201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 16:590

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 16:590 - Continuing education requirements, veterinarians and veterinary technicians

RELATES TO: KRS 321.211, 321.221, 321.235, 321.441

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 321.211(7) and 321.441(3) authorize the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners to require a person applying for renewal or reinstatement to show evidence of completion of continuing education. KRS 321.235(3) and 321.240(5) authorize the board to promulgate administrative regulations to implement KRS Chapter 321. This administrative regulation establishes the requirements for continuing education hours relating to the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary technicians.

Section 1. Continuing Education Requirements for License Renewal and Reinstatement.

(1) A veterinarian shall complete biennially thirty (30) hours of continuing education to be eligible for renewal of his or her license. At least twenty (20) of the thirty (30) hours shall be directly related to the practice of veterinary medicine. No more than ten (10) of the thirty (30) hours shall pertain to practice management or other topics that are not directly related to the practice of veterinary medicine.

(2) A veterinary technician shall annually complete six (6) hours of continuing education to be eligible for renewal of his or her license.

(3) In addition to attendance at a conference, lecture, or seminar, a veterinarian or veterinary technician may complete the hours of continuing education required for renewal by the completion of audio or video recordings or electronic, computer, or interactive material prepared or approved by any of the organizations established in Section 2(1) and (2) of this administrative regulation. There shall not be a limit to the number of online hours a licensee may apply to his or her renewal.

(4)

(a) Continuing education shall be earned from October 1 of each renewal period until September 30 at the end of the period, or until November 30 at the end of the grace period with the addition of a late fee in accordance with 201 KAR 16:510 for veterinarians and 201 KAR 16:512 for veterinary technicians.

(b) A licensee may apply continuing education hours to only one (1) renewal cycle. Continuing education hours earned for a given course shall not be applied to the total required hours again in the following renewal cycle.

(5) A veterinarian applying for renewal after completing his or her initial term of licensure after graduating from a veterinary college may complete a reduced number of hours of continuing education to be eligible for renewal as established in this subsection. This subsection shall not apply to applicants for licensure by endorsement under KRS 321.221 who graduated prior to the renewal biennium during which they were initially licensed.

(a) A veterinarian completing his or her initial term of licensure who graduated from a veterinary college during the first year of the preceding biennium shall complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education to be eligible for renewal.

(b) Continuing education requirements shall be waived for a veterinarian completing his or her initial term of licensure who graduated during the second year of the preceding biennium.

(6) For a veterinary technician, continuing education requirements shall be waived for a new licensee completing his or her initial term of licensure who also graduated within 12-months of initial licensure. This paragraph shall not apply to applicants for licensure by endorsement who graduated prior to the renewal cycle during which they were initially licensed.

(7)

(a) A veterinarian or veterinary technician may submit a written request to the board for approval of a fellowship, internship, or residency in lieu of the continuing education hours required for license renewal.

(b) The number of continuing education hours granted shall be determined by the board.

(c) The request shall:

1. Include a letter of verification from an authorized representative of the organization providing the fellowship, internship, or residency opportunity;

2. Be printed on the organization's letterhead; and

3. Provide a description of the position itself, a summary of assigned tasks, and the anticipated or completed beginning and ending dates of the position.

(8) Continuing education hours shall be required as follows for reinstatement applications:

(a) For veterinarians, thirty (30) hours in a twenty four (24) month period prior to the date of application; and

(b) For veterinary technicians, six (6) hours in a twelve (12) month period prior to the date of application.

Section 2. Approved Continuing Education Courses.

(1) The board hereby approves the following continuing education courses:

(a) All scientific programs of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), its constituent organizations, and its recognized specialty groups and accredited veterinary medical institutions whose meetings impart educational material directly relating to veterinary medicine;

(b) Programs approved by the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB);

(c) Accreditation modules offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS); and

(d) All programs approved by the board pursuant to subsection (2) of this section.

(2)

(a) By a majority vote, the board may approve programs that are deemed to impart knowledge directly relating to the practice of veterinary medicine, including the utilization and application of new techniques, scientific and clinical advances, and the achievement of research to assure expansive and comprehensive care to the public.

(b) To request approval, a completed Request for Continuing Education Approval form shall be submitted to the board.

Section 3. Continuing Education Documentation Requirements.

(1) A licensee shall:

(a) Secure documentation of completed attendance at a course, detailing the hours earned;

(b) Submit on the Renewal Application for Veterinarians form or Renewal Application for Veterinary Technicians form as found in 201 KAR 16:700 or online equivalent forms, as appropriate, the name, dates, and identifying information for each course he or she attended; and

(c) Retain copies of continuing education documentation for a period of four (4) years from the date of licensure renewal.

(2) The board may require an applicant or licensee to submit copies of documentation of his or her attendance at continuing education courses.

Section 4. Continuing Education Requirement Waivers.

(1) The board may, in individual cases involving medical disability or illness, grant waivers of the continuing education requirements or extensions of time within which to fulfill the same or make the required reports.

(a) A written request for an extension or waiver of continuing education requirements for medical disability or illness reasons waiver or extension of time shall be submitted by the licensee. The board may require a signed document from a physician or other health care provider to verify the licensee's claimed disability or illness.

(b) A waiver of the minimum continuing education requirements or an extension of time within which to fulfill the requirements shall not be granted by the board for a period of time exceeding one (1) calendar year.

(c) If the medical disability or illness upon which a waiver or extension has been granted persists beyond the period of the waiver or extension, the licensee shall have the option to apply for another extension.

(2) The board shall grant a waiver to a licensee who is unable to meet the continuing education requirements of this administrative regulation because of obligations arising from military duty.

(a) A licensee engaged in active military duty and deployed outside the United States for more than eight (8) months shall not be required to complete the continuing education requirement for licensure periods during which that status exists.

(b) A licensee who is called to active duty in the armed forces shall not be required to complete the continuing education requirement for licensure periods during which that status exists.

(c) The licensee requesting an extension or waiver pursuant to this subsection shall submit with his or her renewal or reinstatement paperwork, the appropriate military assignment form, deployment orders, or a statement from the licensee's unit commander confirming the call-up or deployment.

Section 5. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) "Request for Continuing Education Approval", 2/2020, is incorporated by reference.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subjected to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners, 107 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This material may also be obtained at www.kybve.com.

201 KAR 16:590

46 Ky.R. 1743, 2475, 2617; eff. 6-30-2020.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 321.211(7), 321.235(3), 321.240(5), 321.441(3)