Open Appointments
Board member vacancies occur yearly. The Governor appoints all members with the open appointment cycle which begins in November of each year. All members must reside in Minnesota. Board terms are four years with no official limit of terms that can be served. Five of the seven Board members are veterinarians with at least 5 years of experience in Minnesota and are representative of diverse aspects of veterinary medicine and regions of the state. Two are public members.
"Public member" means a person who is not, or never was, a member of the profession or occupation being licensed or regulated or the spouse of any such person, or a person who does not have or has never had, a material financial interest in either the providing of the professional service being licensed or regulated or an activity directly related to the profession or occupation being licensed or regulated. Specific qualifications sought in potential Board members will vary each year, dependent on the role of the exiting member. The Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association may make recommendations to the Governor if aware of a person’s interest in the position.
As a state agency, the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine’s mission and primary responsibility is to promote, preserve, and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and animals through the effective control and regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine. The Board approves veterinary continuing education programs, processes complaints about veterinarians, and where warranted, imposes disciplinary action against veterinary licenses. The Board also investigates and resolves complaints against non-veterinarians that may engage in activities that comprise veterinary medicine as defined by law.
Board members serve the critical role in setting and enforcing entry level criteria for licensure and continued competency standards. Electronic mail is the predominant form of communication for news from the Board. The Board holds three meetings open to the public annually, with more frequent closed committee meetings for conferences with licensees and any urgent issues. Board members are eligible to receive the current $75.00 day per diem and are reimbursed for their direct travel, accommodation, and meal expenses in accordance with state reimbursement schedules.
Application for Board Member Appointment - Procedure:
In accordance with the Minnesota Open Appointments Law, the Secretary of State acts as an administrator in publishing vacancies every November, receiving applications, and recording appointments. Applications must be obtained from and submitted to the Office of the Secretary of State. Please contact their office at (651) 297-5845 or visit their website at www.sos.state.mn.us. Pertinent information can be found under “Open Commission Appointments”. Please submit your application and a cover letter as soon as possible to be assured full consideration by the appointing authority. Applications will be accepted for 21 days after the window for application or until all appointments are made by the Governor.
Options to obtain and submit an application to the Minnesota Secretary of State Office are:
1. Electronic Submission: online at www.sos.state.mn.us
2. Mail or deliver to:
Office of the Secretary of State, Open Appointments
180 State Office Building
100 Rev Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd
St. Paul MN 55155-1299
3. Fax to (651) 296-9073
Governor Appoints
The Governor’s Appointment Secretary receives the applications and works directly with the Governor to make all appointments. This process can take several months . The Appointment Secretary or Governor’s Office staff may directly contact the applicant for an interview or follow up information to share with the Governor. Applicants may also be invited to participate in a virtual meeting with the Board to introduce themselves and to encourage questions about responsibilities of a Board member.
