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(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.
This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed
by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.
Filed with the Office of
the Secretary of State on February 25, 2002
TRD-200201160 Ron Allen
Executive Director
Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
Effective date: March 17,
2002
Proposal publication date: November 16, 2001
For further information, please call: (512) 305-7555
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