Continuing Education

Regarding Veterinarians:

The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) states: "Continuing education is important, even after veterinarians have completed their college studies and acquired the appropriate licenses. New scientific knowledge and techniques are constantly being developed, and veterinarians must keep up to date by reading scientific journals and attending professional meetings and seminars. Approximately half the states require veterinarians to attend continuing education courses to maintain their licenses."

The AAVSB (American Association of Veterinary State Boards) states: "Veterinary continuing education is not standardized among state veterinary boards and each maintains their own requirements. You should check with your state board to verify the number of hours required for your licensure."

Regarding Veterinary Technicians:

AVMA Duties of Veterinary Assistants Updated January 2008 states: "While most states have laws and/or regulations which govern what procedures assistants may and may not perform, the laws vary both in their depth as well as their scope. We found 17 states that specifically list what procedures may be performed by veterinary assistants. The majority of the 17 states break down these procedures by the level of supervision that is needed by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician."

Regarding Medical Doctors:

AMA 2008 states: " Sixty-one boards (including Wyoming, as of January 1, 2007) require continuing medical education (CME) for license reregistration. Some states also mandate CME content, such as HIV/AIDS, risk management, or end of life palliative care. In addition, many states also require that a certain percentage of CME be category 1, as measured, for example, through the American Medical Association Physician’s Recognition Award. Forty-eight states accept the AMA PRA certificate or application as equivalent for purposes of licensure reregistration.

Below is a chart of requirements found for each state.

The bottom chart shows the amount of animal drugs approved since 2003, not counting any new tests or procedures developed.

*State*	Vet Required CE per year(s)	Vet Tech license?/CE hr per year(s) (2004)	Medical Doctors CE per AMA
AK	30 hrs -- 2 yrs	*LVT/10 hrs - 2 yrs	50 hrs -- 2 yrs
AL	20 hrs -- 1 yr	*LVT/8 hrs - 1 yr	12 hrs -- 1 yr
AR	required to attend an educational program in the twelve (12) months preceding each renewal date	*CVT/ 4 hrs - 1 yr	20 hrs -- 1 yr
AZ	20 hrs -- 2 yrs	*CVT/0	40 hrs --2 yrs
CA	36 hrs -- 2 yrs	*RVT/0	100 hrs -- 4 yrs
CO	32 hrs -- 2 yrs	*CVT/16 hrs - 2 yrs	0
CT	None ProtectthePets.com	Voluntary/ 15 hrs - 2 yrs	50 hrs -- 2 yrs
DE	24 hrs -- 2 yrs	--	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
FL	30 hrs -- renewal	Voluntary/ 15 hrs - 2 yrs	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
GA	30 hrs -- 2 yrs	*RVT/0	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
HI	15 hrs -- 1 yr	--	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
IA	60 hrs -- 3 yrs	*RVT/ 30 hrs - 3 yrs	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
ID	20 hrs -- 2 yrs	*CVT/ 21 hrs - 3 yrs	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
IL	40 hrs -- 2 yrs	*CVT/ 10 hrs - 2 yrs	150 hrs -- 3 yrs
IN	40 hrs -- 2 yrs	*RVT/ 16 hrs - 2 yrs	0
KS	20 hrs -- 1 yr	*RVT/ 4 hrs - 1 yr	50 hrs --1 yr
KY	15 hrs -- 1 yr	6 hrs - 1 yr	60 hrs -- 3 yrs
LA	20 hrs -- 1 yr	*RVT/ 0	20 hrs -- 1 yr
MA	15 hrs -- 1 yr	*CVT/ 12 hrs - 1 yr	100 hrs -- 2 yrs
MD	12 hrs -- 1 yrs	*RVT/ 24 hrs - 3 yrs	50 hrs -- 2 yrs
ME	12 hrs -- 1 yr	*RVT/0	100 hrs -- 2 yrs
MI	0 --"The law for Veterinary Medicine does not require continuing education for renewal. You are responsible for maintaining your competence in your profession but you do not have to demonstrate the ways you are doing that for renewal."	*LVT/ 0	150 hrs -- 3 yrs
MN	40 hr -- 2 yrs	Vol* CVT/ 10 hrs - 2 yrs	25 hrs -- 3 yrs
MO	10 hrs -- 1 yr	*RVT/ 5 hrs - 1 yr	50 hrs --2 yrs
MS	unknown	*CVT/ 10 hrs - 1 yr	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
MT	20 hrs -- 2 yrs	Voluntary/ 16 hrs - 2 yrs	0
NC	24 hrs -- 1 yr	*RVT/ 12 hrs - 2 yrs	150 hrs -- 3 yrs
ND	24 hrs -- 2 yrs	*LVT/ 8 hrs - 2 yrs	60 hrs -- 3 yrs
NE	32 hrs -- 2 yrs	*LVT/ 16 hrs - 2 yrs	50 hrs -- 2 yrs
NH	12 hrs -- 1 yr	--	150 hrs -- 3 yrs
NJ	20 hrs -- 2 yrs	*VT/ 10 hrs - 2 yrs	100 hrs -- 2 yrs
NM	15 hrs -- 1 yr	*LVT/ 8 hrs - 1 yr	75 hrs -- 3 yrs
NV	15 hrs -- 1 yr	*LVT 5 hrs - 1 yr	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
NY	45 hrs -- 3 yrs	*RVT and LVT/ 0	0
OH	30 hrs -- 2 yrs	*RVT/ 10 hrs - 2 yrs	100 hrs -- 2 yrs
OK	20 -- renewal	*RVT/ 10 hrs - 1 yr	60 hrs -- 3 yrs
OR	30 hrs -- 2 yrs	*LVT/ 0	7 hrs (by 2009)
PA	30 hrs -- 2 yrs	*CVT/16 hrs - 2 yrs	100 hrs -- 2 yrs
RI	24 hrs -- 2 yrs	--	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
SC	30 hrs -- 2 yrs	*AHT/ 10 hrs - 2 yrs	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
SD	16 hrs -- 1 yr	*RVT/ 0	0
TN	20 hrs -- 1 yr	LVMT/12 hrs - 1 yr	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
TX	17 hrs -- 1 yr	*RVT/ 5 hrs - 1 yr	24 hrs -- 1 yr
UT	24 hrs -- 2 yrs	--	40 hrs -- 2 yrs
VA	15 hrs -- 1 yr	*LVT/ 6 hrs - 1 yr	60 hrs -- 2 yr
VT	24 hrs -- 2 yrs	Voluntary	0
WA	30 hrs -- 3 yrs	*RVT/ 0	200 hrs -- 4 yrs
WI	30 hrs -- 2 yrs	*VT/ 0	30 hrs -- 2 yrs
WV	6 hrs - 1 yr	*RVT/ 6 hrs - 1 yr	50 hrs -- 2 yrs
WY	16 hrs -- 2 yrs	Voluntary	60 hrs -- 3 yrs

*Vet Tech abbreviations: AHT — Animal Health Technician, AT — Animal Technician, VT — Veterinary Technician, RVT — Registered Veterinary Technician, CVT — Certified Veterinary Technician, LVT — Licensed Veterinary Technician

Per FDA Greenbook: New Animal Drugs approved/Companion Animal Drugs (dogs & cats)
2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
56/19	34/7	21/4	22/5	37/17

Ed note: If anyone has more up to date verifiable information then what is posted, please contact me.

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