Veterinary Board of Governors

Mission statement

The mission of the Washington State Veterinary Board of Governors is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public and their animals by regulating the competency and quality of veterinary healthcare providers and facilities.

Board duties

• Establish qualifications for minimal competency to grant or deny licensure of veterinarians, veterinary technicians and veterinary medication clerks.
• Regulate the competency and quality of veterinary healthcare providers by establishing, monitoring and enforcing qualifications for licensure.
• Develop rules, policies and procedures that promote the delivery of quality healthcare to state residents.
• Ensure consistent standards of practice.
• Assess, investigate and make recommendations related to complaints against practitioners which may range from a Notice of Correction to a license revocation.
• Serve as reviewing members on disciplinary cases and serve on disciplinary hearing panels.
• Serve as members of standing committees, when appointed.
• Establish and monitor compliance with continuing education requirements.

Qualifications

The board has six licensed veterinarians, one licensed veterinary technician, one licensed veterinarian or a licensed veterinary technician, and one member of the public.

Licensed veterinary members must be:

• State residents.
• In active practice as licensed practitioners of veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry, or employed as a licensed veterinary technician, as applicable.
• Not more than two licensed veterinary members shall be from the same congressional district.

The public member may not:

• Be a member of any other healthcare licensing board or commission.
• Have a fiduciary obligation to a facility rendering healthcare services.
• Have a financial interest in the rendering of health services.

Board participation expectation guidelines

These guidelines are a reference for current members and prospective appointees:

• All new members must attend a three-hour virtual orientation.
• Attend regular board meetings, scheduled quarterly on Mondays during business hours. The board sets its meeting schedule each fall for the following calendar year. Generally, two meetings are in Kent, one in Tumwater, and one on the east side of the state; however, all meetings during the COVID-19 emergency have been held by Webinar.
• Prepare for regular meetings by reading materials sent one to two weeks in advance of the scheduled meeting date. The packets take an average of two to six hours to read.
• Attend the one-day Department of Health Board, Commission, Committee conference for chairs and vice-chairs.
• Participate on disciplinary panels by telephone several times per year. These calls take up to an hour, and occasionally go longer.
• Evaluate and make recommendations on disciplinary cases. Participate in calls staff attorneys and board staff as needed to develop recommendations. Time spent on disciplinary cases depends on the nature and number of cases assigned to that board member. Each case can take from one to several hours.
• Participate on hearing panels from one to several days approximately once per year. A panel of three board members is generally used to hear disciplinary cases.
• Mentor newly appointed board members as needed.

Total annual time commitment

• Meetings: Four business meetings and one strategic planning meeting per year. Two to six hours of preparation and follow-up per meeting.
• Subcommittee participation: Volunteer for a subcommittee based on interest. Subcommittees usually meet once between meetings for about two hours
• Disciplinary calls: Eighteen to 20 per year. Preparation and attendance usually take two to three hours.
• Disciplinary case review: One to several hours per complaint assigned. Number of cases assigned depends on how many complaints are opened for investigation.
• Hearing panels: One to several days per year.
• Conferences: One day per year for chairs and vice-chairs.

Compensation

• Members of the board shall be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.
• Each member of the board will be compensated in accordance with RCW 43.03.265.
• The board is designated as a class five group for the purposes of chapter 43.03 RCW.

Become a Board, Commission or Committee Member.

Name and term expiration date of members

* All meetings start at 9 a.m. unless otherwise noted.

2022

• December 5 (PDF)
• October 24 (PDF)
• September 12 (PDF)
• June 6 (PDF)
• May 5 (PDF)
• March 21 (PDF)

2021

• December 6 (PDF)
• October 15 (PDF)
• September 13 (PDF)
• June 7 (PDF)
• May 12 (PDF)
• March 8 (PDF)