Mississippi Veterinary PEMF Regulatory Summary
Last updated: June 2026
Triggering legislation: HB 514 (2026 Regular Session)
Status: Signed by the Governor, March 17, 2026; effective July 1, 2026
Governing law: Mississippi Veterinary Practice Act, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 73-39-51 to 73-39-95
Quick read: Mississippi includes complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies within its statutory definition of the practice of veterinary medicine. PEMF, when applied therapeutically to an animal, most likely falls within that category. HB 514 (2026) did not change how these modalities are classified, but it tightened the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) requirement and strengthened the Board’s enforcement tools — both of which directly affect how PEMF may lawfully be delivered to animals in Mississippi.
1. How Mississippi treats PEMF and other CAVM modalities
Mississippi’s definition of the practice of veterinary medicine expressly includes the using of complementary, alternative and integrative therapies, as well as rendering advice or recommendations about them by any means, including electronic communication (§ 73-39-53).
The statute defines complementary, alternative and integrative therapies broadly and non-exhaustively as a heterogeneous group of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic philosophies and practices that may differ from current scientific knowledge or diverge from conventionally taught veterinary medicine — “including, but not limited to” acupuncture, homeopathy, manual/manipulative therapy (osteopathy, chiropractic, and physical-medicine techniques), nutraceutical therapy, and phytotherapy (§ 73-39-53(g)).
Where PEMF fits. PEMF is not named in the statute. Because the list is open-ended and PEMF is an energy-based therapeutic modality closest to the “physical medicine and therapy” category, it most plausibly falls within this definition when used to treat a condition (pain, inflammation, wound or bone healing, post-operative recovery). The classification is interpretive and ultimately determined by the Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine. The threshold question is treatment vs. general wellness: a modality directed at a clinical condition reads as the practice of veterinary medicine; one marketed strictly as general wellness sits in a gray zone with materially higher legal risk once any clinical claim attaches.
2. What HB 514 changed (and what it did not)
HB 514 amended nine sections of the Practice Act. The provisions most relevant to PEMF practitioners:
| Section | Change | Relevance to PEMF |
|---|---|---|
| § 73-39-53 | Revised the VCPR definition to require the veterinarian to have examined the animal within the preceding 12 months | A valid VCPR is required to deliver CAVM/PEMF as treatment; now subject to a hard 12-month recency floor |
| § 73-39-91 | Authorizes the Board to set the fine amount for practicing without a valid license or misusing protected titles, and to seek injunctions against unlicensed veterinary-technology practice | Greater enforcement exposure for unlicensed or improperly supervised PEMF delivery |
| § 73-39-63 | Title protection: only Board-credentialed individuals may use “veterinary technician/technologist” titles | Support staff delivering PEMF cannot imply tech credentials unless certified |
| § 73-39-77 | Authorizes the Board to revoke or suspend a CVT’s certification | Credentialed staff delivering PEMF under supervision are subject to Board discipline |
| § 73-39-55 | Adds one CVT and one public member to the Board | Broader composition; CVT scope-of-practice issues now have a seat at the table |
Other HB 514 changes (renewal-fee discretion and the age-65→70 fee exemption under § 73-39-75; removal of the annual-exam mandate under § 73-39-69; removal of licensure-by-endorsement under § 73-39-71; Board-set inspection fees under § 73-39-57) are administrative and do not bear directly on PEMF delivery.
Important: HB 514 did not amend the definition of complementary/alternative/integrative therapies, nor their inclusion within the practice of veterinary medicine. PEMF’s underlying classification is unchanged by this bill. What changed are the conditions (VCPR recency) and the enforcement (Board-set fines and injunctions).
3. Practical implications for PEMF delivery in Mississippi
- A current VCPR is now time-bound. Where PEMF is delivered as veterinary treatment, the supervising veterinarian must have examined that specific animal in person within the prior 12 months. Standalone or mobile PEMF services operating without a recent veterinary exam are on weaker footing than before.
- Remote/telehealth-only oversight will not satisfy the VCPR. The 12-month recency requirement cannot be met without an in-person examination inside that window.
- Enforcement is more potent. A non-veterinarian delivering therapeutic PEMF on others’ animals for hire, without appropriate veterinary involvement, faces Board-determined fines plus the possibility of an injunction.
- Credentialing matters for delegated delivery. Administering a PEMF device under a supervising veterinarian’s instruction generally fits the statutory scope of veterinary technology (patient care under direction, excluding diagnosing, prognosing, surgery, or prescribing). Staff performing this role should hold valid CVT credentials and must not imply tech status otherwise.
4. Compliant pathways
Mississippi’s licensure exemptions (§ 73-39-61) are narrow; there is no broad lay-practitioner carve-out for CAVM. Realistic compliant models for therapeutic PEMF on animals:
- Licensed veterinarian with a current (≤12-month) VCPR delivers or directly supervises the therapy.
- Credentialed CVT delivers under that veterinarian’s supervision and direction.
- Animal owner uses an owner-administered device on their own animal.
- Member of another licensed/regulated profession assists at a licensed veterinarian’s request, with the client’s informed consent, under the veterinarian’s direct or indirect supervision and control.
5. Member guidance
If you offer or plan to offer PEMF services for animals in Mississippi:
- Confirm a supervising veterinarian relationship with a current, in-person exam on file (within 12 months) for each patient.
- Avoid clinical/treatment claims for any service delivered outside a veterinary relationship.
- Ensure any staff using “technician/technologist” titles hold valid Board credentials.
This summary is provided by the Association of PEMF Professionals for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. PEMF is not specifically named in the Mississippi Veterinary Practice Act, and its regulatory classification is interpretive and subject to Board determination. Statute sections and effective dates should be verified against the enrolled text of HB 514 and current Mississippi Code before relying on this summary. Members with specific questions should consult the Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine or qualified legal counsel.
