21 ncac 66 .0206 MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION

Each person holding a veterinary license, limited license, a faculty certificate, or a zoo veterinary certificate (collectively referred to herein as "veterinarian") or a veterinary technician registration issued by the Board shall comply with the standards in this Rule. The standards shall be a condition precedent to the renewal of a license certificate or registration, respectively. The standards are as follows:

(1) Continuing education credit hours shall relate to veterinary medicine.

(2) A veterinarian shall earn 20 continuing education credit hours for the calendar year license renewal period.

(3) A veterinary technician shall earn 12 continuing education credit hours for the two calendar year registration renewal period.

(4) A veterinarian or veterinary technician may request and be granted an extension of time, not to exceed six months, to satisfy the continuing education requirement if the veterinarian or veterinary technician provides evidence of a debilitating injury or illness or circumstance that prevents the veterinarian or veterinary technician from being able to obtain continuing education. If the veterinarian or veterinary technician submits evidence of failure to complete continuing education due to debilitating injury or illness or hardship, the Board shall consider the evidence submitted on a case-by-case basis. If the Board finds that the debilitating injury or illness or hardship was the basis for non-compliance with the continuing education requirement, the Board shall exempt that individual from completing the unearned portion of the continuing education for that renewal period.

(5) Continuing education credits hours may be earned from courses, programs, or materials presented or approved by the following providers:

(a) the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA);

(b) the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA);

(d) the American Association of Veterinary State Boards' (AAVSB) Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE); and

(e) academies, schools, or colleges of veterinary medicine.

These providers are designated herein as "approved continuing education credit providers."

The Board shall consider additional courses, presentations, or materials eligible for approval for continuing education credit hours, provided that the individual seeking the credit furnishes the Board information to establish that the content of the course, presentation, or material are of an educational level reflective of the audience (veterinarians or veterinary technicians). Board approval for continuing education credits for such additional courses, presentations, or materials shall be obtained prior to attendance or participation; however, the Board shall waive the requirement of prior approval if illness, injury, or natural disaster prevented the individual from obtaining the prior approval.

(6) Subject to the limitations in this Rule, continuing education credit hours may be earned by:

(a) attendance at in-person courses or presentations;

(b) completion of independent self-study courses;

(d) completion of live interactive on-line presentations or courses.

(7) One continuing education credit hour, up to 100 percent of the CE requirement for renewal, may be earned for each hour of in-person attendance at courses presented or approved by approved continuing education credit providers. Up to 25 percent of the CE requirement for renewal may be obtained from independent self-study courses, videos, DVDs, CDs, prerecorded webinars, audio conferences, and non-interactive on-line presentations approved by approved continuing education credit providers. Up to 50 percent of the CE requirement for renewal may be obtained from live interactive on-line presentations or courses approved by approved continuing education credit providers. However, the number of credit hours earned from live interactive on-line presentations or courses shall be reduced by the number of credit hours earned from independent self-study courses or materials and non-interactive on-line presentations or courses. A live interactive on-line presentation or course shall:

(a) include instant or asynchronous two-way communication;

(b) provide access to both technical personnel and professional faculty, as well as interactivity among participants for the exchange of questions and answers via instant messaging or a moderated teleconference; and

(c) document the level of participation by keeping a record of the participant's activity in asking or answering questions during the presentation and the score of any examination administered at the end or the presentation.

(8) Each veterinarian and veterinary technician shall keep a record for the three most recent renewal periods of the content of courses submitted to the Board for continuing education credit hours.

(9) A veterinarian licensed in the year of graduation from a veterinary medical college is not required to earn continuing education credit hours to be eligible for license renewal for the next renewal period.

(10) A veterinary technician registered in the year of graduation from a veterinary medical technology program is not required to earn continuing education credit hours to be eligible for registration renewal for the next renewal period.

(11) A veterinarian or veterinary technician serving in the armed forces of the United States and to whom an extension of time to file a tax return is granted pursuant to G.S. 105-249.2 is granted the same extension of time to comply with the continuing education requirement of this Rule.

History Note: Authority G.S. 90‑185(6); 90‑186(1); 93B-15;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Readopted Eff. September 30, 1977;

Amended Eff. June 1, 2003; May 1, 1996; May 1, 1989; January 1, 1987;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. January 9, 2018;

Amended Eff. February 1, 2018.