Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 700-7-.04 - Veterinary Technician Continuing Education
Effective January 1, 2010, the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine in accordance with the provisions of State Law and for the purpose of establishing certain minimum standards for continuing education in the best interest of and for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare hereby adopts the following rule:
(a) General Requirements:
1. Each veterinary technician licensed to
practice in the State of Georgia must obtain ten (10) hours of Board approved
continuing education per biennium for license renewal. Of the ten (10) hours
required, one (1) per renewal period must be acquired in Georgia laws, rules
and professionalism. Georgia licensees who do not practice in the State of
Georgia are not required to meet the one (1) hour requirement in Georgia laws,
rules and professionalism.
2. At
the time of license renewal, each veterinary technician shall certify to the
Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine that he/she has completed the
continuing education required for license renewal.
3. A veterinary technician licensed during
the first year of a biennium must obtain five (5) hours of continuing education
and is not required to meet the one (1) hour requirement in Georgia laws, rules
and professionalism. A veterinary technician licensed during the second year of
a biennium is exempt from obtaining continuing education for that renewal
period. After this time period, the entire ten (10) hours is required for each
renewal.
4. In the event that a
veterinary technician fails to verify or submit documentation of continuing
education credits at the same time of renewal of his/her license, the Board
will not process his/her renewal until continuing education requirements have
been met and proof of such has been received and approved by the Board. If
documentation of continuing education is requested and not received by the
Board prior to the expiration date, the license will expire.
5. A veterinary technician may not carry over
continuing education credits from one biennium license renewal period to the
next.
6. Each veterinary technician
must maintain a record of credit hours earned and proof of attendance of such
hours for a period of three years from the date of the preceding renewal period
and must provide the Board with said documentation upon request.
7. Veterinary technicians who attend programs
where more than one course is taught must maintain proof of the courses
attended and the number of hours awarded for each course.
(b) Approved Continuing Education Programs
and Hours:
1. Blanket approval is awarded to
any National, State and International veterinary association meetings, United
States Department of Agriculture and Georgia Department of Agriculture
sponsored meeting, Board Certified Specialties programs recognized by the
American Veterinary Medical Association, all AVMA accredited veterinary college
or school sponsored classes and programs, all AAVSB RACE approved programs, any
GVMA constituent organization programs, AAHA programs, programs sponsored by
the United State or Southern Animal Health Association and any course approved
by another state board. Blanket approval does not apply to any continuing
education programs on Georgia laws, rules and professionalism.
2. All continuing education courses on
Georgia laws, rules and professionalism (LEAP) or any continuing education
course which is not offered by a blanket approved organization must be awarded
Board approval. Providers may be awarded Board approval for a continuing
education course by submitting the following:
(i) A continuing education application
form;
(ii) A detailed course
outline or syllabus;
(iii) A
current curriculum must be provided for each speaker or lecturer;
(iv) The procedure to be used for recording
attendance;
(v) The number of
continuing education hours for which the course sponsor requests
approval.
3. In addition
to the LEAP hour requirement for resident veterinary technicians, the remaining
credit hours may be earned as follows:
(i) One
(1) hour may be given for each 50 minutes of contact time. Seminars are
composed of lectures or labs; welcoming remarks, business sessions,
unstructured demonstrations or degree programs are not considered
seminars.
(ii) Not more than four
(4) hours can be obtained from veterinary journal studies or interactive
computer generated courses where follow-up testing is required.
(iii) A maximum of three (3) hours for
veterinary technicians can be acquired through in house training at the
licensees' place of employment.
(iv) A maximum of five (5) hours can be
acquired through in house training for veterinary technicians at AVMA
accredited institutions.
(c) Continuing Education Audit:
1. During the renewal period, the Board staff
will randomly select up to 25% of its licensees to audit for continuing
education compliance. If selected for continuing education audit, each licensee
must submit continuing education records to meet the renewal requirements for
that license renewal period.
(d) Provider and Sponsor Criteria: All
providers and sponsors must provide the following information to the Board if
they have not been awarded blanket approval:
1. Each sponsor or provider shall have an
administrator whose responsibility is to maintain the criteria for quality in
programming.
2. Providers shall use
qualified personnel to develop and present the programs, which shall utilize
appropriate instructional materials and resources.
3. Providers shall provide to the Board
adequate advanced promotional information, material about target audiences,
program content, faculty credentials and fees.
4. Providers shall provide a means of
registration of the participants at each program and maintain a record of
attendance for a period of three years from the date of the program.
5. Providers shall develop policies and
procedures for the management of grievances.
6. Providers shall provide each participant
with adequate documentation of his/her successful completion of the program.
The documentation shall include:
(i) Name and license number of
participant;
(ii) Name of
provider;
(iii) Name and title of
program;
(iv) Hours/CEU's
completed;
(v) Date of completion;
and
(vi) Authorizing
signature.
7. All
continuing education providers seeking approval of the continuing education
program by the Georgia State Board of Veterinary shall submit a Program
Approval Form for each program presented. These forms should be submitted 60
days in advance.
Notes
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