Code of Colorado Regulations
700 - Department of Regulatory Agencies
727 - Division of Professions and Occupations - Board of Veterinary Medicine
4 CCR 727-1 - VETERINARIAN AND VETERINARY TECHNICIAN RULES AND REGULATIONS
Section 4 CCR 727-1.7 - VETERINARIAN LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

Universal Citation: 4 CO Code Regs 727-1 ยง 7

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 5, March 10, 2024

This Rule is promulgated pursuant to sections 12-20-202, 12-20-203, 12-20-204, 12-20-404, 12-315-106(5)(g), 12-315-107, 12-315-108, 12-315-109, 12-315-110, 12-315-111, and 12-315-114, C.R.S.

A. Licensure by Examination

1. All documents required as part of a licensure application, except for license renewal, must be received by the Board within one year of the date of receipt of application. An application is incomplete until the Board receives all additional information requested or required in order to determine whether to grant or deny the application. If all required information is not submitted within the one year period, then the original application materials will be destroyed and the applicant will be required to submit a new application, fee, and all required documentation. The only exception to this are examination results; they will be maintained for an additional one year if the application is not completed within one year of receipt of the application before they are also destroyed if a new application is not filed before that time.

2. Each applicant shall submit a completed Board approved application along with the required fee in order to be considered for licensure approval and must also verify that the applicant:
a. Graduated from a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The applicant must submit official documentation bearing the seal of the institution in the form of one of the following:
(1) A final official transcript showing proof of degree or

(2) A letter from the Dean of the School/College of Veterinary Medicine or the College/University Registrar stating that the applicant has been awarded the degree Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.

b. Graduated from a non-approved school or college of veterinary medicine. The applicant must submit official certificate of completion from one of the following programs in lieu of school transcripts:
(1) Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or

(2) Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Educational Equivalence (PAVE).

c. Successfully completed the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) after November of 2000.

3. Each applicant will also be required to verify that the applicant:
a. Accurately and completely list any acts that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the Practice Act and provide a written explanation of the circumstances of such act, including supporting documentation if required.

b. Accurately and completely provide any and all information pertaining to any final or pending disciplinary action by any state or jurisdiction in which the applicant is or has been previously licensed.

c. Demonstrates current clinical competency and professional ability through at least one of the following:
(1) Graduated within the twelve months immediately preceding the date the application is received with a DVM degree from a school or college of veterinary medicine, which at the time of the applicant's graduation was accredited by the AVMA;

(2) Earned a certificate from either ECFVG or PAVE within the twelve months immediately preceding the date the application is received;

(3) Engaged in the active licensed clinical practice of veterinary medicine in this or another jurisdiction for at least three years of the five years immediately preceding the date the application is received (experience from postgraduate training, residency programs, internships, or research during this time will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis);

(4) Engaged in teaching veterinary medicine in an AVMA accredited program for at least three years of the five years immediately preceding the date the application is received;

(5) Engaged in service as a veterinarian in the military for at least three years of the five years immediately preceding the date the application is received;

(6) Passed the NAVLE within one year of the date the application is received; or

(7). Successfully completed a Board approved evaluation by an AVMA accredited institution within one year of the date the application is received, which certifies the applicant's proficiency as equivalent to the current school graduate. An applicant must submit a proposed evaluation for pre-approval by the Board before it is begun. The Board may reject an evaluation for which a proposal has not been pre-approved or for other good cause.

d. The Board may also consider applying one or more of the following towards demonstration of current clinical competency:
(1) Practice under a probationary or otherwise restricted license for a specified period of time;

(2) Successful completion of courses approved by the Board; or

(3) Any other professional standard or measure of continued competency as determined by the Board, including successful completion of species-specific examination(s).

B. Licensure by Endorsement

1. In order to be eligible for licensure by endorsement, an applicant must certify that the applicant does not currently possess a revoked, suspended, restricted, or conditional license to practice veterinary medicine, or is currently not pending disciplinary action against such license, in another state or territory of the United States, or through the federal government.

2. Each eligible applicant shall submit a completed Board approved application along with the required fee in order to be considered for licensure approval and must also verify through the state in which, or federal agency through which, he or she is seeking endorsement from that the applicant meets the requirements listed under Rule 1.7(A)(2).

3. The requirements in Rule 1.7 apply for purposes of this Rule.

C. Academic License

1. A veterinarian who is employed at an AVMA accredited school of veterinary medicine in this state and who practices veterinary medicine in the course of his or her employment responsibilities and is applying for an academic license shall submit with the application and fee the following credentials and qualifications for review and approval by the Board:
a. Proof of graduation with a degree from a school of veterinary medicine located in the United States or another country.

b. Evidence of the applicant's employment by an accredited school of veterinary medicine in this state; actual practice is to commence only once licensure has been granted.

c. The requirements in Rule 1.7(A)(2)) apply.

2. An academic license shall authorize the licensee to practice veterinary medicine only while engaged in the performance of his or her official duties as a university employee in Colorado. An academic licensee may not use an academic license to practice veterinary medicine outside of his or her academic responsibilities.

D. Education, Training, or Service Gained During Military Service and Military Spouses

1. Education, training, or service gained in military services outlined in section 12-20-202(4), C.R.S., to be accepted and applied towards receiving a license, must be substantially equivalent, as determined by the Board, to the qualifications otherwise applicable at the time of receipt of application. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide timely and complete evidence for review and consideration. Satisfactory evidence of such education, training, or service will be assessed on a case by case basis.

2. Regulation of Military Spouses.
a. Pursuant to section 12-20-202(3)(f), C.R.S., a military spouse duly licensed in good standing in another state or United States territory to practice veterinary medicine may, upon application to the Division, obtain a temporary license to practice veterinary medicine upon submission of satisfactory proof, under penalty of perjury, of the military spouse's active license in another state or United States territory in good standing, and that the applicant has not committed an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the veterinary practice act, Article 315 of Title 12, C.R.S.

b. For the purposes of this Rule
(1) "In good standing" means that a license has not been revoked, expired, or suspended, and against which there are no outstanding disciplinary or adverse actions.

(2) "Military spouse" means the spouse of a person who is actively serving in the United State armed forces and who is stationed in Colorado in accordance with military orders.

c. A temporary license issued to a military spouse is valid for three years after the date of issuance and may not be renewed.

d. The Board hereby waives the application fee for temporary licenses issued.

E. Inactive Status and Reactivation of a License

1. Pursuant to section 12-20-203, C.R.S., a veterinarian may apply to the Board to inactivate their license. The holder of an inactive license shall not be required to comply with the continuing education requirements for renewal during the time the license is inactive.
a. If a veterinarian's license is inactive, the veterinarian shall not perform acts restricted to active licensed veterinarians in Colorado pursuant to section 12-20-203(3), C.R.S. The Board shall retain jurisdiction over inactive veterinarians for the purposes of disciplinary action pursuant to section 12-315-112(1)(w), C.R.S.

b. Practicing veterinary medicine with an inactive license shall constitute unlicensed practice and, therefore, may be grounds for disciplinary or injunctive action, up to and including revocation.

c. Licensed veterinarians with inactive licenses are required to renew their license every two years and submit the applicable fee.

d. A licensed veterinarian with an academic license is not eligible for inactive status.

2. To be considered for licensure reactivation, an applicant must submit a completed reactivation application form and the reactivation fee.

3. Each applicant for reactivation shall certify the following:
a. Every license to practice veterinary medicine held by applicant is in good standing;

b. Applicant has reported to the Board any injunction or disciplinary action completed or pending against the applicant's license to practice veterinary medicine in any state;

c. Applicant has reported to the Board any malpractice judgment, any settlement of a malpractice action or claim, and any malpractice action or claim pending against the applicant in which the malpractice allegedly relates to the applicant's practice of veterinary medicine;

d. Applicant has reported to the Board any inquiry/complaint pending, investigation being conducted by, or disciplinary proceeding pending before the licensing, grievance, or disciplinary board of any jurisdiction in which the applicant is licensed to practice veterinary medicine in which the complaint, investigation, or proceeding concerns the applicant's practice of veterinary medicine.

4. The Board may decline to reactivate a license if disciplinary action is pending or if there is an unresolved complaint.

5. If the license has been inactive for less than two years, then the applicant is required to submit proof of fulfilling the requirements of Rule 1.7 for the two-year period in which his or her license was last active as well as the two-year period in which the license was expired or inactive.

6. If the license has been inactive for two or more years, then the requirements in Rule 1.7(A)(3)(c) apply.

7. All applicants for reactivation are required to fulfill the substance use prevention training requirements..

F. Reinstatement Requirements for Expired Licenses

1. In order to reinstate or reactivate a license back into active status, each applicant shall submit a completed Board approved application along with the required fee in order to be considered for licensure approval and must also verify that the applicant:
a. Accurately and completely lists any acts that would be grounds for disciplinary action under the Veterinary Practice Act and provides a written explanation of the circumstances of such act, including supporting documentation, if required, since last renewing their license to an active status in this state.

b. Accurately and completely provides any and all information pertaining to any final or pending disciplinary action by any state or jurisdiction in which the applicant is or has been previously licensed since last renewing his or her license to an active in this state.

2. If the license has been expired for less than two years, then the applicant is required to submit proof of fulfilling the continuing education requirements for the two-year period in which the applicant's license was last active as well as the two-year period in which the license was expired or inactive.

3. If the license has been expired for more than two years, then the requirements in Rule 1.7(A)(3)(c) apply.

4. All applicants for reinstatement are required to fulfill the substance use prevention training requirements.

G. Revocation

This Rule is promulgated pursuant to sections 12-20-204, 12-315-106(5)(g), and 12-20-404(3), C.R.S.

Any person whose license to practice is revoked will be ineligible to apply for any license under the Veterinary Practice Act for at least two years after the date of revocation or surrender of the license. Any subsequent application for licensure shall be treated as an application for an original license.

H. Renewal

A licensed veterinarian is required to renew their license biennially and submit the applicable fee.

I. Continuing Education

1. Each licensed veterinarian or academic veterinarian with an active license in Colorado is required to attend thirty-two hours of educational study per renewal period as set forth in section 12-315-110(3), C.R.S. Continuing education hours may only be applied to one renewal period. This requirement is not applicable to a licensed veterinarian renewing an inactive license. Continuing education hours must include:
a. Two hours of jurisprudence on the Colorado Veterinary Practice Act.

b. At least one hour in Substance Use Prevention Training covering specific topics. (see Rule 1.7)

2. If a renewal date occurs during the year of original Colorado licensure, continuing education will not be required for the first renewal. If the renewal date occurs the year after original licensure, the licensee shall obtain sixteen hours of continuing education prior to the biennial renewal.

3. The Board automatically accepts any course approved by the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE). The Board reserves the right to determine the approval of any other meetings, programs, or courses for continuing education credit.

4. The Board may accept up to sixteen hours of continuing education credit per licensing period for non-biomedical topics including, but not limited to, leadership training, personnel management, client relations, communication training, and practice and personal wellness.
a. No presentation that is primarily promotional in nature regardless of subject material will be acceptable.

5. All licensed veterinarians are required to fulfill the substance use prevention training requirements of Rule 1.7(J). Subject to the approval of the Board, completed substance use prevention training hours that also meet the requirements for continuing education in this Rule may be applied towards the minimum continuing education hours required.

J. Substance Use Prevention Training for License Renewal, Reactivation, or Reinstatement

1. Pursuant to section 12-30-114, C.R.S., every veterinarian, including every academic veterinarian, is required to complete at least one hour of training per renewal period in order to demonstrate competency regarding the topics/areas specified in section 12-30-114(1)(a), C.R.S.

2. Training for the purpose of this section includes, but is not limited to, relevant and verifiable continuing education courses, conferences, or presentations, and distance learning. All such training must cover or be related to the topics specified in section 12-30-114(1)(a), C.R.S., and be in accordance with Rule 1.7(I).

3. A veterinarian is statutorily exempt from the requirements of this section if the veterinarian qualifies for either exemption set forth in section 12-30-114(1)(b), C.R.S.

4. This section shall apply to any applicant for reinstatement or reactivation of an expired or inactive license..

5. Applicants for license renewal, reactivation, or reinstatement shall attest during the application process to either their compliance with this substance use training requirement or their qualifying for an exemption.

6. The Board may audit compliance with this section. Veterinarians should be prepared to submit documentation of their compliance with this substance use training requirement or their qualification for an exemption, upon request by the Board.

7. Subject to the approval of the Board, completed substance use prevention training hours that also meet the requirements for continuing education may be applied towards the minimum continuing education hours required.

8. The statutorily required training for veterinarians includes the following topics/areas: best practices for veterinary opioid prescribing; recognition of human substance use disorder; use of the electronic prescription drug-monitoring program; and referral of human beings with suspected substance use disorders for treatment.

To the extent the statutorily required training pertains to the practice of human medicine, this training does not authorize veterinary medicine practitioners to engage in the practice of human medicine nor does it require the veterinary medicine practitioner to refer human beings to treatment for suspected substance abuse disorders.

Eff. 9/30/2007; Eff. 1/30/2008; Amended and Re-numbered November 3, 2011, Effective December 30, 2011; Amended August 1, 2013, Effective September 30, 2013

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Colorado may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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