California Expands Veterinary Technician and Assistant Scope of Practice to Address Workforce Shortage
New legislation clarifies RVT and assistant capabilities, increases flexibility for shelter medicine
California has enacted two significant pieces of legislation aimed at addressing the state's veterinary workforce shortage by expanding and clarifying the scope of practice for Registered Veterinary Technicians (RVTs) and veterinary assistants. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 516 on October 7, 2025, and Senate Bill 602 on October 11, 2025.
The legislation comes in response to critical staffing challenges documented in animal welfare settings. According to a 2023 University of California, Davis study, California shelters lack adequate veterinary staffing, and more than half of California shelters are unable to provide care for basic medical needs California addresses veterinarian shortage, expands scope of veterinary staff.
Assembly Bill 516: Scope Clarification
AB 516, authored by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, clarifies the scope of veterinary assistants and RVTs, stating they are "allowed to perform any task that they are not explicitly prohibited from undertaking by law." California addresses veterinarian shortage, expands scope of veterinary staff
The legislation addresses confusion and unnecessary restrictions on scope of practice that have prevented RVTs and veterinary assistants from fully utilizing their skills The San Francisco SPCA Sponsors AB 516 and SB 602 - San Francisco SPCA. Rather than listing specific tasks these professionals may perform, the new framework establishes a "permissive" approach—staff may perform any duties not explicitly prohibited by statute or regulation.
Importantly, supervising veterinarians retain discretion to restrict staff from performing specific tasks based on individual competency, training, or clinical judgment. This preserves professional oversight while removing regulatory barriers to efficient practice operations.
The bill also authorizes registered veterinary technicians to perform dental care procedures, including tooth extractions, under the supervision of a veterinarian AB 516 - California Assembly (20252026) - Open States.
Senate Bill 602: Enhanced RVT Autonomy in Shelters
SB 602, authored by State Senator Dave Cortese, allows RVTs to perform essential appointments such as administering vaccines and parasite control without a supervising veterinarian on-site California addresses veterinarian shortage, expands scope of veterinary staff.
The legislation revises supervision requirements to authorize registered veterinary technicians to administer vaccines or medications in registered veterinary premises that are public animal control agencies or shelters, private animal shelters, humane society shelters, or societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelters when the veterinarian is in the general vicinity or available by telephone and is quickly and easily available Bill Text - SB-602 Veterinarians: veterinarian-client-patient relationship..
Previously, RVTs were permitted to work at remote clinics without a veterinarian present, but this flexibility did not extend to all shelter environments—limiting their ability to offer routine care like vaccinations and parasite control treatments The San Francisco SPCA Sponsors AB 516 and SB 602 - San Francisco SPCA.
Clinical and Practice Implications
The legislation has several important implications for veterinary practice in California:
Workforce utilization: Both bills enable more efficient deployment of credentialed veterinary professionals, potentially alleviating bottlenecks in patient flow and improving access to care, particularly in underserved areas and shelter medicine.
Liability and supervision: While the bills expand what RVTs and assistants may legally perform, supervising veterinarians remain ultimately responsible for the quality of care delivered under their supervision. Practices should develop clear protocols defining which tasks specific team members are authorized to perform based on their training and demonstrated competence.
Documentation requirements: Documentation relating to satisfaction of supervision requirements must be retained by the veterinarian for the duration of the RVT's work as an agent of that veterinarian and until three years from the date of the termination of the relationship Bill Text - SB-602 Veterinarians: veterinarian-client-patient relationship..
Training and competency: The permissive scope approach requires veterinarians to carefully assess individual team member capabilities. Just because a task is legally permissible does not mean every team member has the training or skill to perform it safely and effectively.
Shelter medicine impact: The enhanced flexibility for shelter-based wellness appointments addresses a critical gap in animal welfare services, enabling shelters to provide preventive care to more animals with existing staff resources.
Stakeholder Support
The legislation received broad support from the animal welfare community. The San Diego Humane Society worked alongside several groups to advocate for these reforms, including the San Francisco SPCA, CalAnimals, Valley Humane Society, Best Friends Animal Society, ASPCA, Michelson Center for Public Policy and the Humane World for Animals California addresses veterinarian shortage, expands scope of veterinary staff.
Both bills were sponsored by the San Francisco SPCA, the California Veterinary Medical Association, and the San Diego Humane Society The San Francisco SPCA Sponsors AB 516 and SB 602 - San Francisco SPCA, indicating alignment between veterinary professional organizations and animal welfare advocates.
Implementation Considerations
Veterinary practices and shelters should take several steps to implement these changes effectively:
Review current protocols: Assess which tasks are currently being restricted not by law but by policy, and evaluate whether qualified team members could appropriately perform these duties with proper training and oversight.
Update training programs: Ensure RVTs and veterinary assistants receive appropriate training for any expanded responsibilities they will assume.
Revise supervision policies: Particularly for shelter medicine, establish clear protocols for remote supervision situations, including communication methods, emergency procedures, and documentation requirements.
Risk management review: Consult with professional liability carriers to ensure coverage appropriately reflects expanded scope of practice.
Team communication: Clearly communicate to all staff members what tasks they are authorized to perform and under what supervision requirements.
Broader Context
These legislative changes align with national trends toward greater recognition of veterinary technician expertise and expanded utilization of credentialed veterinary professionals. As the veterinary profession continues to face workforce challenges, optimizing the use of all team members becomes increasingly important for maintaining access to quality veterinary care.
The California Veterinary Medical Association's support for both bills suggests professional recognition that addressing workforce shortages requires creative solutions that maintain patient safety while enabling more efficient delivery of veterinary services.
