A. It is unlawful for a registered veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, nurse, veterinary assistant or other employee to diagnose animal diseases, prescribe medical or surgical treatment, or perform as a surgeon and such acts shall constitute the unlawful practice of veterinary medicine as prohibited in Section 698.18 of this title.

B. It is unlawful for any person to assume the title of registered veterinary technician, or the abbreviation RVT, or any other words, letters, signs, or figures that might induce a person to believe that the person using the name is a registered veterinary technician, when in fact such person is not certified.

C. A registered veterinary technician may perform emergency treatments in a life saving situation in accordance with rules promulgated by the Board.

D. Except as provided in Section 698.18 of this title, any person certified as a veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, veterinary nurse, or veterinary assistant who practices veterinary medicine contrary to the provisions of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, or any person who aids or abets another in the practice or attempted practice as a veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, veterinary nurse, or veterinary assistant without license or certification, or any person violating any provision of subsection B of this section, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($2,500.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term of not less than thirty (30) days, nor more than six (6) months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. In addition to criminal penalties, the violator shall be subject to denial, revocation, suspension, probation or nonrenewal of certification by the Board.

E. The penalties provided in subsection D of this section shall not apply to a student enrolled in an accredited school of veterinary technology while the student is under the supervision of an instructor and is performing activities required as a part of the student's training.

F. Any veterinarian licensed in this state who permits or directs a veterinary technician, veterinary technologist, veterinary nurse, aide or animal attendant to perform a task or procedure in violation of the provisions of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, upon conviction, shall be guilty of aiding or abetting the unlicensed practice of veterinary medicine as prohibited by Section 698.18 of this title, and shall be, in addition to any criminal penalties, subject to revocation, probation, nonrenewal or suspension of license by the Board.

Added by Laws 1980, c. 138, § 7, eff. Oct. 1, 1980. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 56, § 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1992; Laws 1999, c. 94, § 28, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2002, c. 172, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2008, c. 358, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2008.