1.   To expect that a veterinarian or veterinary technician has met the minimum qualifications of education and supervised experience required by law to be licensed.
2.   To verify the license of a practicing veterinarian with the presiding licensing board and to receive information about any disciplinary action imposed by the provider.
3.   To file a complaint with the local licensing board concerning unprofessional or unethical behavior by a veterinary professional.

I want to know if a certain veterinarian or veterinary technician is licensed, how long they've been licensed, and if they've ever been disciplined before by the state or provincial licensing board. How do I look that up?

Most states and provinces have an online lookup tool to find license information for practitioners in their jurisdiction. You can find your state or province's information by using "Look-Up-A-License" , brought to you by AAVSB and FARB.

I need to file a complaint against a veterinarian or veterinary technician. How do I do that?

The AAVSB DOES NOT process complaints against veterinarians or veterinary technicians. This is the task of the state or province's veterinary medical board in which the veterinarian practices. You can contact them by looking them up in our Board Directory.

What kind of complaints do veterinary licensing boards accept?

Veterinary licensing boards will review any complaint about a veterinarian or veterinary technicians (in jurisdictions where veterinary technicians are regulated) services or behavior related to the practice of veterinary medicine. The boards will take action to discipline the licensee if they find evidence that the proves the licensee was incompetent, provided unprofessional services, or engaged in unethical or unprofessional or illegal behavior.

Should I be worried that a veterinarian or vet tech might retaliate against me, harass me, or file a lawsuit against me if I report him or her?

Most state and provincial laws do provide immunity from liability for good faith reporting of professional misconduct to a licensing board. Retaliation and harassment of complainants may be illegal and can be prosecuted. You may wish to seek legal advice to gain more information about this. If the veterinarian does file a lawsuit, the client should seek legal counsel.

What is the difference between a state licensing board and a professional association?

In the United States, the state veterinary medical boards are tasked with protecting the public by regulating the practice of veterinary medicine. The professional associations promote the profession. In Canada, some provinces have professional associations that both regulate and promote.