Continuing Education Policies for CAETs
CE Requirements | Approved Programs | Proof of Attendance | Late Fees/Fines | Recording CE for Renewal
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. To that end, the following statutes and rules have been created.
If your CAET certification was issued prior to May 1st, 2025, you are still required to fulfill all CE hours by June 30th, 2025 in order to renew your certification starting July 1st. Additionally, a maximum of three (3) hours of credit may be obtained online (which includes interactive Zoom-style meetings).
1227. Continuing Education
A. Basic Requirements
1. 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.
2.a. Proof of attendance for all completed continuing education activity shall be submitted annually for each renewal period and shall include the following:
i. the CAET’s full name;
ii. the name of the course/program;
iii. the name of the sponsor and/or presenter;
iv. the date(s) of attendance;
v. the total number of hours completed;
vi. the delivery method; and
vii. the specific subject matter completed.
b. All completed proof of attendance must be submitted to the board by September 30.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 Continuing Education Programs
B. Approved Continuing Education 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.
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
Please see the LIST OF BOARD-APPROVED CE PROGRAMS – which is updated every two weeks – or call the Board office if you have any questions.
Failure to obtain pre-approval may result in the denial of CE credit for annual renewal. In summary, at renewal time, hours which are turned in from programs that were NOT SUBJECT TO AUTOMATIC APPROVAL and/or NOT PRE-APPROVED as required by the Board, may be denied. If the program is denied, you will be required to take additional CE in an approved program prior to completing the renewal process and obtaining a current license. Late fees and fines will be imposed accordingly. Furthermore, if the required CE is not timely obtained during the fiscal period (July 1 through June 30), then the license expires on September 30 and you cannot legally practice as a Certified Animal Euthanasia Technician until the renewal process is completed and you are issued a license for the current year.
Employment at an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine will not be accepted in lieu of completion of the required CE hours. Presenters of approved CE programs may not use the hours for program preparation and presentation as CE.
Proof of Attendance
In accordance with Rule 403.B listed above, proof of attendance (i.e. – certificates of completion) MUST include all of the following details: 1) Licensee’s First & Last Name, 2) Title of the Activity, 3) Name of Sponsor, 4) Specific Date of Attendance/Completion, 5) Total Hours Earned, and 6) Delivery Method. Certificates of Completion from conference attendance MUST include the total number of hours a licensee earned from attendance.
If any of this information is not included on the Proof of Attendance, the CE activity cannot be accepted.
Late Fees and Fines
1227.C – Failure to Meet Requirements – 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.
All Certified Animal Euthanasia Technicians in the State of Louisiana are required to obtain 6 hours of continuing education per fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) as a prerequisite to renewal. Failure to do so is a violation of the Veterinary Practice Act and may result in a late fee and/or fine being imposed by the Board.
1. Late fee for renewals is $25.
2. CE must be taken between July 1 and June 30 to meet the requirement that it be taken as a prerequisite to renewal.
3. A time period of no less than 90 days will be provided for completion of license renewals and missing/late CE hours.
4. Partial (incomplete) renewal submissions will not be accepted.
5. If the required CE is not timely obtained during the fiscal period (July 1 through June 30), then the license expires on September 30 and you cannot legally practice as a Certified Animal.
UPDATING/ENTERING CONTINUING EDUCATION ACTIVITY
Click here for instructions on recording continuing education hours into the LBVM License Portal.
IMPORTANT – All CE activity must be entered in the Continuing Education section PRIOR to starting your renewal process!
If you start your renewal without entering in your CE activity, you will have to back out of the renewal, then enter the CE activity, then continue with the renewal process.
Act 219 of 2018 Session – No CDS CE Required for LA DVMs & CAETs