Section 10.02. Continuing education.

 

(1)  

(a) Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4) , a veterinarian shall complete at least 30 hours of continuing education pertinent to veterinary medicine in each biennial renewal period. The 30 hours of continuing education shall include all of the following:

2. At least 25 hours of continuing education that relates to scientific topics pertinent to veterinary medicine.

(b) All 30 continuing education hours in this subsection shall be documented. A minimum of 25 hours of continuing education shall be documented by an approved continuing education provider.

(c) A continuing education hour shall consist of 50 minutes of contact time.

(2)  

(a) Except as provided in subs. (3) and (4) , a veterinary technician shall complete at least 15 hours of continuing education pertinent to veterinary medicine or veterinary technology in each biennial renewal period. The 15 hours of continuing education shall include all of the following:

2. At least 10 hours of continuing education that relates to scientific topics pertinent to veterinary medicine.

(b) All 15 continuing education hours required in this subsection shall be documented. A minimum of 12 hours of continuing education shall be documented by an approved continuing education provider.

(c) A continuing education hour shall consist of 50 minutes of contact time.

(3)   Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to an applicant who applies to renew a license or certificate that expires on the first expiration date after initial issuance of the license or certificate.

(4)  The board may waive the requirements under subs. (1) and (2) if it finds that exceptional circumstances, such as prolonged illness, disability, or other similar circumstances, have prevented an applicant from meeting the requirements.

(5)  Continuing education hours shall be completed during the preceding 2-year licensure or certification period.

(6)  To obtain credit for completion of continuing education hours, a licensee or certificate holder shall, at the time of each renewal, sign a statement certifying that he or she has completed, during the preceding 2-year licensure or certification period, the continuing education programs required under sub. (1) or (2) , as appropriate.

(7)  A veterinarian or veterinary technician who fails to complete the continuing education requirements by the renewal date shall not practice as a veterinarian or veterinary technician, as appropriate, until his or her license or certificate is renewed.

(8)  For auditing purposes, every veterinarian and veterinary technician shall maintain records of continuing education hours for at least 5 years from the date the certification statement required under sub. (6) is signed. The board may audit for compliance by requiring a veterinarian or veterinary technician to submit evidence of compliance to the board for the biennium immediately preceding the biennium in which the audit is performed. Documentation of completion of continuing education hours shall include one of the following:

(a) A certificate of attendance from an approved course provider.

(b) Complete references from journal articles read.

(c) A grade report or transcript from an accredited college or university.

(d) A copy of a published work authored or co-authored by the licensee or certificate holder.

(e) A copy of a meeting syllabus, announcement, abstract or proceeding for a presentation.

(f) A signed document from an internship or residency institution certifying enrollment in a program.

History: Cr. Register, February, 1992, No. 434 , eff. 3-1-92.; am. Register, December, 1998, No. 516 , eff. 1-1-99; CR 04-125 : r. and recr. Register August 2005 No. 596 , eff. 9-1-05; CR 12-052 : r. (1) (a) 1., (2) (a) 1. Register September 2013 No. 693 , eff. 10-1-13.

Note

A list of approved program providers is contained in s. VE 10.03 (4) . Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1