District of Columbia Vet & Vet Tech CE Requirements
Find the latest District of Columbia continuing education (CE) requirements for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Review license renewal dates, CE hour requirements, online CE allowances, required subjects, and District of Columbia Board of Veterinary Medicine contact information.
Fun fact: D.C.’s Rock Creek Park is home to the largest urban population of barred owls in the United States.
Fun Fact: You can find the Hay’s Spring amphipod in D.C., an endangered, translucent, shrimp-like crustacean that is only found in underground springs in Rock Creek Park and the National Zoo. It was named an official District symbol in 2016.
Veterinarians
Next Renewal Date: The last day of the veterinarian’s birth month in the applicable renewal year. Veterinarians born in an odd-numbered year renew in odd-numbered years, while those born in an even-numbered year renew in even-numbered years.
Renewal Frequency: Every 2 years
Total Required CE credits: 36 hours
Required Subjects: Two hours of LGBTQ cultural competency training and at least 10% of the total CE requirement, or 3.6 hours, in public health priorities designated by the District of Columbia Department of Health.
Allowed Online: All required continuing education hours may be completed online through approved providers, including RACE-approved ZukuCE courses.
Record Retention: Five years
Audit Information: Veterinarians may be required to submit certificates or other documentation demonstrating completion of their continuing education requirements. Licensees should retain the course title, provider information, subject matter, completion date, credit hours, and verification of completion for each CE activity.
Additional Information: Veterinarians renewing for the first time after receiving their initial District of Columbia license are exempt from the CE requirement. During the one-time transition to the birth-month renewal cycle, veterinarians whose license term is shorter than two years may complete 50% of the standard CE requirement. The full two-hour LGBTQ cultural competency requirement and the applicable public health priorities requirement must still be completed. Approved CE includes qualifying programs offered by AVMA-accredited veterinary schools, the AVMA, the DC Veterinary Medical Association, the DC Academy of Veterinary Medicine, the Board, and RACE-approved providers.
Veterinary Technicians
Next Renewal Date: The last day of the veterinary technician’s birth month in the applicable renewal year. Veterinary technicians born in an odd-numbered year renew in odd-numbered years, while those born in an even-numbered year renew in even-numbered years.
Renewal Frequency: Every 2 years
Total Required CE credits: 18 hours
Required Subjects: Two hours of LGBTQ cultural competency training and at least 10% of the total CE requirement, or 1.8 hours, in public health priorities designated by the District of Columbia Department of Health.
Allowed Online: All required veterinary technician continuing education hours may be completed online through approved providers, including RACE-approved ZukuCE courses.
Record Retention: Five years
Audit Information: Certified veterinary technicians may be required to submit certificates or other documentation demonstrating completion of their continuing education requirements. CE records should be retained throughout the required record-retention period in case they are requested by the Board.
Additional Information: Veterinary technicians are certified and regulated by the District of Columbia Board of Veterinary Medicine. During the one-time transition to the birth-month renewal cycle, certificate holders whose credential term is shorter than two years may complete 50% of the standard CE requirement. The full two-hour LGBTQ cultural competency requirement and the applicable public health priorities requirement must still be completed. Approved continuing education includes qualifying veterinary programs offered by approved organizations and RACE-approved providers.
D.C. Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
Address: 2201 Shannon Place SE, Washington, DC 20020
Phone Number: (877) 672-2174