N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44-4.10

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 13:44-4.10 - Continuing education

(a) Upon biennial license renewal, a licensee shall attest that he or she has completed courses of continuing education of the types and number of credits specified in (b) or (c) below. Falsification of any information submitted on the renewal application may require an appearance before the Board and may result in penalties and/or suspension or revocation of the licensee pursuant to 45:1-21 through 45:1-25.

(b) Each applicant for biennial license renewal shall complete 20 credit hours of continuing education in the preceding biennial license period. Of these 20 credit hours:

1. At least 17 shall be in surgery, medicine, or dentistry;

2. No more than four shall be in courses related solely to business management; and

3. Commencing with the biennial renewal period beginning on June 30, 2019, one shall be in topics concerning prescription opioid drugs, including the risks and signs of opioid abuse, addiction, and diversion.

(c) An applicant who is licensed in the second year of a biennial renewal period shall be required to complete 10 credit hours of continuing education in the preceding biennial license period.

(d) A licensee may obtain continuing education credit from the following sources with the following credit hours:

1. Successful completion of continuing education courses or programs approved by either the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association (NJVMA), NJVMA constituent associations or the American Association of Veterinary State Boards - Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE): one credit hour for each hour of attendance;

2. Attendance at a seminar sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or by an organization recognized by the AVMA: one credit hour for each hour of the seminar;

3. Successful completion of a continuing education course sponsored by a veterinary school approved by the Council on Education of the AVMA: one credit hour for each hour of the course;

4. Successful completion of a course related to the practice of veterinary medicine given by a college or university: one credit hour for each credit;

5. Completion of a self assessment test from a peer reviewed journal issued by veterinary school approved by the Council on Education of the AVMA which distributes a certificate of completion: one credit hour for each test, up to five credit hours per biennial period;

6. Completion of a Veterinary Information Network (VIN) course: one credit hour for each course credit;

7. Writing an article in a peer reviewed professional journal: three credit hours per article, up to three credit hours per biennial period;

8. Teaching a new continuing education course or program that is approved pursuant to (d)1 above. "New" means that the licensee has never taught or developed curriculum for that course or program in any educational setting: one credit hour for each hour taught up to 10 credit hours per biennial period; and

9. Presenting a new seminar or lecture to professional peers, provided the seminar or lecture is at least one hour long. "New" means that the licensee has never presented the seminar or lecture before: one credit hour for each hour of presentation up to five credit hours per biennial period.

(e) The Board shall perform audits on randomly selected licensees to determine compliance with continuing education requirements.

(f) A licensee shall maintain the following documentation for a period of four years after completion of the credits and shall submit such documentation to the Board upon request:

1. For attendance at programs, courses or seminars: a certificate of completion from the sponsor;

2. For completion of a self assessment test: a certificate of completion from the veterinary school;

3. For completion of a Veterinary Information Network (VIN) course: a certificate issued by VIN;

4. For an article: a copy of the article;

5. For teaching a course or program: documentation, including a copy of the curriculum, location, date and time of course, duration of course by hour, and letter from the sponsor confirming that the licensee developed or taught the course or program; and

6. For presenting a seminar: documentation including the location, date and duration of the lecture or seminar.

(g) The Board may waive the continuing education requirements of this section on an individual basis for reasons of hardship, such as severe illness, disability, or military service.

1. A licensee seeking a waiver of the continuing education requirements shall apply to the Board in writing at least 90 days prior to license renewal and set forth in specific detail the reasons for requesting the waiver. The licensee shall provide the Board with such supplemental materials as will support the request for waiver.

2. A waiver of continuing education requirements granted pursuant to this subsection shall only be effective for the biennial period in which such waiver is granted. If the condition(s) which necessitated the waiver persist(s) into the next biennial period, a licensee shall apply to the Board for approval of such waiver for the new biennial period.

(h) The Board may review a licensee's continuing education records at any time in order to confirm that the licensee is complying with the requirements of this section.

(i) The Board may direct or order a licensee to complete continuing education credit hours:

1. As part of a disciplinary or remedial measure in addition to the required 20 hours of continuing education credit; or

2. To correct a deficiency in the licensee's continuing education requirements.

(j) Any continuing education credit hours completed by the licensee in compliance with an order or directive from the Board as set forth in (i)1 above shall not be used to satisfy the minimum continuing education requirements as set forth in this section.

(k) A licensee may obtain up to two continuing education credit hours per biennial period by providing veterinary care without charge:

1. To an animal owned by a person eligible for:

i. The New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program authorized by the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008, Pub.L. 110-246 ( 7 U.S.C. §§ 2011 et seq.);

ii. The Supplemental Security Income Program established pursuant to Title XVI of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 1381 et seq.;

iii. The program for aid to families with dependent children, pursuant to P.L. 1959, c. 86 (N.J.S.A. 44:10-1 et seq.);

iv. The program for general public assistance, pursuant to the provisions of the "General Public Assistance Law," P.L. 1947, c. 156 (44:8-107 et seq.);

v. The program of medical assistance pursuant to P.L. 1968, c. 413 (30:4D-1 et seq.);

vi. The program of "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled," established pursuant to P.L. 1975, c. 194 (30:4D-20 et seq.);

vii. The rental assistance program authorized pursuant to section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 as added by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, Pub.L. 93-383 ( 42 U.S.C. § 1437(f) );

viii. The "Lifeline Credit Program" established pursuant to P.L. 1979, c. 197 (48:2-29.1 5 et seq.); or

ix. The "Tenants' Lifeline Assistance Program" established pursuant to P.L. 1981, c. 210 (48:2-29.3 0 et seq.);

2. To a feral or stray cat with no known owner in a shelter or pound licensed by the Department of Health and Senior Services provided that the shelter or pound attests to the licensee that the cat being treated is feral or stray with no known owner; or

3. To a cat in a municipally approved managed cat colony provided the municipality, nonprofit group, or organization managing the colony attests to the licensee that the cat being treated is feral or stray with no known owner.

(l) A licensee shall obtain one continuing education credit hour for every two hours spent providing volunteer veterinary services pursuant to (k) above.

(m) Continuing education credit hours obtained pursuant to (k) above shall not count towards any of the 17 credit hours of continuing education in surgery, medicine or dentistry required by (b) above.

(n) The Board may deny a licensee an opportunity to obtain any or all continuing education credit hours pursuant to (k) above if the Board determines that:

1. The licensee must complete continuing education credit hours in order to maintain or restore professional competence pursuant to (i) above; or

2. All licensees must complete continuing education credit hours in order to address developments in science or technology.

N.J. Admin. Code § 13:44-4.10

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 906(b), effective 2/20/2018

Amended by 52 N.J.R. 145(a), effective 2/3/2020