Illinois Code § 8

§ 8.

Qualifications. A person is qualified to receive a license if the applicant: (1) is of good moral character; (2) has graduated from an accredited college or school of veterinary medicine; and (3) has passed the examination authorized by the Department to determine fitness to hold a license. Applicants for licensure from non-accredited veterinary schools are required to successfully complete a program of educational equivalency as established by rule. At a minimum, this program shall include all of the following: (1) A certified transcript indicating graduation from such college. (2) Successful completion of a communication ability examination designed to assess communication skills, including a command of the English language. (3) Successful completion of an examination or assessment mechanism designed to evaluate educational equivalence, including both preclinical and clinical competencies. (4) Any other reasonable assessment mechanism designed to ensure an applicant possesses the educational background necessary to protect the public health and safety. Successful completion of the criteria set forth in this Section shall establish education equivalence as one of the criteria for licensure set forth in this Act. Applicants under this Section must also meet all other statutory criteria for licensure prior to the issuance of any such license, including graduation from veterinary school. A graduate of a non-approved veterinary school who was issued a work permit by the Department before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 93rd General Assembly may continue to work under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian until the expiration of his or her permit. In determining moral character under this Section, the Department may take into consideration any felony conviction of the applicant, but such a conviction shall not operate as a bar to obtaining a license. The Department may also request the applicant to submit and may consider as evidence of moral character, endorsements from 2 individuals licensed under this Act. (Source: P.A. 103-309, eff. 1-1-24; 103-505, eff. 1-1-24.)