VCPR by State
This quick-reference guide lists each state’s VCPR (veterinarian client-patient relationship) regulations, and provides guidance to veterinarians how they can utilize TeleVet for conducting virtual visits.
In most cases, veterinarians can offer general advice (e.g., nutrition or training recommendations), first aid advice, triage patients, and assist in medical emergencies without VCPR. However, to diagnose a patient or to prescribe drugs, VCPR is required.
State | Link to Practice Act | VCPR must be established in-person | Scope of VCPR | Where telemedicine occurs | Brief Summary of Guidelines/Restrictions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama | Alabama Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Where the client/animal is | VCPR must be established in-person. Telemedicine is defined by where the owner/animal is, regardless of where the veterinarian is (i.e. a vet must be licensed in AL and have VCPR to treat an animal in AL). |
Alaska | Alaska Practice Act | No | Not defined | Not defined | Alaska does not define VCPR in its Practice Act. However, to be conservative, utilize the general guideline of establishing VCPR with in-person visits at least annually |
Arizona | Arizona Practice Act | Yes | Any vet at same practice | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person but VCPR can apply to any vet working at the same practice |
Arkansas | Arkansas Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
California | California Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | California has one of the strictest regulations for telemedicine. VCPR must be established in-person and is only applicable to one veterinarian. Additionally, telemedicine can only be used for specific medical conditions for which the animal has already been diagnosed by the veterinarian during an in-person exam. |
Colorado | Colorado Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Where the client/animal is | VCPR must be established by an in-person examination and only applies to one veterinarian. Colorado defines telemedicine as taking place where the animal is (i.e., a vet must be licensed in CO and have VCPR to treat an animal in CO) |
Connecticut | Connecticut Practice Act | No | Not defined | Not defined | Connecticut does not define VCPR in its Practice Act. However, to be conservative, utilize the general guideline of establishing VCPR with in-person visits at least annually |
Delaware | Delaware Practice Act | No | Not defined | Not defined | Delaware does not define VCPR in its Practice Act. However, to be conservative, utilize the general guideline of establishing VCPR with in-person visits at least annually |
District of Columbia | District of Columbia Practice Act | No | Not defined | Not defined | D.C. does not define VCPR in its Practice Act. However, to be conservative, utilize the general guideline of establishing VCPR with in-person visits at least annually |
Florida | Florida Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Georgia | Georgia Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Hawaii | Hawaii Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | Hawaii has guidelines regarding establishing VCPR but these are not legally binding, although it is recommended to follow the guidelines. VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one vet. |
Idaho | Idaho Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Where the client/animal is | VCPR must be established by an in-person examination at least annually and only applies to one vet. Telemedicine is defined by where the owner/animal is, regardless of where the veterinarian is (i.e., a vet must be licensed in ID and have VCPR to treat an animal in ID). |
Illinois | Illinois Practice Act | Yes | Any vet at same practice | Where the client/animal is | VCPR must be established by an in-person examination but aplies to any veterinarian at the same practice. Telemedicine is defined by where the owner/animal is, regardless of where the veterinarian is (i.e., a vet must be licensed in IL and have VCPR to treat an animal in IL) unless there is an existing VCPR. |
Indiana | Indiana Practice Act | Yes | Any vet at same practice | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person but VCPR can apply to any vet working at the same practice |
Iowa | Iowa Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Kansas | Kansas Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Kentucky | Kentucky Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Louisiana | Louisiana Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Maine | Maine Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Maryland | Maryland Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Massachusetts | Massachusetts Practice Act | Yes | Any vet at same practice | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person but VCPR can apply to any vet working at the same practice |
Michigan | Michigan Practice Act | No | Not defined | Not defined | Michigan rescinded the definition of VCPR in its Practice Act in 2019. However, to be conservative, utilize the general guideline of establishing VCPR with in-person visits at least annually |
Minnesota | Minnesota Practice Act | Yes | Any vet at same practice | Not defined | Any DVM within 18 months |
Mississippi | Mississippi Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Missouri | Missouri Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Montana | Montana Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Nebraska | Nebraska Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Nevada | Nevada Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
New Hampshire | New Hampshire Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
New Jersey | New Jersey Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Where the vet is | New Jersey has legislature for telemedicine that has been approved but not yet adopted (as of June 2020). Currently, VCPR must be established in-person, but the new guidelines may allow for VCPR to be established remotely as long as there is not a Schedule II drug being prescribed. The new legislature defines telemedicine as taking place where the veterinarian physically is (e.g., a vet licensed in NJ can have a telemedicine consult with a client in another state without being licensed in that state). |
New Mexico | New Mexico Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
New York | New York Practice Act | Yes | Any vet at same practice | Not defined | New York has guidelines regarding establishing VCPR/telemedicine but clearly states that these are not legally binding, although it is recommended to follow the guidelines. VCPR must be established in-person but can apply to any veterinarian at the same practice. |
North Carolina | North Carolina Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
North Dakota | North Dakota Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Ohio | Ohio Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Oklahoma | Oklahoma Practice Act | No | One vet | Where the client/animal is | Oklahoma has more guidelines than most states regarding telemedicine. Although ideally VCPR is established in-person, it can be established remotely in some situations (vets should use professional judgment to determine if it is appropriate or not to establish VCPR via telemedicine). Vets cannot prescribe drugs unless the VCPR is established in-person. |
Oregon | Oregon Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Practice Act | Yes | Any vet at same practice | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person but VCPR can apply to any vet working at the same practice |
Puerto Rico | Puerto Rico Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Rhode Island | Rhode Island Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
South Carolina | South Carolina Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
South Dakota | South Dakota Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Tennessee | Tennessee Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Texas | Texas Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Utah | Utah Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Vermont | Vermont Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Virginia | Virginia Practice Act | No | Any vet at same practice | Not defined | VCPR may be established via telemedicine as long as there is a real-time, face-to-face interaction. VCPR can apply to any vet working at the same practice. |
Washington | Washington Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
West Virginia | West Virginia Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Wisconsin | Wisconsin Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |
Wyoming | Wyoming Practice Act | Yes | One vet | Not defined | VCPR must be established in-person and only applies to one veterinarian |