We have done our best to represent the latest information, but state board requirements are subject to change. This page may become out of date at such times. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your state board for the most up-to-date information.
Additionally, some states have instituted special rulings regarding license renewals and continuing education requirements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please refer to your state board for more information.
Veterinarians
| State | License Term | Expiration | Hours per Term | Allowable Online Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 20 | 10 | minimum 16 hours scientific, maximum 4 hours non-medical/practice management |
| Alaska | 2 years | Dec. 31 even years | 30 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Arizona | 2 years | Dec. 31 even years | 20 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 5 hours self-study, maximum 2 hours practice management, minimum 3 hours substance abuse disorder or addiction-related CE if prescribing or dispensing schedule II controlled substances and DEA registered |
| Arkansas | 1 year | March 31 | 20 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 10 hours live/interactive, maximum 10 hours pre-recorded/non-interactive, minimum 10 hours scientific, maximum 8 hours non-medical |
| California | 2 years | Midnight of the last day of the month in which the license was issued during the second year of the two-year term | 36 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 6 hours self-study/non-interactive courses |
| Colorado | 2 years | Oct. 31 even years | 32 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 26 hours scientific, maximum 8 hours non-medical |
| Connecticut | 2 years | 2 years from date of licensure | 24 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Delaware | 2 years | July 31 even years | 24 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| District of Columbia | 2 years | Dec. 31 odd years | 36 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Florida | 2 years | May 31 even years | 30 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 1 hour dispensing legend drugs, minimum 2 hours FL Law and Rules, maximum 15 hours self-study/non-interactive, maximum 5 hours complimentary/alternative medicine, maximum 5 hours practice management, maximum 5 hours mental health/wellness |
| Georgia | 2 years | Dec. 31 even years | 30 | 15 | minimum 18 hours scientific, minimum 2 hours GA Laws, Rules, and Professionalism, maximum 12 hours per day, maximum 20 hours for any one CE program, maximum 6 hours through in-house training at the licensees' place of employment, maximum 10 hours through in-house training for veterinary faculty at AVMA accredited institutions, maximum 3 hours for conducting peer review for the Board, maximum 3 hours for journal studies with required follow-up testing |
| Hawaii | 2 years | June 30 even years | 20 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Idaho | 2 years | June 30 of renewal year | 15 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Illinois | 2 years | Jan. 31 odd years | 40 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Indiana | 2 years | Oct. 15 odd years | 40 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 20 hours self-study/non-interactive (must include a written exam or post evaluation) |
| Iowa | 3 years | June 30 of renewal year | 60 | 20 | maximum 20 hours practice management |
| Kansas | 1 year | June 30 | 20 | All hours can be completed online. | The Kansas Board defines CE as “any program or activity which enhances the veterinarian’s level of knowledge, skills, or abilities to practice veterinary medicine.” “Programs or activities” which could enhance your knowledge, skills or abilities extend beyond the traditional conventions and meetings. Unlike many other states, the Kansas Board does allow CE credit for programs or activities that are outside of these traditional conventions and meetings. Consultation with an expert in a specialty area, and self-study of and then testing over compendium articles are two examples of the many programs or activities available to veterinarians today which can enhance their level of knowledge, skills or abilities. Participation in such programs or activities, when you assess that it has enhanced your level of knowledge, skills or abilities, may be counted towards your Kansas license renewal CE requirement. |
| Kentucky | 2 years | Sept. 30 even years | 30 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 10 hours practice management/non-medical |
| Louisiana | 1 year | Sept. 30 | 20 | 10 | maximum 10 hours self-study/non-interactive, 20 hours required each fiscal year |
| Maine | 1 year | Sept. 30 | 24 every 2 years | All hours can be completed online. | Licenses are renewed annually. 24 hours of CE is required with renewal in even numbered years. Maximum 6 hours in practice management/non-medical subjects. |
| Maryland | 1 year | June 30 | 18 | 9 | minimum 12 hours medical, maximum 6 hours non-medical |
| Massachussetts | 1 year | Feb. 28 | 15 | All hours can be completed online. | Maximum 6 hours self-study/non-interactive instruction. Online conferencing events, so called “webinars, interactive conferences, or online workshops,” offered live via the internet and requiring interaction between the licensee and the provider of the continuing education are acceptable for the balance of the required units of continuing education, and not subject to the six (6) hour limitation. |
| Michigan | 3 years | 3 years from date of licensure | 45 | 39 | maximum 33 hours online, electronic, or printed formats that do not require or permit synchronous or live interaction during the activity; minimum of 12 hours through live in-person events or no less than 6 hours live and in person with the remainder of the 12 hours completed with an activity that requires or permits synchronous, live interaction; minimum 30 hours scientific/medical; minimum 1 hour medical records; minimum 1 hour state veterinary law or federal or state controlled substance law; not more than 12 hours during on 24-hour period; no more than 15 hours collectively for article publication in a peer-reviewed journal or providing individual supervision to a disciplinarily limited veterinarian |
| Minnesota | 2 years | Feb. 28 or 29 of renewal year | 40 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 30 interactive, maximum 40 self-study (1 credit per 3 hours of self-study), maximum 10 hours practice management |
| Mississippi | 1 year | Aug. 1 | 15 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 10 hours live/interactive |
| Missouri | 1 year | Nov. 30 | 10 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 4 hours practice management/non-medical, maximum 2 hours self-study reading approved scientific journals |
| Montana | 1 year | Nov. 1 | 20 every 2 years on even numbered years | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 10 hours self-study/non-interactive, maximum 5 hours practice management |
| Nebraska | 2 years | April 1 even years | 32 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 8 hours practice management, maximum 8 hours self-study with a testing mechanism, 3 hours on the subject of opiods and 0.5 hours of the 3 hours on the subject of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program |
| Nevada | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 20 | 10 | maximum 10 hours distance learning or correspondence |
| New Hampshire | 2 years | last day of the month in the month the license was issued | 30 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 24 hours medical, maximum 6 hours non-medical including practice management, professional development, and professional wellness, maximum 6 hours USDA accredited programs, maximum 4 hours complementary or alternative veterinary therapies, minimum 1 hour medical records, law, or ethics, minimum 1 hour opiod use or prescribing of opiods, maximum 1 hour professional wellness, minimum 15 hours in person or simultaneously interactive remote learning, maximum 15 hours passive prerecorded learning |
| New Jersey | 2 years | June 30 | 20 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 17 hours in surgery, medicine, or dentistry, maximum 4 hours practice management, maximum 5 hours self-study, minimum 1 hour opiod drugs, including the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion |
| New Mexico | 1 year | last day of birth month | 15 | All hours can be completed online through December 31, 2023. | maximum 5 hours practice management, maximum 11.5 hours alternative medicine, maximum 7.5 hours from non-contact/non-interactive programs and materials |
| New York | 3 years | 3 years from date of licensure | 45 | All hours can be completed online. | ***NY approved Sponsors only. NY does not accept RACE approved CE. Note that Vetcetera is an approved CE provider in NY. Minimum 2 hours use, misuse, documentation, safeguarding and prescribing controlled substances, maximum 22.5 hours self-instructional, non-interactive coursework, which can include free spaying and neutering and other veterinary services provided by a veterinarian in conjunction with a municipality or nonprofit/animal protection organization (see state board website for more details) |
| North Carolina | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 20 | 10 | minimum 5 of the allowable 10 online hours interactive, minimum 2 hours abuse of controlled substances |
| North Dakota | 1 year | June 30 | 24 every 2 years, certified on even numbered years | 12 | maximum 8 hours practice management, maximum 8 hours of participation in a clinical setting at another veterinary practice and completion of the written report required by the veterinary exchange program, maximum 12 hours through written journals or technology-based methods relevant to the practice of veterinary medicine |
| Ohio | 2 years | March 1 even years | 30 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 15 hours non-interactive/self-study online coursework, maximum 10 hours practice management/non-medical/professional development |
| Oklahoma | 1 year | June 30 | 20 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 2 hours controlled dangerous substances law or review of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act and applicable rules (attending a board meeting is also acceptable CE in this category), minimum 1 hour CE for Opiod pain management or Opiod use/addiction |
| Oregon | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 30 every 2 years, reported every odd numbered year | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 4 hours for reading approved scientific journals, maximum 6 hours non-medical, minimum 1 hour judicious antibiotic use and appropriate anesthesia/analgesia |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years | Nov. 30 even years | 30 | 7.5 | maximum 25% of the hours may be earned by individual study or written or computer-based correspondence courses for which third-party verification of satisfactory completion is provided, no credit for practice management/non-medical |
| Rhode Island | 2 years | May 1 | 24 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 4 hours self-study non-contact hours (on demand online courses), maximum 4 hours practice management |
| South Carolina | 2 years | March 31 of the renewal year | 30 | 15 | maximum 8 hours practice management, minimum 22 hours medical, no more than 15 hours through distance learning courses (maximum 3 hours from journal programs, maximum 3 hours from audio programs), minimum 2 hours prescribing and monitoring controlled substances |
| South Dakota | 2 years | July 1 of the renewal year | 32 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Tennessee | 2 years | last day of the month for the license period | 20 per calendar year, 40 per biennium | 10 per calendar year | minimum 15 hours medical, maximum 5 hours non-medical, minimum 2 hours every 2 years in law, controlled substances, and ethics. The due date for attendance and completion of the required continuing education hours in December 31 each year. |
| Texas | 1 year | last day of birth month | 17 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 3 hours self-study (any form of CE from which the licensee does not receive a certificate of completion, including reading articles in journals, listening to audio tapes or Cds or viewing video tapes), maximum 5 hours practice management and/or correspondence (CE that requires the licenseee to take a test at the conclusion of the course and yields a certificate of completion) |
| Utah | 2 years | Sept. 30 even years | 24 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Vermont | 2 years | May 31 odd years | 24 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Virginia | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 15 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Washington | 1 year | birth month | 30 every 2 years | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 10 hours self-study/non-interactive courses, minimum 20 hours medical, maximum 10 hours non-medical, one-time training in suicide prevention that is 3 hours in length required (see state board website for details) |
| West Virginia | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 18 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 14 hours medical, maximum 4 hours practice management |
| Wisconsin | 2 years | Dec. 31 odd years | 30 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 25 hours medical |
| Wyoming | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 24 every 2 years | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 3 hours every 2 years controlled substances, maximum 6 hours practice management |
Veterinary Technicians
| State | License Term | Expiration | Hours per Term | Allowable Online Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 8 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 6 hours scientific programs, the remaining 2 hours may be verifiable audio, video, compendium journal and computer review, or one of the two hours may be given for state or local association meetings |
| Alaska | 2 years | Dec. 31 even years | 10 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Arizona | 2 years | Dec. 31 even years | 10 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 2.5 hours self-study/non-interactive |
| Arkansas | 1 year | March 31 of renewal year | 12 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 8 hours medical, maximum 4 hours non-medical, minimum 6 hours interactive, maximum 6 hours self-study/non-interactive |
| California | 2 years | Midnight of the last day of the month in which the license was issued during the second year of the two-year term | 20 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 4 hours self-study/non-interactive |
| Colorado | 2 years | On the even years, renew with CACVT by June 30th to prepare for registration renewal with DORA by October 31st. | 20 | All hours can be completed online. | HB 22-1235 requires veterinary technicians to maintain active credentialing with a Board-approved credentialing organization effective January 1, 2024. The Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians is the approved credentialing organization. The CACVT requires at least 10 hours of medical CE. |
| Connecticut | not regulated by state | ||||
| Delaware | 2 years | July 31 even years | 12 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| District of Columbia | not regulated by state | ||||
| Florida | not regulated by state | ||||
| Georgia | 2 years | Dec. 31 even years | 10 | 4 | minimum 1 hr GA Laws, Rules, and Professionalism, maximum 3 hours through in house training at the licensees' place of employment, maximum 5 hours through in house training at AVMA accredited institutions, maximum 4 hours can be obtained from veterinary journal studies or interactive computer generated courses where follow-up testing is required |
| Hawaii | 2 years | June 30 even years | No CE Requirements | ||
| Idaho | 2 years | June 30 of renewal year | 15 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Illinois | 2 years | Jan. 31 odd years | 15 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Indiana | 2 years | Jan. 1 even years | 16 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 8 hours self-study (must include a written exam or post evaluation) |
| Iowa | 3 years | Dec. 31 of renewal year | 30 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 10 hours approved home study courses |
| Kansas | 1 year | April 30 | No CE requirements | ||
| Kentucky | 1 year | Sept. 30 | 6 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Louisiana | 1 year | Sept. 30 | 10 | 5 | 10 hours each fiscal year (July 1 through June 30) |
| Maine | 1 year | Sept. 30 | No CE Requirements | ||
| Maryland | 3 years | June 30 of renewal year | 24 | 8 in 3 years or 4 per year | |
| Massachussetts | not regulated by state | ||||
| Michigan | 3 years | 3 years from date of licensure | 15 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 5 hours live/interactive, minimum 10 hours medical/scientific, not more than 12 hours may be earned in one 24-hour period |
| Minnesota | not regulated by state | ||||
| Mississippi | 1 year | Sept. 1 | 10 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 5 hours live/interactive |
| Missouri | 1 year | Nov. 30 | 5 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 3 hours live workshop or seminar or completion of scientific RACE approved audio or video recordings, electronic or interative material or programs; maximum 2 hours nonscientific audio or video recordings, electronic, computer or interactive programs or material, reading of a professional journal, or consulting with another registered veterinary technician or licensed veterinarian other than the applicant's supervisor |
| Montana | 1 year | Nov. 1 | 20 hours every 2 years on even numbered years | All hours may be completed online | maximum 10 hours self-study/noninteractive, maximum 5 hours practice management |
| Nebraska | 2 years | April 1 even years | 16 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 4 hours practice management, maximum 4 hours self-study with a testing mechanism |
| Nevada | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 10 | 5 | maximum 5 hours distance learning or correspondence |
| New Hampshire | not regulated by state | ||||
| New Jersey | not regulated by state | ||||
| New Mexico | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 8 | All hours can be completed online through December 31, 2023. | maximum 4 hours non-contact/non-interactive programs |
| New York | 3 years | 3 years from date of licensure | 24 | All hours can be completed online. | ***NY approved Sponsors only. NY does not accept RACE approved CE. Note that Vetcetera is a NY approved CE provider. Maximum 12 hours through self-instructional/non-interactive coursework. |
| North Carolina | 2 years | Dec. 31 | 12 | 6 | minimum 3 of the 6 online hours interactive, mimimum 2 hours abuse of controlled substances |
| North Dakota | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 8 every two years, certified on even years | 4 | maximum 2 hours participation in a clinical setting at another veterinary practice and completion of the written report required by the veterinary exchange program, maximum 2 hours practice management, maximum 4 hours through professional written journals or technology-based methods relevant to the practice of veterinary medicine |
| Ohio | 2 years | March 1 odd years | 10 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 6 hours non-interactive/self-study online coursework, maximum 4 hours practice management/non-medical/professional development, minimum 6 hours medical and directly related to the practice of veterinary medicine |
| Oklahoma | 1 year | June 30 | 10 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 2 hours controlled dangerous substances law or review of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act and applicable rules |
| Oregon | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 15 every 2 years, reported on even-numbered years | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 2 hours reading approved scientific journals, maximum 3 hours non-medical |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years | Nov. 30 even years | 16 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 25% of the hours may be earned by individual study or written or computer-based correspondence courses for which third-party verification of satisfactory completion is provided, no credit for practice management/non-medical |
| Rhode Island | not regulated by state | ||||
| South Carolina | 2 years | March 31 of renewal year | 10 | 5 | |
| South Dakota | 2 years | July 1 of renewal year | 12 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Tennessee | 2 years | last day of the month for the license period | 12 hours per calendar year, 24 per biennium | 4 hours per calendar year | The due date for attendance and completion of the required continuing education hours in December 31 each year. |
| Texas | 1 year | last day of birth month | 10 | All hours can be completed online. | maximum 2 hours practice management, maximum 2 hours self-study (any form of CE from which the licensee does not receive a certificate of completion, including reading articles in journals, listening to audio tapes or Cds or viewing video tapes), maximum 4 hours correspondence courses (CE that requires the licenseee to take a test at the conclusion of the course and yields a certificate of completion) |
| Utah | 2 years | September 30 even years | 12 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 9 hours specific to medical practice |
| Vermont | not regulated by state | ||||
| Virginia | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 8 | All hours can be completed online. | |
| Washington | 1 year | birth month | 20 every 2 years | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 14 hours medical, maximum 6 hours non-medical, maximum 6 hours self-study/non-interactive courses, one-time training in suicide prevention that is 3 hours in length required (see state board website for details) |
| West Virginia | 1 year | Dec. 31 | 8 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 4 hours medical, maximum 4 hours practice management, listening to audio or reading journals not accepted as CE |
| Wisconsin | 2 years | Dec. 31 odd years | 15 | All hours can be completed online. | minimum 10 hours medical |
| Wyoming | not regulated by state |