The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (Board) adopts an amendment to §573.64, concerning Continuing Education Requirements, without changes to the proposed text as published in the January 10, 2014, issue of the Texas Register (39 TexReg 178). The text will not be republished.

During the last legislative session, the Texas Legislature granted the Board authority to license and to regulate veterinary technicians. The Board, therefore, adopts the amendment to add continuing education requirements for Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs) and make non-substantive changes in titles of subsections within the rule. The amendment requires a LVT to obtain 10 hours of acceptable continuing education annually for renewal of his or her veterinary technician license. The current rule requires equine dental providers and veterinarians to receive continuing education hours. This amendment adds LVTs to the requirement to maintain a high standard of integrity, skills, and practice in the veterinary medicine profession; to protect the public; and to provide for the licensing and regulation of veterinary technicians.

No comments were received regarding adoption of the rule.

The amendment is adopted under the authority of the Veterinary Licensing Act, Occupations Code, §801.151(a), which states that the Board may adopt rules necessary to administer the chapter; §801.151(b), which states that the Board may adopt rules of professional conduct appropriate to establish and maintain a high standard of integrity, skills, and practice in the veterinary medicine profession; and §801.151(c), which states that the board shall adopt rules to protect the public and provide for the regulation of veterinary technicians.