Sec. 2. To become a licensed veterinarian, a person must:
(1) not have a conviction for a crime that has a direct bearing on the person's ability to practice ethically and competently;
(2) not have committed an act that would have been a violation of IC 25-1-9-4 or IC 25-1-9-6;
(3) pay the fees required under this article;
(4) have successfully completed a program in veterinary medicine from an accredited college of veterinary medicine; and
(5) have successfully completed the examinations described in section 4 of this chapter or qualify for a license without examination under section 5 of this chapter.
However, a person who was licensed as a veterinarian in Indiana on August 31, 1979, is not required to meet the requirements of subdivision (4) or (5).