License Renewal Deadline Approaching

REMINDER - MAY 31, 2020 LICENSE RENEWAL DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING

Veterinarians in Florida must complete a minimum of 30 hours of CE every two years to renew their licenses. The deadline for acquiring required CE hours this year is May 31, 2020.

The guide for required continuing education needed by Florida veterinarians for licensure purposes is Rule Chapter 61G18-16, Florida Administrative Code of Chapter 474, Florida Statutes.

This rule directs that licensed veterinarians must renew their licenses every two years in the even-numbered year. The last renewal date was June 1, 2018. The next renewal date is June 1, 2020.

61G18-16 of the Florida Administrative Code specifies how many hours of particular CE-earning modalities are acceptable, as well as the types and categories of CE veterinarians may pursue in the biennium in order to be licensed for the succeeding period. It goes on to define the standards that must be upheld and adhered to by continuing education providers.

Requirements for Active Status License Renewal in Florida 61G18-16.002 Continuing Education Requirements for Active Status License Renewal (1) reads:

“All licensed veterinarians shall be required to obtain continuing professional education which contributes to the advancement, extension or enhancement of professional skills and knowledge in the field of veterinary medicine.”

The CE requirements contained therein include: • Completion of 30 hours of continuing professional education in veterinary medicine every two years. • No less than one hour of CE must be in the area of dispensing legend drugs. • No less than two hours of CE must be in the area of the laws and rules governing the practice of veterinary medicine as contained in Chapters 455 and 474, Florida Statutes, and Rule Title 61G18, F.A.C. • Not more than fifteen hours can be non-interactive, correspondence courses. • Not more than five hours in complementary and alternative medicine modalities.

Other Important Guidance From 61G18-16.002 F.A.S. • One hour of CE equals a minimum of fifty (50) minutes and a maximum of sixty (60) minutes. Total hours of lecture time cannot be added up and divided by 50 minutes to obtain one (1) hour credit for each 50-minute interval. • Computer online programs that involve online, real time, live or delayed participatory questioning or responses are not correspondence courses. • Five hours of CE in laws and rules may be obtained once during the biennium by attending a full day or eight hours of a Board of Veterinary Medicine meeting where disciplinary hearings are conducted by the board. The attendee must sign in with the executive director of the board or designee before the meeting begins; must remain in continuous attendance; must sign out with the executive director of the board or designee at the end of the meeting day or at a time earlier as affirmatively authorized by the board. A licensee may receive continuing education credit for attending the Board meeting only if he or she is attending solely for the purpose of obtaining CE. • Licensees must retain certifications of attendance or provider verification documenting completion of continuing education for a period of not less than three years from the date the course was taken. • Failure to comply with the continuing professional education requirements shall prohibit license renewal and result in delinquent status at the end of the biennium.

Visit fvma.org for more information on the FVMA Combined Three-hour Online Course!