The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners adopts amendments to §573.64 concerning Continuing Education Requirements without changes to the proposed text published in the November 4, 2005 Texas Register (30 TexReg 7167). The 79th Legislature amended the Veterinary Licensing Act to require stricter standards for verifying continuing education (CE), and authorized the Board to require veterinarians who do not obtain the required number of CE hours to make up those hours in later years. The amendments incorporate those legislative changes into this section by requiring proof of CE hours claimed, and provide for make-up hours. The section is also amended to increase the maximum number of on-line, participatory CE hours that can be claimed from seven to 10 to reflect the number and quality of on-line programs available to veterinarians. The amendments require, however, that at least seven live, on-site hours be obtained each year.

A comment on the proposed rule was received from Harold Emerson, D.V.M., who suggested that 12, instead of 10, of the required CE hours be allowed for on-line study. He noted the large number of excellent on-line CE programs offered by the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), and felt that he learned more from on-line sessions than from live sessions. The Board notes that the hours that can be claimed for on-line CE are being increased from seven to 10. Future increases are possible. However, the Board feels that the benefits of live CE sessions with face-to-face interactions are valuable in the CE process and believes that the proposed allocation of on-line and live CE hours strikes a reasonable balance.

The adopted changes will strengthen verification of CE acquired by veterinarians and encourage them, through the mechanism of making up missed hours, to obtain the required number of hours each year in a timely manner.

The amendments are adopted under the authority of §801.151(a) of the Texas Occupations Code which give the Board authority to adopt rules necessary to administer the Veterinary Licensing Act.