SECTION 775:10-7-4. Current certification

(a)   In order to hold current certification in the State of Oklahoma, a registered veterinary technician must apply for renewal each year on a form provided by the Board. However, the Board may refuse to issue any certification pending its investigation into questions of negligence, noncompliance with the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act, or noncompliance with the Rules and Regulations of the Board.

(b)   Before certification is renewed, the applicant shall:

(1)   Certify that he or she has obtained 10 (ten) hours of continuing education,

(2)   Pay the annual renewal fee as determined by the Board and

(3)   Complete an application for certificate renewal and provide current information with regard to, mailing address, telephone number and other contact information.

(c)   Acceptable hours of continuing education credit will be determined as follows:

(1)   One hour of credit for each hour of attendance at veterinary college and extension seminars, veterinary technology schools, courses and meetings.

(2)   One hour of credit for each hour of attendance at national, regional, state or local scientific meetings.

(3)   One hour of credit for each hour spent developing or presenting original, peer-received presentations or publications. A maximum of two hours credit may be gained by this means.

(4)   One hour of credit for each hour of study with autotutorial tapes of scientific material related to veterinary practice. A maximum of two hours credit may be gained by this means.

(5)   One hour of credit for each hour of study of scientific or non-scientific articles in veterinary journals or periodicals pertaining to veterinary medicine or state and federal controlled dangerous substance laws. A maximum of two f hours credit may be gained by this means.

(6)    Two hours of continuing education per year shall encompass state or federal controlled dangerous substance laws and/or review of the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act and applicable rules.

(7)   One hour of credit for each approved hour of completed interactive online courses approved by the Board. For all online courses, a copy of the certificate indicating the number of course hours must be submitted to qualify.

(d)   Graduates who receive a certificate to practice veterinary technology in the State of Oklahoma within one calendar year of graduation are exempt from reporting continuing education credits until the submission of the second renewal application after initial certification.

(e)   The Board may waive these requirements upon written request and a finding of good cause.

(f)   Each certificate holder shall maintain verifiable documentary proof of attendance in a readily retrievable file of reported continuing education credit for random audit purposes. Documentary proof shall be maintained for a period of five years from the date of attendance.

(g)   Only those courses, meetings or seminars previously approved and/or offered by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), or any other state veterinary board or recognized state veterinary association, shall not require previous approval by the Board to qualify as continuing education hours to be counted towards the fulfillment of the ten (10) required hours, so long as the material offered complies with the requirements of this section.

(h)   Regional veterinary associations, corporations, individuals or any other organizations must submit course material to the Board for evaluation to qualify for continuing education hours being offered at regional or local meetings, and shall adhere to the following procedure:

(1)   Submit a published notice of the meeting,

(2)   Submit a planned program as evidenced by a published agenda,

(3)   Submit a formal presentation on printed material (i.e. papers, brochures, videos with printed material describing the video contents, etc), and

(4)   Submit a verification of attendance form after the conclusion of the meeting, which contains the attendees printed name and signature taken previously to the initiation of the material presented, and the attendees printed name and signature after the conclusion of the material presented.

(i)   The Vice-President of the Board may evaluate and approve any Continuing Education (CE) credit requests received by the Board office, or the Vice-President of the Board may submit the request to the full Board at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board for consideration.

[Source: Amended at 11 Ok Reg 4591, eff 9-25-94; Amended at 17 Ok Reg 1422, eff 5-11-00; Amended at 18 Ok Reg 1379, eff 5-11-01; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1872, eff 7-1-02; Amended at 20 Ok Reg 1822, eff 7-1-03; Amended at 25 Ok Reg 1716, eff 7-1-08]