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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 321.251: Allied animal health professional license -- Qualifications -- Areas of

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. KRS Chapter 321

practice -- Administrative regulations -- Requirements.

(1) The board shall issue an allied animal health professional license to a person who is

qualified to be licensed under this section. A person is qualified to be licensed as an

AAHP if the person:

(a) Has completed an application for AAHP licensing approved by the board

through the promulgation of an administrative regulation;

(b) Has paid the application fee and the appropriate examination fee;

(c) Is a person of good moral character. As an element of good moral character,

the board shall require each applicant for licensure to submit a full set of the

applicant's fingerprints for the purpose of obtaining criminal re cords checks

pursuant to KRS 321.189 and any other applicable law. All good moral

character information, including the information obtained through the

criminal background checks, shall be relevant to licensure eligibility

determinations to the extent permitted by law;

(d) Has graduated and received a certification from an approved allied animal

health professional program;

(e) Has achieved a passing score on any examinations required by the board in an

administrative regulation;

(f) Has been approved for an AAHP license by the board; and

(g) Has complied with any other requirements of this chapter or the

administrative regulations promulgated by the board.

(2) An AAHP licensee may work on animals in one (1) of the following areas of the

practice of veterina ry medicine so long as that practice is in accordance with and

within the limitations established by the board in an administrative regulation

promulgated in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A, including requirements for

candidate qualifications, examinations, and applications:

(a) Animal chiropractic; or

(b) Equine dentistry.

(3) (a) An allied animal health professional seeking to work within the allowable

scope of practice on animals shall be required to apply for an AAHP license

from the board to practice on animals.

(b) If an applicant is approved for a license, the board shall desi gnate the area of

practice specific to the AAHP licensee on the license.

(c) A separate AAHP license shall be required for each scope of practice as listed

in subsection (2) of this section.

(4) (a) The board may establish by administrative regulation proc edures to license

candidates for qualification in each distinct area of practice allowable under

the AAHP license class by substituting experience for the education

requirements in subsection (1)(d) of this section.

(b) As part of the application for an AA HP license, candidates who apply under

this subsection shall:

1. Have been a Kentucky resident for at least twelve (12) months

immediately preceding the date of application;

2. Provide a letter of recommendation from a minimum of two (2)

Kentucky-licensed veterinarians;

3. Provide proof of employment or an Internal Revenue Service form 1099

showing self -employment in an area of practice as identified in

subsection (2) of this section for a minimum of ten (10) years prior to

the date of application for anima l chiropractic, and a minimum of five

(5) years prior to the date of application for equine dentistry;

4. Provide details regarding the duration of experience and times during

which practice occurred, including average number of hours of practice

per year; and

5. Provide a letter of good standing from any other jurisdictions in which

the applicant is credentialed.

(c) The candidate application window under this subsection shall not exceed

eighteen (18) months from the effective date of the administrative re gulation

governing applications for the AAHP license area of the practice. After the

application window closes, individuals applying for a new AAHP license

shall be required to meet the current standards of KRS Chapter 321 and

administrative regulations promulgated by the board.

(5) AAHP licensees shall be required to register each premises or mobile unit from

which he or she practices on animals as a registered AAHP facility in accordance

with KRS 321.203, 321.205, and 321.236.

(6) AAHP licensees and AAHP registered facilities shall:

(a) Maintain an active credential with the board to maintain authorization to

operate;

(b) Pay the application, renewal, reinstatement, and other required fees as

established by the board in an administrative regulation;

(c) Renew the board credential on a schedule as established by the board in

administrative regulation;

(d) Comply with all applicable provisions of KRS Chapter 321 and any

administrative regulations promulgated thereunder and other applicable state

and federal laws; and

(e) Be subject to disciplinary measures for failure to comply.

(7) Controls shall be established by the board in an administrative regulation

promulgated in accordance with Chapter 13A regarding acquisition, distribution,

and administration of dru gs by AAHP licensees and their clients for use by the

AAHPs in the services offered.

(8) (a) 1. Only a board -licensed allied animal health professional who is also

licensed as a chiropractor with the Kentucky Board of Chiropractic

Examiners and is qualifie d in the State of Kentucky to perform animal

chiropractic within the limits established by the board in an

administrative regulation may use the titles "animal chiropractor,"

"animal chiropractic practitioner," "ACP," or "AC."

2. A chiropractor shall not u se the titles "veterinary chiropractor" or

"veterinary adjuster" unless the chiropractor is also licensed to practice

veterinary medicine in the State of Kentucky.

3. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a licensed veterinarian from using

the titles "animal adjuster" or "animal spinal manipulation practitioner."

(b) 1. Only a duly licensed allied animal health professional who is a board -

licensed equine dental provider and is qualified in the State of Kentucky

to perform equine dentistry within the limits established in KRS 321.255

may use the titles "equine dental provider," "equine dental practitioner,"

"certified equine dental provider," "CEPD," or "EDP."

2. An equine dental provider shall not us e the titles "equine dentist,"

"veterinary dentistry," or "veterinary dentist" unless the equine dental

provider is also licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the State of

Kentucky.

3. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a licensed veterinarian fr om using

the titles "animal dentist" or "equine dentist."

(9) An AAHP licensee shall be held to the same standard of care as a veterinarian when

the provider practices on animals.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:58:17Z. Source file · JSON

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