Veterinary License Defense
Representation Before the State Board of Veterinary Medicine
The State Board of Veterinary Medicine licenses veterinarians and certifies veterinary technicians in the Commonwealth. The Board enforces standards for patient care, recordkeeping, controlled substances, sanitation of premises and the supervision of technicians and assistants.
Board matters most often begin with an owner's complaint following the illness or death of an animal, and they frequently concern the standard of care, communication with the owner, informed consent, records and fees. Controlled substance recordkeeping and the issuance of health and vaccination certificates are also common subjects of investigation.
Mimm Law, LLC represents veterinarians and veterinary technicians at every stage of a Board matter, including matters involving the Professional Health Monitoring Program.
Governing Law
- Board
- State Board of Veterinary Medicine
- Statute
- Veterinary Medicine Practice Act, Act of December 27, 1974, P.L. 995, No. 326, as amended, 63 P.S. § 485.1 et seq.
- Regulations
- 49 Pa. Code Chapter 31
- Licensees
- Veterinarians and CVTs
- Renewal
- Biennial; licenses expire November 30 of even-numbered years
Who the Board Regulates
- Veterinarian license
- Certified veterinary technician (CVT)
- Temporary permit
Grounds for Discipline
Section 21 of the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act (63 P.S. § 485.21) authorizes the Board to discipline a licensee for, among other things:
- Willful or repeated violations of the Act or the Board's rules
- Fraud in obtaining a license
- Fraudulent, dishonest or illegal practices
- Issuing fraudulent health or vaccination certificates
- Maintaining unsanitary premises, or refusing an inspection
- False advertising
- Incompetence, gross negligence or malpractice
- Discipline in another state on similar grounds
- A drug law conviction, or conviction of a felony or misdemeanor related to the profession or involving moral turpitude
- Habitual addiction rendering the licensee unable to practice
- False statements under oath
- Failure to provide medical records or to keep required logs
Sanctions the Board May Impose
The Board may suspend, limit or revoke a license, impose probation, refuse or withhold a license, issue a public reprimand, require treatment, or restore a license subject to conditions. The Board must also temporarily suspend the license of a licensee who presents an immediate and clear danger, a license is automatically suspended upon a felony drug conviction, and a revoked licensee cannot be reinstated for five years unless a court orders otherwise.
In addition to the sanctions in the Board's own statute, Chapter 31 of Title 63 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes authorizes each licensing board to impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation and to assess the costs of investigation against a licensee found to have violated the law.
Obligations That Often Lead to Board Matters
Medical Records
Veterinarians must keep complete records and provide them as the Act requires. Records are the central evidence in most standard-of-care complaints and should be produced complete and unaltered.
Controlled Substances
Controlled substance logs must be maintained as required. Discrepancies may lead to both Board action and review by federal and state drug authorities.
Continuing Education
Veterinarians must complete 30 hours and certified veterinary technicians 16 hours of continuing education in the 24 months preceding renewal.
Matters We Handle
- Owner complaints following treatment or an adverse outcome
- Controlled substance recordkeeping and inventory
- Medical recordkeeping deficiencies
- Supervision of veterinary technicians and staff
- Continuing education audits
- Criminal charges and convictions affecting licensure
How We Can Help
Board Investigations
Upon receipt of a letter of inquiry, a subpoena or contact from an investigator, the firm evaluates the allegations, reviews the licensee's records, prepares a written response and attends any investigative interview. In some matters, an early, well-documented response may resolve the matter before formal charges are filed.
Formal Charges and Hearings
When the Commonwealth files an Order to Show Cause, the time to respond is short, and a respondent who misses the deadline may be held in default and the facts alleged deemed admitted. The firm prepares and files the answer, negotiates a consent agreement where one serves the client's interests, and tries the matter before the hearing examiner or the Board where it does not.
Applications and Reinstatement
For applicants whose history may raise questions, and for licensees seeking reinstatement after suspension, revocation or lapse, the firm assembles the application and supporting record and presents the matter to the Board.
Questions Licensees Ask
An owner blames me for the death of a pet. What should I expect?
The Board will review whether the care provided met the accepted standard, whether the owner gave informed consent and whether the records support the treatment. A poor outcome is not, by itself, a violation.
Must I give an owner copies of the records?
The Act addresses the provision of medical records, and a failure to provide them is a ground for discipline. Records should be provided as required, and the original should be preserved exactly as it exists.
Is the Voluntary Recovery Program available to veterinarians?
Yes. The State Board of Veterinary Medicine participates in the Professional Health Monitoring Program, and a qualifying licensee may enroll in the Voluntary Recovery Program and avoid public discipline by complying with its terms.
Should I speak with an investigator before I have counsel?
A licensee who receives a letter of inquiry, a subpoena or a telephone call from an investigator with the Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation should be courteous and should note the investigator's name and contact information, but should not give a substantive statement before obtaining advice. Anything said to an investigator may be included in the report reviewed by the prosecuting attorney and, later, by the Board. Counsel can determine what is being alleged, gather the relevant records and prepare a response that is accurate, complete and appropriately limited.
Must I report a criminal conviction, plea or ARD, or discipline in another state?
Yes. Pennsylvania law requires every licensee to notify the licensing board in writing within 30 days of discipline imposed by a licensing authority in another jurisdiction and of a finding of guilt, guilty plea, plea of nolo contendere, probation without verdict, disposition in lieu of trial or Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition on a felony or misdemeanor charge. Some boards' regulations impose additional or earlier reporting duties, including, for nurses and massage therapists, a duty to report the filing of criminal charges within 30 days. A failure to report is itself a ground for discipline, and it is frequently charged alongside the underlying conduct.
Meet Your Attorney
Steven A. Mimm, Esq.
Founder, Mimm Law, LLC. Admitted in Pennsylvania (2008) and New Jersey (2022).
From 2014 to 2022, Attorney Steven A. Mimm served as a prosecuting attorney bringing disciplinary actions on behalf of the Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs before Pennsylvania's licensing boards. That experience informs how the firm evaluates evidence, negotiates with the Commonwealth and prepares cases for hearing. Where a licensee also faces criminal charges, the firm handles the licensing matter and coordinates with the licensee's criminal defense counsel.
Related: All Licensing Boards · Licensing and FAQs
Last reviewed September 2026. The information on this page is general in nature and is not legal advice. Contacting the firm does not create an attorney-client relationship.