(a) Requirements.
(1) Fifteen (15) hours of acceptable continuing education shall
be required annually for renewal of all types of Texas licenses except as
provided in subsection (e) of this section. Licensees who successfully complete
the Texas State Board Examination shall be allowed to substitute the examination
for the continuing education requirements of their examination year.
(A) A licensee shall obtain the required fifteen hours of acceptable
continuing education during the calendar year immediately preceding the licensee's
application for license renewal. Should a licensee obtain acceptable continuing
education hours during the year in excess of the required 15 hours, the licensee
may carry over and apply the excess hours to the requirement for the next
year. A maximum of 15 hours may be carried over each year.
(B) Effective Date. Beginning with the continuing education
requirement for license renewal in 2000, licensees may carry over acceptable
continuing education hours pursuant to subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section.
For example, acceptable continuing education hours obtained in 1999 which
are in excess of the 15 hours required for renewal in 2000, may be carried
over and applied to the continuing education requirement for renewal in 2001,
subject to the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A) of this section.
(2) Hardship extensions may be granted by appeal to the Executive
Director of the Board. The executive director shall only consider requests
for a hardship extension from licensees who were prevented from completing
the required continuing education hours due to circumstances beyond the licensee's
control. Requests for a hardship extension must be received in the Board offices
by December 15. Should such extension be granted, thirty (30) hours of continuing
education shall be obtained in the two-year period of time that includes the
year of insufficiency and the year of extension. Licensees receiving a hardship
extension shall maintain records of the thirty (30) hours of continuing education
obtained and shall file copies of these records with the Board by attaching
the records to the license renewal application submitted following the extension
year.
(b) Proof of Continuing Education. The licensee shall sign
a statement on the license renewal form attesting to the fact that the required
continuing education hours have been obtained. The licensee shall maintain
records which support the signed statement. Such records may include continuing
education certificates, attendance records signed by the presenter, and/or
receipts for meeting registration fees. These documents must be maintained
for the last 3 complete renewal cycles and shall be available at the practice
location for inspection to Board investigators upon request.
(c) Acceptable Continuing Education. Acceptable continuing
education hours shall be hours earned by attending meetings sponsored or co-sponsored
by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), AVMA's affiliated state
veterinary medical associations and/or their continuing education organizations,
AVMA recognized specialty groups, regional veterinary medical associations,
local veterinary medical associations, and veterinary medical colleges. The
Executive Director and a licensed veterinarian Board member appointed by the
Board President may approve hours earned by alternative methods.
(d) Distribution of Continuing Education Hours. Of the required
fifteen (15) hours of continuing education, no more than five (5) may be derived
from either:
(1) correspondence courses; or
(2) practice management courses. Continuing Education obtained
as part of a disciplinary action is acceptable.
(e) Exemption from Continuing Education Requirements. A licensee
is not required to obtain or report continuing education hours, provided that
the licensee submits to the Board sufficient proof that during the preceding
year the licensee was:
(1) in retired status,
(2) a veterinary intern or resident, or
(3) out-of-country on charitable or special government assignments
for at least 9 months or
(4) on inactive status. Licensees on inactive status may voluntarily
acquire continuing education for purposes of reinstating his/her license to
regular status.
(f) Disciplinary Action for Non-Compliance. Failure to complete
the required hours without obtaining a hardship extension from the executive
director, failure to maintain required records, falsifying records, or intentionally
misrepresenting programs for continuing education credit shall be grounds
for disciplinary action by the Board.
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Source Note: The provisions of this §573.64 adopted to be effective January 13, 1994, 19 TexReg 80; amended to be effective July 8, 1994, 19 TexReg 4953; amended to be effective August 20, 1996, 21 TexReg 7532; amended to be effective October 25, 1998, 23 TexReg 10868; amended to be effective November 7, 1999, 24 TexReg 9612; amended to be effective March 17, 2002, 27 TexReg 1787 |