Qualified veterinary professionals need to complete a certain number of RACE®-approved continuing education (CE) credits to remain licensed or certified throughout their careers. The number of credits required varies depending on the license or certification, but what qualifies as acceptable CE is the same for everybody.
Here are some frequently asked questions about CE.
Any course or training completed with the purpose of deepening or expanding your knowledge of veterinary practice. The following activities do not count as continuing education:
▪️ Regular hours worked in your clinic or practice
▪️ Volunteer work at a rescue organization or other animal-centered business
▪️ Internship or externship hours required to obtain your initial license or certification
The Registry for Approved Continuing Education (RACE®) is the educational arm of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) that sets the standards for veterinary education and CE in the United States. To maintain their professional qualification, all veterinary professionals in the state of Florida must complete CE that has met RACE® educational standards.
All RACE®-approved CE is assigned a program number or tracking number and lists RACE® as the certifying body. The certificate of completion for an approved CE course will always include this program number, the tracking number for the CE provider, and the number of credits the CE was worth.
This depends on what qualification you have and how long it lasts before you need to renew. These are the requirements for veterinary professionals in Florida:
▪️ Veterinarians: 30 credits every 2 years
▪️ Certified Veterinary Technicians: 15 credits every 2 years
▪️ Certified Veterinary Assistants: 5 credits every year
Not necessarily. While there are many offerings that are intended for any type of veterinary professional, there are some that are targeted at specific individuals. If a CE is intended only for veterinarians, then technicians will not qualify for the CE, and vice versa.
Also, just because a CE is intended for a general audience does not mean it is worth the same number of credits to everyone who takes it. The same CE may be worth 2 credits for a technician but only 1 credit for a veterinarian.
Pay close attention to the course description and certificate of completion to make sure that (1) you can use a CE for your renewal and (2) how many credits the CE is worth for you specifically.
All offerings shall be at least fifty (50) minutes in length or one (1) contact hour. Increments of twenty-five (25) minutes will be accepted when the offering extends beyond one contact hour.
The FVMA offers RACE®-approved CE at all its conferences, as well as individual courses and training that meet RACE® standards.
The website CE Broker also offers online CE for veterinary professionals.
NOTE: CE Broker does not have a designation for veterinary assistants. To meet their renewal requirements, Certified Veterinary Assistants with the FVMA may complete any course on CE Broker designated for veterinary technicians.
Other organizations that offer RACE-approved CE include the AVMA, AAHA, the Central Florida Academy of Veterinary Medicine, the University of Florida, and other veterinary medical associations or societies at the local and regional levels. These offerings may be in the form of conferences, wet labs, seminars, or webinars.
Florida-licensed veterinarians and FVMA-certified technicians and assistants renewing in 2024 may complete all of their CE online. These policies are set separately by the DBPR and the FVMA and are subject to change.
Check back regularly for the most current guidance on the use of online CE.
To renew for the coming license or certification cycle, all CE you take must be completed within the current cycle. Here’s what this means for each professional type:
| As a.. | To renew for the cycle… | You must take CE within… |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinarian | 6/1/2024 – 5/31/2026 | 6/1/2022 – 5/31/2024 |
| Certified Veterinary Technician | 1/1/2024 – 12/31/2025 | 1/1/2022 – 12/31/2023 |
| Certified Veterinary Assistant | 1/1/2024 – 12/31/2024 | 1/1/2023 – 12/31/2023 |
Every CE provider will issue a certificate of completion after you complete one of their offerings.
Copies of these certificates bearing your name must be submitted to the organization that issues your license or certification so they can verify that you have met the CE requirements for renewing your qualification. Keep originals for your records in case of audit.
These are the organizations that license veterinary professionals in the state of Florida:
VETERINARIANS
The Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine (a division of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation)
CERTIFIED VETERINARY TECHNICIANS
FVMA and/or the Florida Veterinary Technician Association (FVTA)
CERTIFIED VETERINARY ASSISTANTS
FVMA
No. As long as the CE was taken within the correct time period, you may use the same CE to renew your certification with both the FVMA and your other organization.
Yes, but late fees of $25 would apply starting January 1, 2024. The expiration date is December 31, 2023.