Agency


Our Mission:

The mission of the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners is to establish and enforce policies to ensure the best possible quality of veterinary and equine dental provider services for the people of Texas.

Our Philosophy:

The Board and its staff will act in accordance with the highest standards of ethics, accountability, efficiency and openness. We affirm that protection from less than quality veterinary and equine dental provider services is a public and private trust. We approach our activities with a deep sense of purpose and responsibility. The public and regulated community alike can be assured of a balanced and sensible approach to regulation.

Our Goals:

The Board and its staff will ensure that Texans are effectively and efficiently served by quality veterinary professionals by setting clear standards for professional conduct, by assuring compliance with the rules of professional conduct and the community standard of care, and seeking solutions to issues that strengthen the profession and protect the public.

Our History:

The Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners operates under the authority of Chapter 801, Texas Occupations Code. The Veterinary Licensing Act, along with the Board, was created in 1911. The purpose of the Board is to protect the public by ensuring that persons entering the profession meet minimum academic and examination requirements.

The Board also establishes and enforces policies to ensure the best possible quality of veterinary services for the citizens of Texas.  The board may adopt and amend rules of professional conduct as appropriate to establish and maintain a high standard of integrity, skills and practice in the profession of veterinary medicine.

Examinations are administered by the Board to qualified applicants, and successful completion is a prerequisite to issuance of any license.  The Board has authority to refuse applicants for examination, revoke or suspend licenses, issue administrative penalties, administer oaths and subpoenas, and compel witnesses to attend hearings concerning alleged violations of the Veterinary Licensing Act.

Our Organization:

The Board is located in Austin, Texas and is organized into four principal program functions - Executive, Licensing, Enforcement, and Fiscal Operations. Each program depends upon information from the other to assure that functions are carried out in a manner consistent with the statutory requirements of the Veterinary Licensing Act.