Inactive Retired & Inactive Disabled Status

Limitation on Inactive Status – The “Inactive” status applies exclusively to DVMs who meet either of the two conditions specified below and does not exist outside of those conditions.

Rule §503 of the Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC 46:LXXXV) provides that the board shall apply the reduced annual renewal fee of $125 for inactive status if:

Inactive Disabled – the veterinarian is totally disabled to practice veterinary medicine without probability of return to practice for the annual renewal period at issue as certified by a physician’s statement, or
Inactive Retired – if s/he is retired and has reached the age of 65 years.

In each of the above cases, the veterinarian who requests fee exemption or reduction for inactive status must still renew annually and provide proof of his eligibility for fee reduction for inactive status as instructed below. This proof of eligibility for Inactive Retired or Inactive Disabled status must be submitted annually with the renewal.

How Long Can a License Remain in Inactive Retired/Disabled Status?

A license may only remain in the Inactive Retired or Inactive Disabled status for no more than five years from the original date of change from Active to Inactive Retired/Disabled. A license can be brought back into Active status by: 1) submitting a request for a change of status at any point in the year, 2) making payment of all back active annual renewal fees, as well as current active annual renewal fees for application, and 3) submitting all satisfactory documentation of compliance with continuing education hours for the past years during which time a license was in an inactive status, as well as the current year.

Continuing Education Exemption

Rule §405.B of the Louisiana Administrative Code (LAC 46:LXXXV) provides that exemptions from the CE requirements may be made for persons in the following categories:

disabled licensees for whom completion of the CE requirements represents undue hardship. A request for a disability exemption must be documented by submitting a physician’s statement of total disability without probability of return to practice for the annual renewal period.
a licensee who submits an affidavit of retirement for inactive status is entitled to a waiver of CE if he has reached the age of 65 years.

Continued qualification for this CE exemption requires the annual submission of the appropriate affidavit form in each renewal period.

What If My CE Hours Are Completed?

If you have completed the required CE hours, even if you qualify for the CE exemption, you will still be able to record your CE hours in the LBVM License Portal by following the instructions below.

How to Renew as Inactive Retired or Inactive Disabled:

Do You Want to Renew Without Entering CE Activity?

If you believe you meet the qualifications listed above for either of the Inactive statuses AND you wish to renew your license without entering any CE hours, please email the Board Office at admin@lsbvm.org to notify us PRIOR to starting the renewal application. Our office must manually exempt you from the CE hours in the LBVM License Portal; otherwise, you will be required to submit CE hours in order to complete the renewal process.

Step 1. Update Your Profile Details

Before starting the renewal process, you must update your details in the LBVM License Portal (under the “Profile” menu section), including:

Personal information (contact details, etc)
Employment history
Education history
Licenses held in other jurisdictions

Note: All of the details above should be kept up-to-date throughout the year, not just during the three-month renewal cycle!

Step 2. Report Your CE Activity

** Skip this step if you have contact our office to be excepted from CE activity! **

DVMs, RVTs, and CAETs 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 on July 1st! The earlier you get your CE activity entered into the portal, the sooner the Board can review your activity and documentation for completeness.

The total number of CE hours required annually are as follows, with at least 50% of the hours being completed in-person. [View definition for in-person activity.]

DVMs – 20 hours total; RVTs – 10 hours total; CAETs – 6 hours total

To enter you CE activity into the LBVM License Portal, you must:

log into LBVM License Portal;
click on the “License Renewal” menu option;
click “Start Renewal”; then,
follow the instructions in each step of the renewal application, clicking “Save & Continue” to move forward;
on the last step, make payment and submit the renewal!

You will receive an email notification once your renewal is approved by the Board.

CE Certificate Requirements

Rule §403.D 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 $150 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 of $25 shall be paid for any late continuing education hours taken after the beginning of the renewal period. A fine of up to $50 may also be levied for non-compliance with these rules.

Step 3. Complete the Renewal Application

log into LBVM License Portal;
click on the “License Renewal” menu option;
click “Start Renewal” then;
on the step #2, you will select one of the statuses below for your destination status type:
a) the “DVM – Inactive – Retired” option, or
b) the “DVM – Inactive – Disabled” option;
follow the instructions in each of the remaining steps of the renewal application, clicking “Save & Continue” to move forward;
on the last step, make payment and submit the renewal! Your invoice will reflect the reduced $125 inactive renewal fee based on your destination status selection on step #2 of the renewal;
once your renewal is submitted, you will still need to submit to the Board office the appropriate affidavit form. NOTE: The affidavit must be submitted annually, and your renewal will be considered incomplete should the affidavit not be received by the September 30th deadline.

You will receive an email notification once your renewal is approved by the Board.

Step 4. Submit the Affidavit of Inactive Retired or Disabled

Once your renewal is submitted, you will still need to submit to the Board office the appropriate affidavit from below. NOTE: The affidavit must be submitted annually, and your renewal will be considered incomplete should the affidavit not be received by the September 30th deadline.

Download the Affidavit of Retirement Form [PDF, 143.49 KB]

Download the Affidavit of Disability Form [PDF, 173.76 KB]

When is a Renewal Considered “Complete”?

Rules 305, 811, and 1213 state that an application for renewal is considered complete only after all of the following conditions are fully met:

application for renewal must be received by September 30 of the year of application for renewal;
full payment of renewal fee must be received;
unless exempt — all satisfactory documentation of compliance with continuing education requirements in accordance with Chapter 4 must be received; and
if applicable, full payment of late continuing education fee and any other disciplinary fines must be received.

Therefore, if the Board emails you stating that your CE certificate(s) are incomplete or have insufficient details and this is not rectified by September 30th, then your renewal application is considered incomplete and on October 1, the following will occur: 1) your license will expire and you will not be able to continue practicing, 2) you will owe the late renewal fee, and 3) your license will remain in an expired status until all satisfactory CE documentation and the late renewal fee is received and reviewed.

Practicing With An Inactive License

The Louisiana Veterinary Practice Act provides that any person who practices veterinary medicine in Louisiana after the expiration of his license or certificate is guilty of the illegal practice of veterinary medicine, whether the failure to timely renew is willful or by neglect.

LA Revised Statute 37:1525. Section 1531 (3) of the Practice Act authorizes the Board to levy civil penalties against any person found to have practiced veterinary medicine “without the benefit of a currently valid license … “.

The practice of veterinary medicine with a currently expired license or certificate is illegal and can subject the licensee to disciplinary action far beyond the payment of the late renewal fee.