Frequently Asked Questions

A. A complaint must be made in writing to the NH Board of Veterinary Medicine (332B:15, VI. a and b). The Board strongly recommends using this form for all complaints. Click on "Publications and Forms", Click on "Board of Veterinary Medicine Complaint Form".

B. General instructions: Use a seperate form for each individual veterinarian for whom you have a complaint. A complaint must be made against a specific veterinarian, not a hospital, and include a statement of charges (Vet 201.05 b). Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics are NOT licensed or regulated in the State of New Hampshire. Complaints made against a hospital cannot be investigated.

THE STATEMENT OF CHARGES SHALL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

The name and address of the person(s) making complaint.
The name(s) of the attorney(s), if any, who represent the complainant;
The events, including dates and times, out of which the complaint arises;
A summary of each act of unprofessional conduct, incompetency, gross negligence, or other misconduct, or any other act in violation of RSA 332B:14 which the complainant claims the respondent to be guilty of in connection with his or her business as a veterinarian; and
A list of presently known witnesses to the relevant events.
Type or write legibly. Ilegible complaints may be returned to complainant and delay resolution.
You will receive an acknowledgement of the receipt of the complaint once you submit it to the Board of Veterinary Medicine office. You will then be notified by letter when the case is completely finished being investigated and the outcome is known. This process may take several months depending on the severity of the issue.
All complaints will be reviewed to determine if a violation of statues, rules or code of ethics has occurred. The act of filing a complaint or the initiation of an investigation does not assure or imply that disciplinary action will be taken against the licensee.
Note that the Board does not investigate issues of a monetary nature except where they pertain directly to professional misconduct or malpractice. The Board does not seek remuneration for complaints.
Send complaints to:

Board of Veterinary Medicine
PO Box 2042
Concord, NH 03302-2042
OR you may email it to us at: vetboard@agr.nh.gov

How often does the Board of Veterinary Medicne meet?

A. The Board meets every 4-8 weeks for regular meetings. These meetings are announced and posted in accordance with NH RSA 541-A.

Can I attend a meeting?

A. Yes. There is a public session held at the beginning of each meeting. If you have a specific concern, the Board recommends that you notify them prior to the meeting so that appropriate time can be allowed.

Why does it take so long to get an answer about a complaint that I have filed?

A. After the Board receives a complaint, it will be added to the agenda for the next scheduled meeting.

B. The Board will reveiw the complaint, and if there is any conflict where a Board member has a professional or personal relationship with the complainant or the licensee, that Board member will recuse themselves from the discussion and leave the room. This means that he or she will not be part of deciding if a full investigation will take place, will not receive any furher information besides what is in the original complaint, and will not take part in the investigating or determining the outcome of the case.

C. The non-recused members will determine if the complaint describes a violation of laws, rules, or ethics of veterinary medicine.

Laws: RSA 332-B New Hampshire Veterinary Practice Act
Rules: Vet 100 Organizational Rules
Ethics: Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics

D. The complaint will then be assisgned to a member of the Board to conduct an investigation. The Licensee will be notified that an investigation is taking place, provided with a copy of the complaint, and required to submit a response and provide a copy of the complete medical record according to the laws and rules of the jurisdiction.

E. The investigator will review the complaint, letter of response from the licensee, and medical record. The complainant, licensee and any witnesses may be contacted for additional information or clarification.

F. The investigator will write a summary of the complaint and findings for the non-recused Board members to review at a non-public session. The investigator is then recused from further discussion.

G. The remaining non-recused Board members will then discuss the findings and determine the outcome of the complaint. This process may take several months. Possible outcomes may include:

Dismissal of the case
Issuance of a confidential letter of concern to the licensee.
Referral of the case to the Administrative Prosecutions Unit (APU) for disciplinary track.

H. The complainant will be notified once the case is completely resolved. Once the Board refers a case to the APU, the Board has no control over the timeline. This process may take over a year for complete resolution.

How can I find out if ther have been any disciplinary actions against a veterinarian?

A. Search by the licensee's name (not business) on the offical State of New Hampshire License Look-up.

B. "Person Search" at https://nhlicenses.nh.gov/verification/Search.aspx.

C. Choose "Veterinary Medicine" for profession.

D. Choose "Veterinarian" for license.

E. Enter the name of the veterinarian and click search.

F. Click on the appropriate veterinarian to show that licensee's information.

G. Scroll down to "Board Actions" and you will see either "no actions" or a list of links to "Disciplinary Actions." Clicking on the individual link will open the document.

H. Note that only public actions will be listed on the website. Confidential actions cannot be disclosed.

Can you order a licensed professional to give me my money back?

A. The New Hampshire Board of Veterinary Medicine does not have the authority to be involved in fee disputes and does not investigate issues of a monetary nature except where they pertain directly to professional misconduct or malpractice. The Board does not seek remuneration for complainants, and restitution is not an available sanction at this time. You may considier filing a complaint in small claims court or seeking private counsel.

Who can practice veterinary medicine in New Hampshire?

A. Except as provided in RSA 332-B:9, no person may practice veterinary medicine in the state who is not a licensed veterinarian or the holder of a valid temporary permit issued by the Board.

B. You may verify your license is current on the official State of New Hampshire License Look up https://nhlicenses.nh.gov/verification/Search.aspx.

How will I know if my continuing education meets the requirments for license renewal?

A. Visit the Licensing page at https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/divisions/veterinary/licensing.htm and click on the appropriate pdf for Approved CE Providers or Veterinary Medicine CE Policy.

B. All CE must be pre-approved.

Office of Professional Licensure and Certification
121 South Fruit Street | Concord, NH 03301
Main Telephone: (603) 271-2152