Free veterinary clinics: the provisional licence that makes them possible

It is the legal door that makes free spay/neuter and vaccination clinics possible with veterinarians not licensed in Puerto Rico. Previously, only veterinary physicians duly licensed by the Board could practice here; the law adds an exception and a provisional licence for the specific case of free services organized with a shelter or animal welfare organization. Its declared motive is to address pet overpopulation and welfare in Puerto Rico.

On the professional side: anyone holding a valid veterinary physician, technician or technologist licence from Canada or the United States, in good standing in that jurisdiction. On the organization side: an animal shelter or animal welfare organization organized or registered under the laws of the Government of Puerto Rico. And on the public side: anyone bringing their pet to those services, which by legal definition must be free.

• A valid veterinary physician, technician or technologist licence from Canada or the United States, with evidence of good standing in that jurisdiction.Verified against the official source
• That the services be free to the public and rendered together with an animal shelter or animal welfare organization organized or registered under Puerto Rico law.Verified against the official source
• Sending the application to the Board at least sixty (60) days before the planned service date.Verified against the official source

• Information on the veterinary services to be offered and the applicant veterinarian’s credentials: name, address, phone, state or country of practice and licence number.
• Evidence of the licence, permit or analogous document issued by the competent authority of that jurisdiction, and documentation evidencing good standing.
• The form the Board must make available electronically for every applicant for this provisional licence.

1. 1

   Step 1: Confirm the services will be free

   It is the condition holding up the whole scheme: the exception and the provisional licence exist for the professional practice of veterinary medicine free of charge to the public, as part of a spay/neuter, vaccination and/or other incidental free veterinary services programme. If the service is charged for, this route does not apply.

2. 2

   Step 2: Organize the event with a registered shelter or organization

   The Board may issue the provisional licence provided the services rendered are free to the public, together with an animal shelter or animal welfare organization organized or registered under the laws of the Government of Puerto Rico. The licence is tied to the event organized by that entity, not to the professional acting alone.

3. 3

   Step 3: Send the application 60 days ahead

   The shelter or animal welfare organization’s director, or the veterinary physician, technician or technologist, shall send their application to Puerto Rico’s Examining Board of Veterinary Physicians at least sixty (60) days before the planned service date. That communication must include all information about the services to be offered, as well as the applicant veterinarian’s credentials: name, address, phone, state or country of practice and licence number.

4. 4

   Step 4: Attach the licence and good-standing evidence

   In addition to the credentials, evidence must be attached of the licence, permit or analogous document issued by the competent authority of the jurisdiction where they are authorized to provide veterinary services, and documentation evidencing that the professional is in good standing in that jurisdiction. The Board will make the form to be completed available electronically.

5. 5

   Step 5: Count the terms: 15 days to evaluate, 30 of validity, 3 times a year

   The Board has fifteen (15) business days to evaluate the application, and if it determines an applicant does not meet one of the established parameters, it is empowered and required by law to deny the petition. All approved provisional licences expire thirty (30) days from the planned service date, and may be renewed up to three (3) times a year. And it costs nothing: the Board may not charge a fee for issuing the provisional licence.

6. 6

   Step 6: Know what the Board may deny

   The Examining Board may deny practice in Puerto Rico to a veterinary physician who has prior and proven veterinary malpractice actions or has been convicted of felonies. It is a filter protecting the pets and those who bring them.

Puerto Rico’s Examining Board of Veterinary Physicians receives and evaluates the applications, makes the form available electronically, and is authorized to establish or amend the regulation necessary for compliance with this law. For the public, the practical route is learning of the events through the shelter or animal welfare organization organizing them.

• Planning the clinic with fewer than 60 days: the application goes to the Board at least sixty days ahead.
• Charging for the service: the exception and the licence exist only for services free to the public.
• Organizing it without a shelter or animal welfare organization registered under Puerto Rico law.
• Paying for the licence: the law expressly forbids the Board from charging a fee to issue it.
• Forgetting the good-standing evidence in the jurisdiction where the veterinarian practices.
• Believing the licence lasts all year: it expires thirty days from the planned date and is renewable up to three times a year.
• Thinking it allows regular practice on the island: it is a provisional licence tied to the free event.

These are the government pages this guide is based on.

• Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico

  Salud

  bvirtualogp.pr.gov