PURPOSE: This rule defines the minimum standards for continuing education for veterinary technicians.

1. (1) Each licensee shall certify by signature, under penalty of perjury that s/he has completed five (5) hours of continuing education units (CEUs).
2. (2) At least three (3) hours of the five (5)- hour per year requirement shall be obtained by attending a formal meeting.

3. (3) The other two (2) hours of the five (5)- hour requirement may be fulfilled by—

   1. (A) One (1) clock hour of consultation with another registered veterinary technician or licensed veterinarian other than the applicant’s supervisor. This consultation shall be documented by reporting the name and profession of the person with whom the applicant consulted, the date, time and subject matter(s) discussed on the annual renewal registration application; and
   2. (B) One (1) clock hour of reading from a professional journal. This reading shall be documented by reporting the name and publication date of the journal and the subject matter of the article(s) read on the annual renewal registration application.
4. (4) A registered veterinary technician may accumulate the required five (5) hours of continuing education for up to two (2) years. For example, if a formal meeting included ten
5. (10) hours of CEUs, the applicant could report five (5) hours the year the meeting was held and report the other five (5) hours the next year. Under no circumstances can CEU credits be carried over more than one (1) renewal year after being earned.
6. (5) Every licensee shall maintain full and complete records of all approved continuing education hours earned for the two (2) previous reporting periods in addition to the current reporting period. The records shall document the titles of the courses taken, dates, locations, course sponsors, number of hours earned and certificate of attendance or completion. The board may conduct an audit of licensees to verify compliance with the continuing education requirements. Licensees shall assist the board in its audits by providing timely and complete responses to the board’s inquiries.
7. (6) Violation of any provision of this rule shall be grounds for discipline in accordance with section 340.264, RSMo.

8. (7) The board shall waive continuing education requirements as required by section 41.946, RSMo and otherwise may grant a waiver or an extension of time for continuing education requirements to a license for good cause. Any licensee seeking renewal of a license or certificate without having fully complied with these continuing education requirements who wishes to seek a waiver or extension of the requirements shall file with the board a renewal application, a statement setting forth the facts concerning the noncompliance, a request for waiver or extension of time in which to complete the continuing education requirements and, if desired, a request for an interview before the board. If the board finds from the statement or any other evidence submitted, that good cause has been shown for waiving the continuing education requirements, or any part thereof, or for granting an extension of time in which to obtain the required continuing education hours, the board shall waive part or all of the requirements for the renewal period for which the licensee has applied or grant an extension of time, not to exceed six (6) months, in which to obtain the required continuing education hours. At that time, the licensee will be requested to submit the required renewal fee.

   1. (A) Good cause shall be defined as an inability to devote sufficient hours to fulfilling the continuing education requirements during the applicable renewal period based on one of the following reasons:

      1. 1. Full-time service in the armed forces

of the United States during a substantial part of the renewal period; or

1. 2. An incapacitating illness; or
2. 3. Undue hardship.
3. (B) If an interview before the board is requested at the time the request for waiver or extension is filed, the licensee shall be given at least twenty (20) days written notice of the date, time and place of the interview.

AUTHORITY: sections 41.946, 340.210, 340.258 and 340.324, RSMo 2000.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 270-4.050. Original rule filed Nov. 4, 1992, effective July 8, 1993. Amended: Filed April 13, 2001, effective Oct. 30, 2001. Amended: Filed June 25, 2004, effective Dec. 30, 2004. Moved to 20 CSR 2270-4.050, effective Aug. 28, 2006. *Original authority: 41.946, RSMo 1991; 340.210, RSMo 1992, amended 1993, 1995, 1999; 340.258, RSMo 1992, amended 1999; and 340.324, RSMo 1992, amended 1999.