Effective October 1, 2026, the Department of Public Health may issue a temporary permit to graduates of foreign veterinary schools who are working toward certification required to practice veterinary medicine in Connecticut.
Who May Qualify?
A temporary permit may be issued to an applicant who:
- Graduated from a veterinary school outside the United States, its territories, or Canada.
- Holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent from a program acceptable to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) for purposes of certification through the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG).
- Is actively working toward certification through either:
What Does the Temporary Permit Allow?
The permit authorizes the holder to practice veterinary medicine only under direct supervision of a Connecticut-licensed veterinarian.
The supervising veterinarian must have been licensed under Chapter 384 for at least two years.
What Is “Direct Supervision”?
For purposes of this provision, direct supervision means that the licensed veterinarian:
- Is physically present in the office where the temporary permit holder is performing veterinary duties; and
- Is immediately available to provide assistance and direction throughout the performance of those duties.
The temporary permit holder cannot practice independently under this permit.
How Long Is the Permit Valid?
The initial temporary permit may be valid for two years from the date it is issued.
If the permit holder has not received ECFVG or PAVE certification during that initial two-year period, the permit may be renewed once for an additional two years.
There is no fee is required for either the initial issuance or the one-time renewal of a temporary permit under this provision.
Application Submission
Applications are only accepted online. Please select this link to apply online. After you have registered for an account, please select 'Initial Application' tile and then expand the 'Public Health Practitioners' grouping and then select 'Start' next to 'Veterinarian Temporary Permit for Non-US Graduates'.
Please note that as part of the online application you will be prompted to upload a recent photograph of yourself and a copy of your veterinarian education diploma.