S.C. Code Regs. § § 120-9

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 10, October 25, 2024

Section 120-9 - Practice Standards for: Licensed Veterinary Technicians

A. Licensed Veterinary Technicians. Duties shall be performed under the direction, supervision and control of a South Carolina licensed veterinarian who has established a veterinarian-client-patient relationship.

(1) Immediate Supervision:

(a) Surgical assistance to a licensed veterinarian.

(b) Floatation of equine teeth.

(2) Direct Supervision:

(a) Induction, maintenance and immediate recovery of anesthesia.

(b) Perform dental procedure including, but not limited to: prophylaxis and procedures not altering the shape, structure, or positional location of teeth in the dental arch.

(c) Perform euthanasia.

(d) Administration of rabies vaccines as allowed by law.

(3) Indirect Supervision:

(a) Administration and application of treatments, drugs, medications and immunological agents by parenteral (to include subcutaneous, intradermal, intramuscularly, intraperitoneal and intravenous) and non-parenteral routes, except when in conflict with government regulations.

(b) Initiation of parenteral fluid administration.

(c) Perform peripheral venous catheterizations.

(d) Perform imaging including settings, positioning, exposing, processing and safety procedures.

(e) Collect venous blood specimen as allowed by law.

(f) Collect urine by free catch, expression, cystocentesis or catheterization.

(g) Collect and prepare tissue, cellular or microbial samples by skin scrapings, impressions or other non-surgical methods.

(h) Perform routine diagnostic tests.

(i) Supervise handling of bio hazardous waste materials.

(j) Collect and prepare blood or blood components as related to blood transfusions.

(k) Administer blood or blood components as related to transfusions.

(l) Apply splints, bandages, slings, and casts.

(m) Perform non-emergency intubations.

(n) Measure medication quantities as prescribed by a licensed veterinarian.

(o) Perform arterial catheterization.

(p) Perform central venous catheterization.

(q) Administer vaccines, excluding rabies.

(r) Microchip insertion.

(4) Other services under the appropriate degree of supervision of a licensed veterinarian.

(5) Emergency Animal Patient Care.

A licensed veterinary technician working under the indirect supervision of a licensed veterinarian may provide: acute care for emergency medical conditions. In the event of a CPA or imminent CPA, a licensed veterinary technician may follow standing medical orders that have been established by a veterinarian until the patient is stabilized or a veterinarian can provide supervision.

(6) Practice Limitations. Licensed veterinary technicians shall not be permitted to:

(a) Make any diagnosis or prognosis.

(b) Prescribe any treatments, drugs, medications, or appliances.

(c) Perform surgery.

(d) Identify as a licensed veterinarian, veterinary nurse, or anything other than a licensed veterinary technician.

B. In accordance with S.C. Code Section 40-69-270(C), licensed veterinarians may delegate duties superseding the above scope of practice restrictions to licensed veterinary technicians holding specialty certification from the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America's Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialists. Duties must be within the specialty certification discipline.

S.C. Code Regs. § 120-9

Added by State Register Volume 33, Issue No. 3, eff March 27, 2009; State Register Volume 47, Issue No. 05, eff. 5/26/2023.