(a) Requirements
(1) Seventeen (17) 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 Licensing Examination shall be allowed to substitute
the examination for the continuing education requirements of their examination
period.
(A) A licensee shall obtain the required 17 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 17 hours, the licensee
may carry over and apply the excess hours to the requirement for the next
year. A maximum of 17 hours may be carried over each year.
(B) Effective Date. Seventeen hours of continuing education
shall be required in 2003 for license renewal in 2004. Beginning with the
continuing education requirement for license renewal in 2004, 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 2003 which are in excess of the 17 hours required for renewal in 2004,
may be carried over and applied to the continuing education requirement for
renewal in 2005, subject to the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A).
(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-four (34) 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-four (34) 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 three (3) complete renewal cycles and shall be available at the
practice location for inspection to Board investigators upon request.
(c) Acceptable Continuing Education.
(1) Acceptable continuing education hours shall be hours earned
by:
(A) 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;
(B) taking correspondence courses;
(C) listening to audio tapes or CD's, or viewing video tapes
or other devices that transmit a video image, or by participating in other
telecommunications discussions;
(D) participating in on-line courses and discussions; or
(E) any other methods approved by the Executive Director and
a veterinarian Board member appointed by the Board President, or approved
by the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) of the American Association
of Veterinary State Boards.
(2) The Board shall accept continuing education hours obtained
as a requirement of disciplinary action.
(d) Distribution of Continuing Education Hours.
(1) Of the required seventeen (17) hours of continuing education,
no more than five (5) hours may be derived from either:
(A) correspondence courses; or
(B) practice management courses.
(2) Hours claimed for listening to audio and viewing video
devices or participating in telecommunications presentations shall be limited
to no more than five (5) hours.
(3) Interactive on-line hours that are verifiable may be claimed
without limitation up to seven (7) hours.
(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.
|
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; amended to be effective July 7, 2002, 27 TexReg 6035 |