of Columbia,
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or a territory of the United States; reenacting s.
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474.2125(1), F.S., related to temporary license to
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provide veterinary services, to incorporate the
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amendment made to s. 474.217, F.S., in a reference
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thereto; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 474.217, Florida
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Statutes, is amended to read:
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474.217 Licensure by endorsement.—
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(1) The department shall issue a license by endorsement to
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any applicant who, upon applying to the department and remitting
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a fee set by the board, demonstrates to the board that she or
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he:
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(a) Has demonstrated, in a manner designated by rule of the
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board, knowledge of the laws and rules governing the practice of
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veterinary medicine in this state; and
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(b)1. Holds , and has held for the 3 years immediately
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preceding the application for licensure, a valid, active license
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in good standing to practice veterinary medicine in another
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state of the United States, the District of Columbia, or a
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territory of the United States, provided that the applicant has
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successfully completed a state, regional, national, or other
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examination that is equivalent to or more stringent than the
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examination required by the board; or
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2. Meets the qualifications of s. 474.207(2)(b) and has
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successfully completed a state, regional, national, or other
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examination which is equivalent to or more stringent than the
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examination given by the department and has passed the board’s
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clinical competency examination or another clinical competency
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examination specified by rule of the board.
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Section 2. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
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made by this act to section 474.217, Florida Statutes, in a
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reference thereto, subsection (1) of section 474.2125, Florida
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Statutes, is reenacted to read:
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474.2125 Temporary license.—
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(1) The board shall adopt rules providing for the issuance
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of a temporary license to a licensed veterinarian of another
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state for the purpose of enabling her or him to provide
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veterinary medical services in this state for the animals of a
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specific owner or, as may be needed in an emergency as defined
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in s. 252.34(4), for the animals of multiple owners, provided
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the applicant would qualify for licensure by endorsement under
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s. 474.217. No temporary license shall be valid for more than 30
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days after its issuance, and no license shall cover more than
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the treatment of the animals of one owner except in an emergency
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as defined in s. 252.34(4). After the expiration of 30 days, a
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new license is required.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.