Continuing Education Rules for CAETs

The Continuing Education requirement in Louisiana was established with the goal of ensuring that the public receive the best possible care from the veterinary community. The Board attempts to achieve this goal by requiring those persons who are licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Louisiana to remain current in subjects related to the practice of the profession. If your license or certification was issued prior to May 1, 2026, you are still required to fulfill all CE hours by June 30 and you must still renew your license starting July 1, 2026.

A minimum of 6 actual hours is required each fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) as a prerequisite for annual renewal of a CAET certificate. In other words, for the 2026 renewal cycle opening July 1st, 2026, all CE hours must be completed between July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

A maximum of 50% of required credit hours may be obtained online (which includes interactive Zoom-style meetings) for all licensees.

View ONLINE vs. IN-PERSON Continuing Education Definitions

Report Your CE Activity in Real-Time!

CAET certificate holders are able to enter continuing education activity into the LBVM License Portal in real-time throughout the year! No need to wait until the renewal cycle opens! The earlier you get your CE activity entered into the portal, the sooner the Board can review your activity and documentation for completeness.

After a presentation is attended, simply log into the LBVM License Portal, go to “Continuing Education”, select the current CE Period, enter in the CE activity details, and upload the certificate of completion. All of the CE activity entered throughout the year will promulgate into the renewal once you start it. With each new renewal cycle, you will have access to all past CE activity through the LBVM License Portal.

How to Report your CE Activity

Go to LBVM License Portal

Will Your CE Activity Be Accepted?

Completed CE Activity – All completed CE activity must be entered into the LBVM License Portal in order to be reviewed for completeness and/or acceptance by the Board.

Upcoming CE Activity – If you would like the Board to review a CE activity PRIOR to attending, you must submit the activity for review through the online CE Review Request Form. All programs not on the LBVM Pre-Approved CE Activity List must be submitted for pre-approval at least 14 days prior to the date of the program for the units or hours to be credited.

Submit CE Activity for Board Review

CE Certificate Requirements

Rule §1227 requires that Proof of Attendance Forms/Certificates for any CE activity – including RACE-approved activity – MUST include all of the following details:

the attendee’s full name;
the name of the course/program;
the name of the sponsor and/or presenter;
the date(s) of attendance;
the total number of hours completed;
the delivery method; and
the specific subject matter completed.

RACE Programs often list all of the approved delivery methods on the certificates; this is NOT acceptable by the Board. CE Certificates must include the delivery method in which the hours are earned.

If a submitted CE Certificate does not have all required details, it is not acceptable and the $25 late renewal fee will be assessed if any CE certificates are still incomplete and/or are missing required details by the September 30th annual renewal deadline.

Late CE Fees – A late fee and additional fines may be levied for non-compliance with these rules.

§1227.A – CE Basic Requirements

A minimum of 6 actual hours is required each fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) as a prerequisite for annual renewal of certification; however, a maximum of 3 hours shall be earned for each fiscal period (July 1 to June 30) through online participation as defined in LAC 46:LXXXV.1200. An CAET who fails to obtain a minimum of 6 continuing education hours within the applicable fiscal period will not meet the requirements for renewal of his certificate.
a. {See “CE Certificate Requirements” for more details.}
b. All completed proof of attendance must be submitted to the board by September 30.
All hours shall be obtained in the 12 months preceding the renewal period of the certificate. Hours taken prior to the 12-month continuing education period shall not be accepted. Hours taken after the beginning of the renewal period shall be considered late. Hours submitted late, if accepted by the board, cannot be applied to other renewal periods.
Each CAET must fulfill his annual educational requirements at his own expense or through a sponsoring agency other than the board. Any registration fee(s) for his annual continuing veterinary education requirements are not included in the annual renewal fee.
Presenters of an approved continuing education program may not submit hours for their presentation of, or preparation for, the program as continuing education hours.

§1227.B – Approved CE Programs

It shall be the duty of the board to approve all continuing veterinary education programs for which credit shall be given to Louisiana certified animal euthanasia technicians as follows.

Hours may be taken from any programs accepted by another state’s regulatory board of veterinary medicine, a governmental entity, and/or AAVSB, as well as those programs sponsored by AVMA accredited schools of veterinary medicine and/or any professional associations recognized by the board shall be accepted as units or hours of annual continuing education with the subject matter content properly addressing the duties of a certified animal euthanasia technician. All other continuing education programs must be approved by the board prior to attendance with the subject matter content properly addressing the duties of a certified animal euthanasia technician. Those continuing education programs not timely submitted in accordance with Subsection C below will not be allowed for annual continuing education credit.
The list of programs for which pre-approval has been granted will be updated as needed and published by the board on its website, as well as those programs which are accepted by another state’s regulatory board of veterinary medicine, a governmental entity, and/or AAVSB, and those programs sponsored by AVMA accredited schools of veterinary medicine and/or any professional associations recognized by the board.
Additions to the list of pre-approved programs may be requested by writing to the board office and submitting all required documentation. All programs not on the pre-approved list must be submitted for pre-approval at least 14 days prior to the date of the program for the units or hours to be credited. Pre-approval may be obtained by writing or calling the board office during regular business hours.
In order to qualify for board approval, all continuing education programs must be open by invitation/advertisement to interested certified animal euthanasia technicians in general.

§1227.C – Non-Compliance with CE Requirements

Non-compliance with these rules shall be considered to be a violation of R.S. 37:1526(14).
Failure to submit proof of attendance for continuing education hours by the September 30 deadline pursuant to Subsection A or falsifying certification shall be considered a violation of R.S. 37:1526(14) and/or (15).
Failure to obtain the required number of hours in the specified time period shall be considered a violation of the rules of professional conduct. An extension of no more than 90 days after the September 30 certificate expiration date may be granted by petitioning the board in accordance with Paragraph 4 below.
The board may grant an extension of no more than 90 days for extenuating circumstances. The CAET requesting the extension must petition the board at least 30 days prior to the September 30 certificate expiration date. The board may require whatever documentation it deems necessary to verify the circumstances necessitating the extension.
A CAET who fails to obtain the required minimum of 6 approved hours within the prescribed 12-month period will not meet the requirements for renewal of his certificate. Such a certificate shall expire on September 30 for any CAET who does not timely and properly comply with the annual continuing education requirements. Thereafter, a CAET may apply for renewal of his expired certificate; however, he shall be unable to lawfully perform the allowed duties of a CAET and may be subject to disciplinary action by the board, until such time as the requirements for renewal have been met and documented to the satisfaction of the board.