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 2021 Update to CE Guidelines

The following is a list of the changes to the CE guidelines effective 1/26/2021.  If any of your CE is negatively affected by the changes, those CE hours will be grandfathered into the old guidelines, if needed, until 6/30/2021.  Click on the update to be taken to the specific details.

  1. The terminology of Technical category has been changed to Medical category.
  2. The terminology of Supportive category has been changed to Non-medical category.
  3. The definitions of Medical and Non-medical categories have been changed to reflect RACE standard definitions.
  4. The verbiage RACE ID has been changed to RACE Program Number.
  5. For speakers of Medical CE, the requirements now include two additional presenter qualifications in addition to a veterinarian or credentialed technician and/or
    1. having an advanced academic degree in the subject matter
    2. able to provide evidence of special knowledge in the subject area being presented
  6. The Non-Medical CE category speaker qualifications have been changed to demonstrate by any one of the following:
    1. A veterinarian
    2. A credentialed veterinary technician
    3. An academic degree in the subject matter or formal training in the subject matter
    4. Extensive experience or training in the subject area being presented
  7. 1 hour of hands on lab = 1 hour of CE (previously 2hrs of lab= 1hr CE)
  8. Speakers of a continuing education lecture can submit the hours of their lecture presented as a part of their CE hours for renewal.
  9. Each Medical and Non-Medical CE course can only be submitted once per renewal cycle.
  10. College courses may be approved for CE hours if they fall under the Medical or Non-Medical CE guidelines.  
  11. Exhibit halls and posters are not approved CE for required hours.

 

Medical CE Guidelines

Medical Programs include all medical and surgical topics that are evidence-based, including the science of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease as it relates directly to patients. It also includes topics in veterinary science that are not specifically clinical in nature but consider the comprehensive range of the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology. 

Presenters of any Medical Program must be qualified to engage in clinical veterinary practice or be academically qualified in a field of science related to veterinary medicine.  Examples of qualifications for speakers in this category can be demonstrated by any one of the following:

    1. A veterinarian
    2. A credentialed veterinary technician 
    3. An advanced academic degree in the subject matter
    4. Providing evidence of special knowledge in the subject area being presented (such as a certification from an accredited program)

At least half of CE hours submitted for certification renewal must fall under the Medical CE category.

Medical CE can be obtained in state or out of state, in-person or online, so long as the CE meets all applicable criteria posted here. See important guidelines for acquiring online CE below.  Each Medical CE course/lecture can only be submitted once per renewal cycle.

Examples of Medical Topics, assuming all other guidelines for Medical CE have been met:

Anesthesia, Animal Welfare, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Behavior, Cardiology, Dentistry, Dermatology, Emergency/Critical Care, Endocrinology, End of Life Care, Epidemiology, Equine, Exotics/Zoology, Food Safety, Gastroenterology, Geriatric Care, Herd Management, Hematology, Hospice and Palliative Care, Internal Medicine, Laboratory Animal, Large Animal, Microbiology, Nephrology, Neurology, Nutrition, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Parasitology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Preventative Care, Public Health, Radiology, Surgery, Theriogenology/Reproduction, Toxicology, Ultrasonography, Urology, Wildlife & Fish Hatcheries, Zoonosis, and Alternative Therapies (Acupuncture, Chinese/Herbal Medicine, Massage, Physical Rehabilitation)

NOTE: Medical CE must be presented at an advanced medical level for individuals in the veterinary field. Presentations that are catered/open to the public will not be accepted as Medical CE regardless of who is presenting.

CACVT reserves the right to refuse any submitted Medical CE credit that does not meet the standard for Medical education for a Certified Veterinary Technician.

 

Non-Medical CE Guidelines

Non-Medical programs (Practice Management/Professional Development/Professional Wellness) include those that serve the public interest by helping make veterinary medical professionals more competent and capable in the delivery of veterinary services, but that are not necessarily scientific or clinical in nature.

Presenters of any Non-Medical Program must be qualified to provide CE relevant to veterinary medical professionals.  Examples of qualifications for speakers in this category can be demonstrated by any one of the following.

    1. A veterinarian 
    2. A credentialed veterinary technician
    3. An academic degree or formal training in the subject matter
    4. Extensive experience or training in the subject area being presented (such as a certification from an accredited program)

No CE hours need to come from the Non-Medical category. However, if obtained, these credits will count towards your overall CE hours once the appropriate amount of Medical CE has been obtained.

Non-Medical CE can be obtained in state or out of state, in-person or online, so long as the CE meets all applicable criteria posted here.  See important guidelines for acquiring online CE below.   Each Non-Medical CE course/lecture can only be submitted once per renewal cycle.

Examples of Non-Medical Topics, assuming all other guidelines for Non-Medical CE have been met:

Animal Control Topics, Business Management, Communication, Regulatory compliance, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Pet Insurance, Professional/Career Development (directly related to your personal and professional growth as a CVT), Professional Wellness, Non-Medical Behavior Modification Techniques, Shelter Management, Veterinary Inventory Management, Veterinary Practice Management, etc. (Please also refer to the section on Professional Crossover below).  Programs in Professional Wellness may include, but are not limited to:  Mental Health, Depression, Compassion Fatigue, Burnout, and Suicide Ideation.

CACVT reserves the right to refuse any submitted Non-Medical CE credit that does not meet the standard for Non-Medical education for a Certified Veterinary Technician.

CE Certificates/Proof of Attendance

CVTs are responsible for keeping their own personal CE certificates of attendance. CACVT will ask for copies of the certificates, if needed. CE certificates can be uploaded to the Member Profile at any time for convenience, but it is not mandatory. Certificates should contain the following information, but if they don't, the member should document this information at the time of attendance:

    1. Attendee’s name
    2. Date of presentation
    3. Time – written in duration and/or CE hours (e.g. 9am-10a/1 CE hour)
    4. Presentation title
    5. Speaker with credentials
    6. CE Location
    7. Signature of presenter/director
    8. If RACE approved, then the provider and program number is required on these certificates
    9. If CACVT approved, then the approval ID number is required on these certificates

When submitting a conference, symposium, or event that has multiple lectures, it is the members' responsibility to record each of the lectures individually for submission.  Submissions must include the following information for each lecture, so it is important for the member to document this information at the time of the event:

    1. Date of presentation
    2. Name of Event
    3. Time – written in duration and/or CE hours (e.g. 9am-10a/1 CE hour)
    4. Presentation title
    5. Speaker name and credentials

 

 

Online CE

CACVT will only accept RACE approved online CE. In order to be deemed Medical, the CE must meet all of the above provisions outlined for Medical CE. In order to be deemed Non-Medical, the CE must meet the above provisions outlined for Non-Medical CE.

Reporting Procedure: The CVT is responsible for obtaining the RACE approved provider number and program number, in addition to hosting entity/organization, presenter/speaker (including credentials), session title, dates, and credit hours, if intending to submit a RACE approved online course for CE credit. If the RACE provider number and program number is not provided by the CVT on CE log, CACVT will not accept the hours for CE credit in either category.

In-Hospital CE

Organizations wishing to obtain pre-approval for CE events must do so via the link below. These events can be lunch and learns, in-house CE events, conferences, etc. In-clinic industry representative lectures, so long as they are not equipment training based, will apply for CE credit in the category for which the criteria are met. (Examples include; Nutrition lectures that have a medical base, Vaccine Updates, medically based New Product Information, etc.).

In-Hospital rounds, training, and training on new procedures or equipment training will not be accepted as CE.

Click here to be redirected to the Speaker CE Approval Page and application.

 

Colorado Veterinary State Board of Veterinary Medicine Meetings

As the Colorado Veterinary State Board oversees the Colorado Veterinary Practice Act, which informs all manner of practice of veterinary medicine in the state of Colorado, CACVT highly recommends getting exposure to this board and how it operates. It also serves as prime example of state regulation in veterinary medicine.

CACVT will offer up to 4 Non-Medical CE credit hours per certification cycle for attendance at a Colorado Veterinary State Board Meeting.
As state board meetings are open to the public, in order to receive credit for attendance, the CVT is responsible for approaching the CACVT Executive Director (present at all SBVM Meetings) to state that they are there for CE. It will be the CVT’s responsibility to obtain a certificate before 4pm on the day of attendance. They will not be distributed retroactively. If the meeting is online, the CVT attending is responsible for emailing the executive director ([email protected]) prior to the meeting so the certificate can be emailed after the meeting.

Equivocal Continuing Education

Speaker CE Hours

If you are a presenter/speaker for a continuing education lecture, you can now submit the hours for approval with your renewal application.  The hours submitted should be the same number of hours as the lecture time.  Each lecture can only be submitted once during a 2-year renewal cycle.  The submitted hours need to fall under the Medical or Non-Medical category guidelines.  Must be a RACE approved program, a state or nationally recognized conference, or pre-approved by CACVT and fit within CACVT guidelines.

Lab CE

Continuing education courses that are wet labs, can be submitted for CE for the equal number of hours.  (i.e. 1hr lab= 1hr CE)

College Credits

College courses may be approved for CE hours if they fall under the Medical or Non-Medical CE guidelines.  One academic credit granted by an institutionally accredited organization is equal to 1 CE Credit.  Transcript of course with passing grade will be used as proof of completion.  College credits are required to be pre-approved by the CACVT in advance by submitting the Speaker CE request.  The course must be started and completed within the 2-year membership cycle.

Exhibit Halls

Exhibit halls will not be approved as CE hours for renewal.

Posters

Posters will not be approved as CE hours for renewal.

Equipment Training

Training on equipment hardware or software will not be accepted as CE.

Other

In-Hospital rounds, training, and training on new procedures/machines will not be accepted as CE. 

 

Professional Crossover

Many Certified Veterinary Technicians branch into various areas of veterinary medicine and industry, as well as into other professions altogether, while maintaining their credentialing status. These other areas and professions, such as Education, Executive Oversight, Industry Sales, and Law Enforcement, often have their own standards and criteria for continuing education. CE from other areas and professions may or may not duplicate as CE veterinary technician certification. This CE will be approved on a case-by-case basis.  CACVT reserves the right to refuse any submitted CE that does not meet continuing education standards for Certified Veterinary Technicians, regardless of professional crossover.

CE Verification

Once CE has been submitted as part of your complete certification renewal application, between May 1 and June 30 of each even year, it will be reviewed by the Certification Committee. If there are any discrepancies with submitted CE hours, you will be notified by CACVT. Your certification will not be processed and current until CACVT has received all required CE and it has been approved by the Certification Committee.

 

*Revised February, 2021