Colorado Veterinarian & Veterinary Technician CE Requirements
Find the latest Colorado continuing education (CE) requirements for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Review renewal dates, required CE hours, online CE options, required subjects, and Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine information.
Fun Fact: Bighorn Sheep are the state mammal. They are known to crash into each other at speeds of up to 40 miles an hour to establish dominance. Their double-layered skulls prevent injury and brain damage.
Fun Fact: The plague-causing bacteria, Yersinia pestis, naturally exists in Colorado. It can spread to humans and pets through the bites of infected rodent fleas or by direct handling of a sick or dead animal.
Veterinarians
Next Renewal Date: October 31, 2026
Renewal Frequency: Every 2 years, in even-numbered years
Total Required CE: 32 hours every 2 years
Required Subjects: For the 2026 renewal, veterinarians must complete 2 hours of Colorado veterinary jurisprudence and 1 hour of substance use prevention training; exemptions may apply to the substance use prevention requirement. No more than 6 hours may be earned in nontechnical competency topics such as leadership, personnel management, client relations, communication, and integrated resource management. Financial-based and primarily promotional presentations do not qualify.
Allowed Online: Colorado automatically accepts RACE-approved CE, including qualifying ZukuCE courses. The current rules do not specify a general maximum number of CE hours that may be completed online.
Audit Information: Veterinarians must attest to compliance with applicable CE requirements during renewal and should maintain supporting documentation so it can be provided if requested by the Board.
Additional Information: Veterinarians whose first renewal occurs in the same year as their original Colorado licensure are not required to complete CE. If the first renewal occurs in the year after original licensure, 16 hours are required. The new delegation and supervision CE requirement does not apply to the 2026 renewal; it will first apply to the 2028 renewal cycle.
Registered Veterinary Technicians
Next Renewal Date: October 31, 2026
Renewal Frequency: Every 2 years, in even-numbered years
Total Required CE: Colorado does not establish a separate state CE-hour requirement for registered veterinary technicians. RVTs must maintain the credential required for Colorado registration, which may include continuing education requirements established by the approved credentialing organization.
Additional Information: Veterinary technicians practicing in Colorado must be registered with the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine and maintain the credential required for registration. Credentialing organizations may have additional continuing education and renewal requirements.
Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine
Website: dpo.colorado.gov/Veterinary
Address: 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, CO 80202
Phone Number: (303) 894-7800