Minimum Standards for Continuing Education for Veterinarians

PURPOSE: This rule defines the minimum standards for continuing education for veterinarians. (1) Pursuant to section 340.258, RSMo, all licensees shall provide satisfactory evidence of having completed at least ten (10) hours of continuing education each year that is relevant to the practice of veterinary medicine and in accordance with this rule in order to renew their licenses. (2) The continuing education reporting period shall begin each year on December 1 and end November 30 of the following year. Continuing education hours earned after November 30 apply to the next reporting cycle. A renewal license will not be issued until all renewal requirements have been met. (3) For the license renewal due on November 30, 2002, and each subsequent renewal thereafter, the licensee shall certify that he/she has obtained at least ten (10) hours of continuing education during the year preceding the license renewal on the renewal form provided by the board. The renewal form shall be mailed directly to the board office prior to November 30 of each year. The licensee shall not submit the record of continuing education attendance to the board except in the case of a board audit. A licensee is not required to obtain any continuing education hours for the reporting period in which the licensee graduates from an accredited school of veterinary medicine and is initially licensed to practice as a veterinarian in Missouri. (4) Every licensee shall maintain full and complete records of all approved continuing education hours earned for the two (2) previous reporting periods in addition to the current reporting period. The records shall document the titles of the courses taken, dates, locations, course sponsors, number of hours earned, and certificate of attendance or completion. The board may conduct an audit of licensees to verify compliance with the continuing education requirements. Licensees shall assist the board in its audits by providing timely and complete responses to the board’s inquiries. (5) Violation of any provision of this rule shall be grounds for discipline in accordance with section 340.264, RSMo. (6) A continuing education hour includes but is not limited to: (A) Fifty (50) minutes of attendance at an approved workshop or seminar; (B) Fifty (50) minutes of reading an approved scientific journal; (C) Twenty-five (25) minutes of presentation in an approved workshop or seminar. No credit shall be granted for any subsequent presentations on the same subject matter during the same renewal period; (D) Completion of academic course work for credit in veterinary medicine at an accredited college of veterinary medicine with one (1) credit hour equaling ten (10) continuing education hours. (7) The required ten (10) hours may be satisfied through any combination of the following education activities: (A) Attendance or presentation at scientific workshops or seminars approved by this board; (B) Completion of audio or video recordings, electronic, computer, or interactive materials or programs on scientific subjects prepared or sponsored by any of the organizations defined in section (8) below. The licensee must obtain written certification of course completion from the sponsor; (C) A maximum of two (2) hours of self-study reading approved scientific journals; (D) A maximum of four (4) hours attendance in an approved workshop or seminar on non-scientific subjects relating to the practice of veterinary medicine such as communication skills, medical record keeping, stress management, or practice management; (E) A maximum of four (4) hours of audio or video recordings, electronic, computer or interactive materials, or programs on non-scientific subjects, as set forth in subsection (7)(D) above, and prepared or sponsored by any of the organizations defined in section (8) below. The licensee must obtain written certification of course completion from the sponsor; or (F) Study in a graduate resident program at an American Veterinary Medical Association-approved veterinary school will satisfy the continuing education requirements for the year in which the veterinarian is enrolled in such program. (8) Workshops, seminars, and prepared materials on scientific and non-scientific subjects relating to veterinary medicine approved by or sponsored by the following organizations are approved: (A) American Veterinary Medical Association; (B) Specialty groups of the American Veterinary Medical Association; AND INSURANCE (C) Regional meetings such as Central Veterinary Conference and Western Veterinary Conference; (D) Any state or province veterinary medical association; (E) Any local or regional veterinary medical association affiliated with a state veterinary medical association; (F) The American Animal Hospital Association; (G) American veterinary schools accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association that are open to all licensees; (H) Any state veterinary academy; (I) American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) or its successor—Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE); (J) Missouri State Veterinarian; and (K) Other programs receiving prior approval from this board. (9) With the exception of any of the previously mentioned educational organizations, any other regularly organized group of veterinarians that wants to sponsor an educational program to meet the standards for license renewal in Missouri shall submit one (1) copy of the program schedule and outline to the board’s executive director not fewer than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the program. The outline must include the program’s subject matter, the number of hours required for its presentation, and the identity and qualifications of the speakers and instructors. The board shall review the schedule and outline to determine if approval will be granted. The board will not consider requests for approval of any program submitted after it has already been presented. (10) The following scientific journals are approved by the board: (A) Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association; (B) The Journal of Veterinary Research; (C) Veterinary Medicine; (D) Publications of the American Veterinary Medical Association Approved Constituent Specialty Groups; (E) Compendium of continuing education; (F) Journal of American Animal Hospital Association; (G) Other publications approved in advance by the board. (11) The board shall waive continuing education requirements as required by section 41.946, RSMo, and grant a waiver or an extension of time for continuing education requirements to a licensee for good cause. Any licensee seeking renewal of a license or certificate without having fully complied with these continuing education requirements who wishes to seek a waiver or extension of the requirements shall file with the board a renewal application, a statement setting forth the facts concerning the noncompliance, a request for waiver or an extension of time in which to complete the continuing education requirements and, if desired, a request for an interview before the board. If the board finds from the statement or any other evidence submitted, that good cause has been shown for waiving the continuing education requirements, or any part thereof, or for granting an extension of time in which to obtain the required continuing education hours, the board shall waive part or all of the requirements for the renewal period for which the licensee has applied or grant an extension of time, not to exceed six (6) months, in which to obtain the required continuing education hours. At that time, the licensee will be requested to submit the required renewal fee. (A) Good cause shall be defined as an inability to devote sufficient hours to fulfilling the continuing education requirements during the applicable renewal period based on one (1) of the following reasons: 1. Full-time service in the armed forces of the United States during a substantial part of the renewal period; or 2. An incapacitating illness; or 3. Undue hardship. (B) If an interview before the board is requested at the time the request for waiver or extension is filed, the licensee shall be given at least twenty (20) days written notice of the date, time, and place of the interview. (12) Continuing education credit hours used to satisfy the continuing education requirements of another state may be submitted to fulfill the requirements of this state if the other state’s continuing education requirements are substantially equal to or greater than the requirements of this state. (13) A licensee who completes more than ten (10) continuing education hours, excluding self-study, during the current reporting period may receive credit for the excess hours, not to exceed ten (10), in the next succeeding reporting period. Continuing education hours cannot be carried over more than one (1) continuing education reporting period after being earned. (14) Any licensee who seeks to renew an inactive, retired, or noncurrent license shall submit proper evidence that s/he has obtained at least ten (10) continuing education hours for each year that his/her license was inactive, retired, or noncurrent. These required approved continuing education credits shall not exceed a total of fifty (50) hours. The required hours must have been obtained within three (3) years prior to renewal. AUTHORITY: sections 41.946, 340.210, 340.258, and 340.268, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 270-4.042. Original rule filed April 13, 2001, effective Oct. 30, 2001. Amended: Filed April 1, 2003, effective Sept. 30, 2003. Amended: Filed June 25, 2004, effective Dec. 30, 2004. Moved to 20 CSR 2270-4.042, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Oct. 16, 2006, effective April 30, 2007. Amended: Filed July 22, 2009, effective Jan. 30, 2010. Amended: Filed Jan. 10, 2013, effective July 30, 2013. Amended: Filed July 25, 2018, effective Jan. 30, 2019. *Original authority: 41.946, RSMo 1991; 340.210, RSMo 1992, amended 1993, 1995, 1999; 340.258, RSMo 1992, amended 1999; and 340.268, RSMo 1992.