Continuing Education

Get up to Six (6) CE Hours Annually by Attending LBVM Board Meetings! At its April 6, 2023 meeting, the Board voted to approve CE hours for any licensee who attends LBVM board meetings. A maximum of three (3) CE hours can be earned from each meeting attendance, and the licensee must be present for at least three hours to earn all three CE credits for that particular meeting attendance. A maximum of six (6) CE hours can be earned annually from board meeting attendance. After each Board meeting, attendees will be emailed a CE Reporting Form. Click here to register if you wish to earn CE hours for attending an upcoming Board meeting.

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/registration/certification was issued prior to May 1st, 2024, you are still required to fulfill all CE hours by June 30th, 2024 in order to renew your license starting July 1st.

The Board reverted back to its regular rules in April ’22 and in so doing, a maximum of ten (10) hours of credit may be obtained online (which includes interactive Zoom-style meetings). Please visit the appropriate instructions below for more details.

Continuing Education Policies for DVMs

Continuing Education Policies for RVTs

Continuing Education Policies for CAETs

ONLINE vs. IN-PERSON Continuing Education as defined by the LA Veterinary Practice Act

The LA Veterinary Practice Act defines interactive webinars as online CE hours, not live CE hours. The Board continues to receive questions from licensees concerning the type of continuing education hours required for the annual renewal of licenses - specifically whether interactive, live presentations online may be substituted for the physical presence requirements for attendance at seminars, lectures, conferences, or workshops. Further guidance has been requested concerning the definition of “online instruction” which is limited to 50% of the total required hours per CE period (i.e. - fiscal year prior to July 1st renewal opening). The Board is governed in this regard by the provisions of the Louisiana Administrative Code(LAC title 46 part LXXXV) and in particular Chapter 4, sections 400 and 403 (A) (2) and (3). The LAC addresses continuing education instruction in terms of subject matter, accreditation, and the means of delivery of instruction (medium).

The medium of delivery of instruction has specific provisions beyond content and accreditation. “Contact participation” is defined in section 400 as “physical attendance at seminars, lectures, conferences, or workshops”. The units of continuing education by contact participation are not limited by the LA Veterinary Practice Act; however, a minimum of 50% of the required CE must be completed through contact (physical) participation. Credit for online hours (which includes interactive webinars) will be limited to 50% towards the total number of required hours.

Accordingly, the LA Practice Act distinguishes between “physical attendance” instruction and all other types, including interactive, live instruction participation online, the latter being subject to the maximum of online hours allowed for each CE period.