(a) General requirements for special veterinary licensure; examination scores; issuance and renewal.
  (1) The Board shall schedule a jurisprudence examination at least once a year for applicants for special veterinary licenses.
  (2) An applicant for a special veterinary license under §801.256(a)(1) - (3), Texas Occupations Code, must:
    (A) be at the age of majority;
    (B) be a graduate of a Board approved veterinary program at an institution of higher education or possess an Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) Certificate or a Program for Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) Certificate; or
    (C) provide to the Board a written affirmation by the dean of a Board approved veterinary program at an institution of higher education in this state or the executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission or the executive director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory that the applicant:
      (i) meets a critical need for staffing at the institution of higher education or the Texas Animal Health Commission or the Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory; and
      (ii) is certified by a nationally recognized veterinary specialty board or is eligible for that certification; and
    (D) pass the Board's jurisprudence examination. The applicant must submit a completed application for examination to the Board by no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the examination date. The completed application includes payment of examination fees and certification from the applicant's employer attesting to the applicant's employment position.
  (3) For purposes of this section, a "Board approved veterinary program at an institution of higher education" means any program which is recognized and accredited by an appropriate body of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
  (4) The applicant must submit with his application a written statement from his employer describing the applicant's official duties that require the issuance of a special license under §801.256(a)(1) - (3), Texas Occupations Code. Upon completion of the jurisprudence examination, the Board shall notify the applicant by letter of his score. For candidates who attain a passing score of 85 percent, the letter shall constitute the special license for limited practice in the State of Texas.
  (5) A special veterinary license will be issued for the renewal year in which the requirements for licensure have been met.
  (6) A special veterinary license is subject to the renewal requirements set out in §801.303, Texas Occupations Code.
  (7) An applicant who fails the jurisprudence examination for a special veterinary license and wishes to be re-examined will be required to resubmit an application and fees for a later scheduled jurisprudence examination.
(b) Applicant requirements for unrepresented or under represented specialty practice, as further defined in subsection (c) of this section. An applicant for a special license to practice a veterinary medicine specialty in this state must:
  (1) be a graduate of a board approved veterinary program at an institution of higher education as defined in §571.15(a)(3) of this title (relating to Temporary Veterinary License) or possess an ECFVG or PAVE Certificate;
  (2) present proof of a current active license in good standing in another state or jurisdiction of the United States that has licensing requirements substantially equivalent to the requirements of the Veterinary Licensing Act, Texas Occupations Code Chapter 801;
  (3) not currently be holding a special veterinary license under this section; and
  (4) have a certification from an employing sponsor or controlling authority approved by the board that the need for a special veterinary license exists.
(c) The board may issue a special veterinary license to an applicant for an unrepresented or under represented specialty practice if the board finds that:
  (1) there is a need, shortage, or demand for the specialty practice in the State of Texas;
  (2) the applicant is competent to practice veterinary medicine in the particular specialty; and
  (3) the applicant has taken and passed the jurisprudence examination for special veterinary license.
(d) Change of special veterinary license status. A request by the holder of a special veterinary license to change the license from one category to another must be submitted to the Board for approval.

Source Note: The provisions of this §571.9 adopted to be effective May 29, 2011, 36 TexReg 3187; amended to be effective June 19, 2012, 37 TexReg 4418; amended to be effective November 22, 2015, 40 TexReg 8022