Minimum Standards for Continuing Education for Veterinary Technicians

PURPOSE: This rule defines the minimum standards for continuing education for veterinary technicians. (1) Each licensee shall certify by signature, under penalty of perjury that s/he has completed five (5) hours of continuing education units (CEUs) per year. (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 shall apply to the next reporting cycle. A renewal license will not be issued until all renewal requirements have been met. (3) A registered veterinary technician may accumulate the required five (5) hours of continuing education for up to two (2) years. For example, if a formal meeting included ten (10) hours of CEUs, the applicant could report five (5) hours the year the meeting was held and report the other five (5) hours the next year. Under no circumstances can CEU credits be carried over more than one (1) renewal year after being earned. 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 technology and is initially licensed to practice as a veterinary technician 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 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; or (D) Completion of academic course work for credit in veterinary medicine in an accredited college of veterinary technology with one (1) credit hour equaling ten (10) continuing education hours. (7) At least three (3) hours of the five (5) hour per year requirement shall be obtained by— (A) Attendance at an approved workshop or seminar; or (B) Completion of audio or video recordings, electronic, computer or interactive materials, or programs on scientific subjects prepared or sponsored by the board or the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) or its successor—Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE). The licensee must obtain written certification of course completion from the sponsor. (8) The other two (2) hours of the five (5) hour requirement may be fulfilled by— (A) One (1) clock hour of consultation with another registered veterinary technician or licensed veterinarian other than the applicant’s supervisor. This consultation shall be documented by reporting the name and profession of the person with whom the applicant consulted, the date, time, and subject matter(s) discussed on the annual renewal registration application; and (B) One (1) clock hour of reading from a professional journal. This reading shall be documented by reporting the name and publication date of the journal and the subject matter of the article(s) read on the annual renewal registration application; and (C) One (1) clock hour of audio or video recordings, electronic, computer or interactive materials or programs on non-scientific subjects relating to the practice of veterinary medicine such as communication skills, medical record keeping, stress management, or practice management. The licensee must obtain written certification of course completion from the sponsor. (9) 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; (C) Regional meetings such as Central Veterinary Conference and Western Veterinary Conference; (D) Any state or province veterinary medical association or veterinary technician 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. (10) With the exception of any of the previously mentioned educational organizations, any other regularly organized group of veterinarians or veterinary technicians that want 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. (11) The board shall waive continuing education requirements as required by section 41.946, RSMo, and otherwise may 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 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 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 AND INSURANCE 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) Any licensee who seeks to renew an inactive, retired, or noncurrent registration shall submit proper evidence that s/ he has obtained at least five (5) continuing education hours for each year that his/her registration was inactive, retired, or noncurrent. These required approved continuing education credits shall not exceed a total of twenty (20) hours. The required hours must have been obtained within three (3) years prior to renewal. AUTHORITY: sections 41.946, 340.210, 340.258, and 340.324, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 270-4.050. Original rule filed Nov. 4, 1992, effective July 8, 1993. Amended: Filed April 13, 2001, effective Oct. 30, 2001. Amended: Filed June 25, 2004, effective Dec. 30, 2004. Moved to 20 CSR 2270-4.050, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed July 9, 2008, effective Jan. 30, 2009. Amended: Filed Aug. 8, 2019, effective Feb. 29, 2020. Amended: Filed Dec. 6, 2022, effective June 30, 2023. *Original authority: 41.946, RSMo 1991; 340.210, RSMo 1992, amended 1993, 1995, 1999; 340.258, RSMo 1992, amended 1999; and 340.324, RSMo 1992, amended 1999.