Taking Veterinary CE Online – Five Tips to Help You Make the Most of It

Veterinary continuing education (CE) is required and everyone who holds a license in the veterinary industry must complete ongoing professional development, but are you making the most of your CE credits? Taking your veterinary CE online can seem like the perfect solution for busy veterinary professionals. It is easy to find and can be consumed just about anywhere. A large variety of veterinary CE exists online, and figuring out what meets your needs can be confusing. Aside from looking for quality continuing education and choosing the right courses to enhance your career, consider the following tips for getting the most out of your online veterinary continuing education.  

 Chase Your Goals 

• Reflect on your previous year. If there are any cases you wish you’d handled differently, or any cases you wanted to learn more about, choose courses that support your questions.  
• Consider any special interests you have. Do you want to start seeing different types of animals, such as reptiles or small exotic mammals? Do you wish you knew more about herbology, nutrition, or orthopedic medicine? Choosing courses that expand your current repertoire, or increase your confidence in other areas of medicine can help you reach your personal and professional goals. 
• Choose your speaker or organization with intent. If you find yourself with follow-up questions, knowing the speaker or organization presenting the veterinary continuing education online course can allow you to contact them in the future. If you have a special interest in the subject, a speaker who is reachable after the course and responsive to follow up questions can be a great benefit to your current and future learning. 

Note it Down 

• Active learning comes in many forms. Quality veterinary continuing education will provide learning objectives. If you can identify the learning objectives throughout the course, write them down and add a few key points that stick out to you. 
• Summarize the main points. If you can write a one or two paragraph summary in your own words you will be more likely to remember the information. If you are having trouble, consider writing as if giving a brief to your team. Pick the three or four main points and how they are relevant to your work.  
• Write questions. Think about what else you want to know about the topic presented in your veterinary online CE. This serves two purposes; it will help you retain the information you learned, and it may guide your future continuing education choices.  

Pace Yourself 

• Plan ahead and choose live online courses that fit with your schedule. Put them on your calendar with a reminder so you do not forget or have to rush at the last minute to get ready. Rushing into online CE will mean you are not able to give the course your full attention. 
• For pre-recorded courses, schedule a dedicated time slot in any time increment in order to focus completely on what you are learning. If you can set aside even 20 minutes at a time, you’ll be able to better focus on learning for that time. 
• Cut out distractions. Use noise-canceling headphones, a quiet room free of interruptions, and turn your phone off or use do-not-disturb settings to ensure you can focus on the presentation. Let the people around you know that you would prefer to not be interrupted for the duration of your time, or post a sign on your door.  

Make Sure Your Online CE is Accepted by Your State 

• Not all online veterinary continuing education is accepted in every jurisdiction. Check your state’s requirements before spending time and money on veterinary CE online.  
• If you are considering changing positions or locations, make sure you choose veterinary continuing education that is accepted in your new spot and will benefit your resume.  
• Check the certifications of your continuing education. RACE-approved CE is generally accepted across most states and has been reviewed to meet basic educational requirements. If it is not recognized by RACE, you’ll need to check with your state board to determine if it is eligible for credit. Internationally approved veterinary continuing education can provide even more value, especially if you are considering an international certification or relocation. 

Work Toward an Online Certificate 

• Commit to more comprehensive veterinary online continuing education. While one or two hour online courses are great for brushing up on a topic, an online certificate allows a greater number of credits toward your education, as well as providing in-depth learning opportunities in many areas of medicine. 
• Fortify your current education. If you are a general practice veterinarian looking to stand out among other veterinarians, or just want to solidify your knowledge base, an online veterinary certificate may be just the boost you need. Many are self-paced, with opportunities for self-reflection, case reports, and quizzes to assess your understanding. Distinguish yourself among general practitioners and practice better medicine.  
• Explore new career opportunities. If you are looking to expand your practice, reduce referrals, or begin a path toward specialty practice, an online veterinary certificate may be just the tool you need. Explore subjects from exotic animal medicine, to cardiology, to dermatology and more. Many online certificates, such as the ones offered by Improve Veterinary Education, are even internationally approved, so your certificate is valuable nearly anywhere in the world. 

Online Tools for the Online Veterinarian 

Although it is easy to find veterinary CE online, make sure you use all the tools at your disposal to ensure your time and energy are used effectively. From taking notes to exploring interests, you can do more with your online continuing education time than ever before. A little bit of planning prior to attending online veterinary CE can ensure your credits count toward your goals at the same time as meeting state or international requirements.  

Lisa Coder, MS, DVM