Nebraska Administrative Code
Topic - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SYSTEM
Title 172 - PROFESSIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSURE
Chapter 180 - PRACTICE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE AND SURGERY
Section 172-180-006 - CONTINUING COMPETENCY

Universal Citation: 172 NE Admin Rules and Regs ch 180 ยง 006

Current through September 17, 2024

On or before the expiration date, individuals holding an active license must complete the following number of hours for professional certification.

(A) Veterinarians - 32 hours of approved Continuous Competency.

(B) Veterinary Technicians -16 hours of approved Continuous Competency.

006.01 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSEE. As a condition for renewal of license, each veterinarian and veterinary technician must complete one or a combination of the following continuing competency requirements within the renewal period immediately preceding the license renewal date:
006.01(A) INITIAL OR RE-CERTIFICATION. Initial Board Certification or Re-Certification by an AVMA recognized veterinary specialty organization, obtained during the renewal period immediately preceding the license renewal date, meets the entire requirement for continuing competency for that renewal period.

006.01(B) PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION. Professional Certification, as approved in advance by the Board, obtained during the renewal period immediately preceding the license renewal date. Professional certification meets the requirement for continuing competency according to the number of hours of classwork, study time, or other time required to be completed by the practitioner in order to obtain the certification, to be determined in advance by the Board.

006.01(C) REFRESHER COURSES. As approved in advance by the Board, meet the requirement for continuing competency according to the number of hours attended.

006.01(D) IN-SERVICE TRAINING. As approved in advance by the Board, meets the requirement for continuing competency according to the number of hours attended.

006.01(E) CLINICAL ROTATIONS. As approved in advance by the Board, meet the requirement for continuing competency according to the number of hours attended.

006.01(F) ACCEPTABLE CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS. Types of continuing education programs acceptable for continuing competency credit include, but are not limited to:
(i) State, National, and District meetings, i.e., a meeting of the Nebraska Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) or a veterinary association in any other state, the Nebraska Veterinary Technician Association (NVTA), or a veterinary technician association in any other state, the Nebraska Academy of Veterinary Medicine (NAVM), the AVMA, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP), the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP), the American Association of Swine Practitioners (AASP), the American Association of Laboratory Animal Practitioners (AALAP), the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), or any satellite organization related to any of the associations listed above.
(1) One hour credit for each hour of attendance, and only the portion of such meeting which is applicable to the credential holders practice of either veterinary medicine and surgery or veterinary technician, can be approved for credit.

(ii) Formal education courses which relate directly to the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery or veterinary technology.
(1) One hour credit for each hour of attendance.

(iii) Veterinary and veterinary technology continuing education courses sponsored by accredited colleges of veterinary medicine and surgery or veterinary technology:
(1) One hour credit for each hour of attendance.

(iv) Home study courses with a testing mechanism that is scored by the provider or their designee. Licensee will be given credit for home study courses for a maximum of one quarter of the total number of hours required for each renewal period.
(1) One hour credit for each hour of study; no more than one quarter of the total number of hours required for each renewal period.

(v) Programs approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) which are related to the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery or veterinary technology.
(1) One hour credit for each hour of attendance.

(vi) Practice management programs. Licensee will be given credit for practice management programs for a maximum of one quarter of the total number of hours required for each renewal period.
(1) One hour credit for each hour of attendance; no more than one quarter of the total number of hours required for each renewal period.

(vii) A presenter may receive credit for only the initial presentation during a renewal period. Credit will not be given for subsequent presentations of the same program.

006.02 APPROVAL OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY ACTIVITIES. Either a provider or a licensee may apply for approval of a continuing competency activity. The approval is granted by the Department and means that the activity has been determined by the Board to meet the criteria for acceptable continuing competency. Approval prior to the renewal date is optional for continuing education, but is provided by the Board as a service to providers and licensees who wish to determine if a program meets the criteria for acceptable continuing education. All continuing competency activities must include:
(1) The activity must be at least one hour in duration;

(2) The topic and/or objectives must relate directly to the practice of veterinary medicine and surgery or veterinary technology;

(3) The presenter of the activity must be qualified by education, experience or training; and

(4) Activities must be open to all veterinarians or veterinary technicians licensed in Nebraska.
006.02(A) REQUESTING APPROVAL. A provider or licensee may submit information about the continuing competency activity to the Board on an application provided by the Department. Only applications which are complete will be considered.
(i) The following information must be included in the application:
(1) A description of activity content and/or objectives;

(2) A general description of the qualifications of each presenter;

(3) The number of hours for which approval is requested, if applicable;

(4) The name, address, and telephone number of the provider's program planner;

(5) A description of the process the provider uses to verify attendance by the licensee;

(6) A sample copy of the documentation the provider issues to the licensee as proof of attendance at the activity;
(a) Certificates verifying attendance at approved activities must contain at least the following information:
(i) Name of the activity;

(ii) Name of the provider;

(iii) Name of the licensee who attended the course;

(iv) Number of credit hours earned (actually attended) by the licensee, if applicable; and

(v) Date(s) the course was attended by the licensee; and

(7) Location of program.

(ii) The provider may submit additional documents or information as considered relevant to the application and in compliance with the provisions of this chapter.

(iii) The provider must submit a complete application to the Department at least 45 days prior to the date on which the program is to be given to gain approval before the activity is presented.

(iv) Once a provider is granted approval for a continuing competency activity, reapproval is not required for each subsequent occasion on which the activity is administered so long as the program is not changed or the laws and regulations governing continuing competency are not changed. If any portion of the activity is changed, re-application must be made in accordance with this chapter if continued approval is desired.

(v) After being granted written approval of the application, the provider is entitled to state upon any publication which advertises or announces the program, the following statement: "This program is approved for hours of continuing competency by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health.'

(vi) Post-Program Approval Applications for approval of a continuing education program may be made after the program has occurred. Activities that are not continuing education programs require approval prior to the completion of the activity.

006.02(B) DENIAL OF CONTINUING COMPETENCY ACTIVITIES. The Board may deny an application for approval of a continuing competency activity or suspend or revoke approval of a continuing competency activity on any of the following grounds:
(1) Fraud or misrepresentation of information in an application; or

(2) The program fails to meet the criteria for acceptable continuing competency set forth in this chapter.
006.02(B)(i) NOTICE OF DENIAL. An application for approval of continuing competency activities may be approved or denied. Should an application for a continuing competency activity be denied, the applicant will be sent a notice setting forth the reasons for the determination to the last address of record in the Department. Denial of an application will become final 15 days after the mailing of the notice unless the provider, within such 15-day period, will give written notice to the Board of a desire for hearing. The hearing will be conducted before the Board in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act and 184 NAC 1 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Department.

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