Chapter 700-7 RENEWAL OF LICENSE
| (1) |
Every person
who holds a valid license, as a veterinarian issued by the Board shall
immediately upon issuance thereof be deemed registered with the Board and be
issued a certificate of registration. Said license shall expire on December 31
of the even numbered years and shall be renewable biennially in accordance with
the Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section
43-50-40 upon payment of the
biennial license fees. Any licensee whose address changes must notify the Board
in writing within 30 days of that change of address. |
| (2) |
The payment of the renewal fee for a
licensed veterinarian on active duty with any branch of the armed forces of the
United States shall be waived for a period of time not to exceed the longer of
three years or the duration of a national emergency. |
| (3) |
Any service member as defined in O.C.G.A.
§ 15-12-1 whose license to practice
veterinary medicine or as a veterinary technician expired while serving on
active duty outside the state shall be permitted to practice veterinary
medicine or as a veterinary technician in accordance with the expired license
and shall not be charged with a violation relating to such practice on an
expired license for a period of six (6) months from the date of her or her
discharge from active duty or reassignment to a location within the state. Any
such service member shall be entitled to renew such expired license without
penalty within six (6) months after the date of her or her discharge from
active duty or reassignment to a location with the state. The service member
must present to the board a copy of the official military orders or a written
verification signed by the service members commanding officer to waive any
charges. |
| (1) |
A veterinary or veterinary technician
license which has not been renewed by the end of the March 31st late renewal
period shall be administratively lapsed for failure to renew. Such failure to
renew shall have the same force and effect as a revocation of said license as
provided in Sec.
43-1-19(1) of the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Licenses that have been administratively
lapsed for failure to renew, must be reinstated at the Board's
discretion. |
| (2) |
For purposes of
this regulation, the administrative lapsing of license for failure to renew
shall not be treated as a disciplinary action or contested case. |
| (3) |
Any licensed veterinarian or veterinary
technician who fails to renew said license for a period of three years or more
shall be required, before reinstatement of said license, to submit an
application for reinstatement, including a detailed resume of such licensee's
work experience since the date said license was renewed and in good standing.
Applicants for reinstatement must submit proof of having completed continuing
education within the two years prior to seeking reinstatement as follows:
Veterinarians must submit proof of having completed a minimum of thirty (30)
hours of continuing education and veterinarian technicians must submit a
minimum of ten (10) hours. An applicant for reinstatement who has been
practicing outside of the State of Georgia must furnish verification of
licensure from all recognized licensing jurisdictions where the applicant is or
has been licensed to practice veterinary medicine or veterinary
technology. |
| (4) |
In the application,
an applicant seeking reinstatement as a veterinarian or veterinary technician
shall be required to answer, under oath, whether the applicant has had any
license issued to the applicant revoked, suspended or otherwise sanctioned by
any board or agency in Georgia or any other state; and whether the applicant
was denied issuance of or, pursuant to disciplinary proceedings, refused
renewal of a license by any board or agency in Georgia or any other state. The
applicant shall provide the name of the board or agency which revoked
suspended, denied, refused renewal of, or otherwise sanctioned the
license. |
| (5) |
An applicant seeking
reinstatement of a veterinarian or veterinary license shall be required to
answer, under oath, whether the applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor
or felony (other than minor traffic violations), or entered a plea of guilty,
nolo contendere, or under "First Offender Act." |
| (6) |
Upon evaluation of Applicant's
application and other information, the Board may reinstate said license, or at
its discretion may condition reinstatement of said license upon conditions
acceptable to the Board. |
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 veterinarian licensed to practice in
the State of Georgia must obtain thirty (30) hours of Board approved continuing
education per biennium for license renewal.
| (i) |
Of the thirty (30) hours required, two
(2) per renewal period must be acquired in Georgia laws, rules and
professionalism, one (1) of which must be acquired in person. Georgia licensees
who do not practice in the State of Georgia are not required to meet the two
(2) hour requirement in Georgia laws, rules and professionalism; and |
| (ii) |
Effective January 1, 2017, eighteen (18)
of the thirty (30) hours must include scientific subject matter. Scientific
subject matter includes all conventional medical and surgical sub-categories
that are evidence based in addition to the science of diagnosis, treatment and
prevention of disease as it relates directly to patients and includes a
comprehensive range of the practice of veterinary medicine. |
|
| 2. |
At the time of license renewal,
each veterinarian shall certify to the Georgia State Board of Veterinary
Medicine that he/she has completed the continuing education required for
license renewal. |
| 3. |
A veterinarian
licensed during the first year of a biennium must obtain fifteen (15) hours of
continuing education and is not required to meet the two (2) hour requirement
in Georgia laws, rules and professionalism. A veterinarian licensed during the
second year of a biennium is exempt from obtaining continuing education for
that renewal period. After this time period, the entire thirty (30) hours is
required for each renewal. |
| 4. |
In
the event that a veterinarian 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 veterinarian may not
carry over continuing education credits from one biennium license renewal
period to the next. |
| 6. |
Each
veterinarian 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. |
Veterinarians 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 States 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. |
| 3. |
Providers may be awarded Board approval
for a continuing education course by submitting the following for consideration
by the Board:
| (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; and, |
| (v) |
The number of
continuing education hours for which the course sponsor requests
approval. |
|
| 4. |
In addition
to the LEAP requirements, 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) |
Three
(3) hours can be for journal studies where follow-up testing is required.
Fifteen (15) hours of interactive computer generated courses will be allowed.
Follow-up testing is required. |
| (iii) |
A maximum of twelve (12) hours will be
allowed per calendar day. |
| (iv) |
A
maximum of six (6) hours for veterinarians can be acquired through in house
training at the licensees' place of employment. |
| (v) |
A maximum of ten (10) hours can be
acquired through in house training for veterinary faculty 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; |
| (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. |
|
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; |
| (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. |
|
