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

• Develop, administer, and approve licensure examinations in the subjects determined by the board to be essential to the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery, and dentistry.
• Approve examinations prepared or administered by a private testing agency or association of licensing authorities.
• Adopt rules:
  • Standards for the performance of the duties and responsibilities of veterinary technicians and veterinary medication clerks.
  • Minimum standards of continuing education for veterinary technicians.
  • Standard prescribing requirements for veterinary medical facilities.
  • Minimum standards of continuing veterinary medical education. 

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. The member's terms are five years.

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.

Board participation expectation guidelines

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

• Attend regular board meetings, scheduled quarterly on Mondays during business hours. The board sets its meeting schedule each fall for the following calendar year. 
• 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.
• 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.

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.

2024

• September 19 (PDF)
• September 9 (PDF)
• June 3 (PDF)
• March 4 (PDF)

2023

• December 4 (PDF)
• October 23 (PDF)
• September 11 (PDF)
• June 12 (PDF)
• March 6 (PDF)