Continuing Education and Recordkeeping Requirements for California Registered Veterinary Technicians

The California Veterinary Medical Association is pleased to provide our RVT members with this convenientfolder as a resource for planning, recording, and storing your important CE-related documents.

Continuing Education Credit• Qualifying courses must be relevant to veterinary medicine.

• Earn one hour of CE credit for each hour of a qualifying course.

° One credit hour consists of a minimum of 50 minutes of education.

° A half hour credit consists of 25-49 minutes of education after the initial 50 minutes.

° A qualifying course must be at least 50 minutes in length.

• One academic quarter unit at a college or university is equivalent to 10 CE credit hours.

• One academic semester unit at a college or university is equivalent to 15 CE credit hours.

• An instructor of a qualifying course may claim CE credit hours for the course one time per renewal period.

• Expert examiner workshop participants for the California or national licensing exam can earn one CE credit for each hour up to a maximum of 16 hours.

License Renewal RequirementsOf the 20 hours of required CE:

• Up to four hours may be of self-study.

• Up to 15 hours may be of business practice management or stress seminars.

• All 20 hours may be science or medicine-based.

Approved CE ProvidersThe RVT is responsible for assuring that CE courses are offered by approved providers prior to attending the sessions. CE providers must be approved in California statute or regulation or have RACE approval from the AAVSB (aavsb.org).

More information on mandatory CE, frequently asked questions, and CE laws is available on both the CVMA website (under the Learning tab click on Mandatory Continuing Education) and the VMB website (under the Licensee tab click on Continuing Education).

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CE Required for License RenewalCalifornia law requires RVTs to earn a minimum of 20 hours of approved continuing education as a condition of license renewal. The continuing education credits must be earned in the two years preceding license renewal.

RVTs must earn their mandatory CE in the two years preceding license renewal. For example, if your license expires on June 30, 2021, you must accrue a minimum of 20 hours of CE between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2021. Newly licensed RVTs are not required to complete CE during their first licensing period. CE credits will need to be accrued during the two year period prior to your second licensing period. For example, if your first licensing period expires on May 31, 2019, you must accrue a minimum of 20 hours of CE between June 1, 2019 and May 31, 2021.

Example Renewal Dates If your license expires on: Accumulate CE units between:

January 31, 2019 February 1, 2017–January 31, 2019

July 31, 2020 August 1, 2018–July 31, 2020

August 31, 2021 September 1, 2019–August 31, 2021

December 31, 2022 January 1, 2021–December 31, 2022

Continuing Education Certificates of Attendance

Complete and accurate records are a must.

CE providers must provide a Certificate of Attendance which contains the following: provider’s identify, date, presentation topic/course title, speaker, number of CE units earned, and the maximum number of CE units available. The provider’s CE director (or equivalent) must sign the certificate.

RVTS MUST RETAIN ORIGINAL, SIGNED CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE FOR A MINIMUM OF FOUR YEARS. The VMB requires proof of compliance (signed Certificates of Attendance) and will audit about 10% of license renewal applications. If you are audited, they will ask for your records to verify attendance.

You may enter your CE attendance history in your personal record on the CVMA website. CVMA-sponsored conferences and seminars as well as some local VMA CE are automatically entered for you. You may print out your recorded information from the website. NOTE: THE VMB WILL NOT ACCEPT THIS RECORD AS PROOF OF ATTENDANCE.

Mandatory CE Reference Chart

Contact Information

California Veterinary Medical Association1400 River Park Dr., Ste. 100 | Sacramento, CA 95815Ph: 800.655.2862 | Fax: 916.646.9156www.cvma.net | E-mail: staff@cvma.net

California Veterinary Medical Board1747 N. Market Blvd., Ste. 230 | Sacramento, CA 95834Ph: 916.515.5220 | Licensing Fax: 916.928.6849www.vmb.ca.gov | E-mail: vmb@dca.ca.gov

The Power of Your CVMA Membership

Find a complete list of member benefits and services, contact information, and discount codes under the Membership tab at cvma.net.

The CVMA offers our members a wide range of Benefits and Services:

Discounts on continuing education at the Fall Seminar in Lake Tahoe and Palm Springs, the Pacific Veterinary Conference, and the CAVMRC Disaster Response Series. Earn CEUs and network with friends and col-leagues in resort locations.

CVMA RVT members are represented.• The CVMA RVT committee is composed of 22 members representing

geographic districts as well as non-geographic interests such as RVT educators, allied industry, research, shelter and others. The committee discusses issues relevant to the RVT profession and makes recom-mendations to the Board of Governors.

• The CVMA RVT committee representative to the Board of Governors attends all board meetings, participates in board discussions, and presents recommendations of the RVT committee.

• The CVMA RVT committee selects five delegates to attend the CVMA House of Delegates meetings. RVT delegates are voting members of the House.

• A member of the RVT Committee is appointed by the Board of Governors as the CVMA liaison to the Veterinary Medical Board. The liaison attends VMB and MDC meetings and represents you on regulatory issues.

Stay up to date on RVT issues with the quarterly RVT Newsletter and the RVT Section of the California Veterinarian magazine.

Mentor veterinary assistants in your practice. Increase their educa-tion, experience, and skills through the CVMA Certified Veterinary Assistant program.

Immediate access to critical information through the CVMA website, CVMA Weekly e-newsletter, CVMA at the Capitol legislative e-newsletter, California Veterinarian magazine, press releases, and action alerts.

Effective, easy management of your continuing education record through the CVMA website. Login to check and update your record. The CVMA will send you a reminder letter six months prior to your license renewal date.

Discounts on regulatory compliance products such as the CVMA Cal/OSHA Compliance Guide and mandatory client and employee informational plaques, pamphlets, and posters.

Protection of your license. The CVMA continuously looks for unlicensed veterinary activity in all areas of practice including dentistry, chiropractic, and animal rehabilitation. When we identify individuals that are illegally practicing veterinary medicine, we educate them on current law, refer them to the Practice Act, and notify the Veterinary Medical Board.

Network with colleagues and specialists through our members-only online CVMA Directory – a searchable listing of all veterinarians and CVMA member RVTs in California.

Create a safe workplace with the CVMA Inline Program which is designed to assist you with workplace safety, legal issues, and laws and regulations that affect the veterinary profession.

Defending the RVT profession by actively representing the veterinary profession on proposed federal and state legislation and regulations at the legislature and the Veterinary Medical Board.

Increased awareness and understanding of the impact of legislation on your profession through effective policy analysis and membership advisories. The CVMA legislative team, staff, and legislative advocates are constantly monitoring proposed legislation and making your voice heard!

One-stop professional regulatory consulting resources on a variety of subjects, including:• Veterinary Medicine Practice Act/Veterinary Medical Board• Unlicensed activity• Board of Equalization (Sales and Use tax)• Board of Pharmacy• California Department of Fish and Wildlife• Department of Justice (CURES/PDMP)• Department of Health (Rabies, Medical Waste Management,

Zoonotic Diseases, and Radiation Safety)• Environmental Protection Agency/Hazardous Waste• Department of Industrial Relations (Cal/OSHA, Labor Board)• Department of Fair Employment and Housing• Drug Enforcement Administration policies and regulations

Insurance products specifically designed for you through CVMA’s wholly owned Veterinary Insurance Services Company (VISC).

Medical Insurance• Individual and Family Health• Dental• Vision• Disability/Life/Long Term Disability

Personal Lines Insurance• Renters/Homeowners• Auto/Motorcycle Insurance• Jewelry/Collectables/Personal Umbrella

Business Insurance

Save money and time filling your next open position. Post your classified ad to advertise your open employment positions, browse and apply for a position at veterinary practices, or locate practices for sale at the CVMA Career Center.

Lower your credit card processing rates. Of the veterinary clinics and hospitals that have switched to Infintech, 99% have realized significant savings.

Get deep discounts on everyday office items through Staples Advantage.

Offer a Payment Plan for Clients. The CareCredit healthcare credit card, accepted by 20,000 veterinary practices, helps families manage veterinary costs. When your hospital accepts CareCredit, clients can make monthly payments subject to credit approval.

Have fun and save money. Get a discount on tickets to Great America, Gilroy Gardens, Legoland, Sea World, and the California Academy of Sciences.

Take advantage of these car rental discounts from Alamo, Avis, Hertz and National.

The Pacifi c Veterinary Conference brings continuing education to two great Vetcation© destinations.

• Stay current with 28+ hours of technician-specifi c CE out of the over 230 hours of available CE.

• Check out the two-day Vet Expo with over 120 exhibit booths.

• Enjoy numerous networking opportunities.

• Take part in raffl es, mixers, and special events.

For more information, visit PacVet.net, call 800.655.2862, or e-mail info@pacvet.net.

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Pacifi c Veterinary Conference

CVMA Continuing Education Offerings

CVMA Fall SeminarCE opportunities at two great locations. The CVMA Fall Seminar alternates between Lake Tahoe and Palm Springs. RVTs can earn 8 units of CE at the seminar which features speakers presenting lectures on current medical topics each morning. Afternoons are free to relax, explore and enjoy time with family and friends.

California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps The California Veterinary Medical Reserve Corps (CAVMRC) offers continuing education courses relating to emergency medicine and animal emergency response.

Join us for learning, networking, and relaxation! For more information, visit CVMA.net and click the Learning tab.

PACVET Long Beach

PACVET San Francisco

CVMA Fall SeminarCVMA Fall SeminarCVMA Fall SeminarWestin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa

Technician Sessions

California Veterinary Medical Association