The petitioner has cited the North Carolina veterinary medicine regulations in support of the proposed change.  North Carolina’s requirements are in fact more stringent, not less stringent, than the current Virginia requirements.  I could accept the North Carolina approach, as long as there was informed, written consent by the owner for any direct patient contact by any student in years one through four.

Key points regarding North Carolina regulations: Interns have finished their third year of training, and preceptees have completed all academic requirements; both must be attending a school of vet medicine that has a preceptor or extern program; and both must registered with the Veterinary Medical Board.  The tasks that individuals who are not interns or preceptees are permitted to perform are very limited.

Key points regarding current Virginia regulations: Once the student has completed his or her third year, the regulations provide that “A veterinary preceptee or extern may perform duties that constitute the practice of veterinary medicine for which he has received adequate instruction by the college or school and only under the on-premises supervision of a licensed veterinarian”  (18VAC150-20-130.A.1.)  Please note that in Virginia the supervising veterinarian doesn’t have to be in the same room watching, just on site.  

“Prior to allowing a preceptee or extern in veterinary medicine to perform surgery on a patient unassisted by a licensed veterinarian, a licensed veterinarian shall receive written approval from the client” (18VAC150-20-130.B.)   The only thing to which owners in Virginia must consent is unassisted surgery; anything else can be done without their knowledge or approval.

I think the current Virginia regulations are too weak, and the wide-open nature of the proposed change makes them even weaker.  “Dangerous” is not too strong a word.

Here are the relevant sections of the North Carolina code.

NC 90-181. Definitions.
(9) "Veterinary student intern" means a person who is enrolled in an accredited veterinary college, has satisfactorily completed the third year of veterinary college education, and is registered with the Board as a veterinary student intern.

(10) "Veterinary student preceptee" means a person who is pursuing a doctorate degree in an accredited school of veterinary medicine that has a preceptor or extern program, has completed the academic requirements of that program, and is registered with the Board as a veterinary student preceptee.  

NC90-187.6. Veterinary technicians and veterinary employees.
(a)   "Veterinary technicians", "veterinary student interns", and "veterinary student preceptees", before performing any services otherwise prohibited to persons not licensed or registered under this Article, shall be approved by and registered with the Board. The Board shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to the qualifications, registration, discipline, and revocation of registration of these persons, under this Article and rules issued by the Board.

(c)   An employee under the supervision of a veterinarian may perform such duties as are required in the physical care of animals and in carrying out medical orders as prescribed by the veterinarian, requiring an understanding of animal science but not requiring the professional services as set forth in G.S.90-181(6)a. In addition, a veterinary technician may assist veterinarians in diagnosis, laboratory analysis, anesthesia, and surgical procedures. Neither the employee nor the veterinary technician may perform any act producing an irreversible change in the animal.  An employee, other than a veterinary technician, intern, or preceptee, may, under the direct supervision of a veterinarian, perform duties including collection of specimen; testing for intestinal parasites; collecting blood; testing for heartworms and conducting other laboratory tests; taking radiographs; and cleaning and polishing teeth, provided that the employee has had sufficient on-the-job training by a veterinarian to perform these specified duties in a competent manner. It shall be the responsibility of the veterinarian supervising the employee to ascertain that the employee performs these specified duties assigned to the employee in a competent manner. These specified duties shall be performed under the direct supervision of the veterinarian in charge of administering care to the patient.

(d)   Veterinary student interns, in addition to all of the services permitted to veterinary technicians, may, under the direct personal supervision of a veterinarian, perform surgery and administer therapeutic or prophylactic drugs.

(e)   Veterinary student preceptees, in addition to all of the services permitted to veterinary technicians and veterinary student interns, may, upon the direction of the employing veterinarian, make ambulatory calls and hospital and clinic diagnoses, prescriptions and treatments.