Veterinary CE Requirements: Your State-by-State Guide
Embarking on a career in veterinary medicine is an exciting journey filled with opportunities to grow and make a difference in the lives of animals and their owners. As you continue to advance in your profession, staying up-to-date with education and training is essential to providing the best care possible.
Whether you’re about to graduate or you’re considering moving to a new state, it’s important you understand the regulations around veterinary continuing education (CE). Each state has their own rules, so it can get confusing – to help, we’ve listed the veterinary CE requirements in each state below.
Why do veterinarians and veterinary technicians have to do CE?
It’s important that veterinarians update their knowledge frequently, as veterinary medicine is a fast-moving field. Scientific research and new therapies can change how diseases are treated in just a few short weeks. Out-of-date information can be dangerous and lead to complaints and litigation, as well as a loss of public trust in the profession. All veterinary state boards therefore mandate that veterinarians undertake a certain amount of CE to maintain their registration.
Veterinary CE Requirements by State
The state veterinary CE requirements we’ve listed are based upon the most up to date information available as of January 2025. However, CE requirements change regularly. We’ll do our best to keep this list up to date, but it is your responsibility as a veterinary professional to remain up to date with your state’s CE requirements by checking with the board you’re registered with. If you do spot an error, please let us know so we can fix it!
Alabama veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Required to complete 20 CE hours annually, with a limit of 10 hours per year through remote or online courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: Must earn 8 hours of CE every year, with up to 2 hours allowed through online formats.
- Special Requirements: Over a four-year period, veterinarians must complete 60 hours in scientific study and 20 hours in management topics. Additionally, starting in 2012, alternating 2-hour sessions in either pharmacy or legal topics are required.
Alaska veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Must fulfill 30 CE hours biennially. While all 30 hours may be completed online, they have to be either RACE-approved CE, AVMA, or a state or local veterinary association/school. See the full list here.
- Veterinary Technicians: Required to complete 10 CE hours every two years, with all 10 hours eligible through online learning. As with the veterinarian competency requirements, Alaska requires vet techs to complete CE approved by them. While the list is long, it’s worth checking.
Arizona veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 20 hours of CE required every two years, with all 20 hours permissible through online courses as long as these are interactive. CE topics include:
- General medicine: 20 hours if approved by national, state, or local associations.
- Practice management: Up to 2 hours allowed.
- Formal meetings and veterinary science presentations: Eligible for CE credit.
- Online or distance learning: Fully permitted up to 20 hours.
- Other: 5 hours may be credited for presenting.
- Veterinarians who are licensed to dispense controlled substances and have a DEA number must complete a minimum of 3 hours of substance abuse training in each two-year renewal cycle.
- Veterinary Technicians: Required to complete 10 CE hours biennially, all of which may be done online.
Arkansas veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Must complete 20 CE hours annually, with:
- 10 hours in veterinary scientific topics
- No more than 8 hours non-scientific topics
- No more than 2 hours in exhibit halls at conferences
- No more than 2 hours observing colleagues at other practices
- At least 10 hours must be in-person or interactive (eg live webinars) with the remaining 10 being allowed as pre-recorded, non-interactive online learning.
- Veterinary Technicians: Required to complete 12 CE hours per year, with at least 8 hours in clinical topics. As with the CE requirements for veterinarians above, Arkansas requires vet techs to complete 6 of their 12 hours permitted with live/interactive formats.
California veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 36 CE hours required every two years. Key guidelines include:
- General medicine: 36 hours if approved by AAVSB or the Veterinary Medical Board.
- Formal meetings and management sessions: Counted toward CE hours.
- Self-study (including non-interactive online courses): Up to 6 hours allowed.
- Online courses: No specific limit; all hours may be completed online as long as interactive.
- Veterinary Technicians: 20 CE hours every two years, with a maximum of 4 hours allowable through online courses.
Colorado veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Must earn 32 CE hours over two years, with all hours required to be Board- or RACE-approved. Online courses are fully acceptable for all 32 hours, but no more than 16 hours can be in non-biomedical topics. There is also a requirement for 2-hour jurisprudence and 1 hour substance abuse training. Vets who have been graduated for less than two years have a reduced CE requirement – see the Colorado state board for more information.
- Veterinary Technicians: No state requirements. However, technicians certified by CACVT must complete 16 CE hours every renewal cycle:
- General medicine: A minimum of 8 hours from approved sources.
- Management: Up to 8 hours permitted.
- Online or home study: 8 hours allowed.
- Formal meetings: 1 CE hour awarded for attending 4 CACVT chapter meetings.
- Additional options: College coursework may qualify for CE credit.
Connecticut veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 24 CE hours are required every two years, and all hours may be completed online.
- Veterinary Technicians: While the state does not have mandatory CE requirements, the Connecticut Veterinary Technician Association recommends 15 CE hours every two years, which cannot be earned online.
Delaware veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Required to complete 24 CE hours every two years, with all 24 hours eligible through online courses. There is no requirement for CE to be approved, as long as veterinarians can show it met their educational needs.
- Veterinary Technicians: 12 hours of CE required every two years, with all hours allowed through online learning.
District of Columbia veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 36 CE hours must be completed every two years, and all 36 hours may be earned online.
- Veterinary Technicians: Currently, there are no mandatory CE requirements, though legislation is pending.
Florida veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Must earn 30 hours of RACE-approved CE every two years, with no restriction on online courses.
- Certified Veterinary Technicians: 15 hours every two years.
- Certified Veterinary Assistants: 5 hours every two years.
Georgia veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Must complete 30 CE hours (from approved courses, including RACE-approved CE) biennially, with emphasis on live, interactive, and in-person courses.
- 2 hours must cover Georgia laws, rules, and professionalism, either in-person or with live, interactive webinars
- 18 hours must be in veterinary scientific subjects
- Veterinary Technicians: 10 CE hours required every two years. Additionally, 1 hour must address Georgia laws, rules, and professionalism.
Hawaii veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 20 CE hours required every two years, all of which can be completed through online courses.
Idaho veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Required to complete 15 hours of CE biennially, with no restrictions on online formats or type of CE.
- Veterinary Technicians: Must earn 15 CE hours every two years, with no restrictions on online formats or type of CE.
Illinois veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 40 CE hours are required every two years, all of which may be earned online or through self-study, as long as the course is RACE-approved or approved by the state board.
- Veterinary Technicians: Must complete 15 CE hours biennially, with all 15 hours permitted through online courses.
Indiana veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 40 CE hours are required every two years, with up to 10 hours being non-live, ‘self-study’ courses. 2 hours of controlled substance CE may also be required.
- Veterinary Technicians: 16 CE hours must be completed biennially, with a limit of 8 hours from online formats.
Iowa veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 60 CE hours required every three years, with up to 20 hours accepted from online courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: There are no state CE requirements.
Kansas veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: Must complete 20 CE hours annually, all of which may be earned through online courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: CE hours are not mandatory, but 4 hours per year are recommended.
Kentucky veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 30 CE hours required every two years, with a maximum of 4 hours allowed through online learning.
- Veterinary Technicians: Must earn 6 CE hours every year, all of which can be completed online.
Louisiana veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 20 CE hours are required annually, with a limit of 10 hours earned through online courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: Must complete 10 CE hours each year, with up to 5 hours allowed through online learning.
Maine veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 24 CE hours required every two years, with all 24 hours eligible for completion online.
- Veterinary Technicians: There are no state requirements for CE.
Maryland veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 18 CE hours must be completed annually, with a maximum of 6 hours accepted from online courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: 24 CE hours are required every three years, with no more than 8 hours of online CE allowed per cycle, and a maximum of 4 hours in any one year.
Massachusetts veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 15 CE hours are required annually, with a limit of 6 hours from online courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: Must earn 12 CE hours annually through the Massachusetts Veterinary Technician Association, with all 12 hours eligible online. Accepts RACE-approved and MVTA-approved courses.
Michigan veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 45 approved CE hours must be completed every three years.
- Veterinary Technicians: Required to earn 15 approved CE hours every three years.
Minnesota veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 40 CE hours required every two years, with a maximum of 10 hours permitted through online learning. Additional guidelines:
- At least 30 hours must be interactive, such as lectures or wet labs.
- No more than 10 hours may come from practice management topics.
- 1 CE credit is awarded for every 50 minutes of participation.
- Non-interactive formats, such as journal reading, can earn up to 10 hours (1 credit per 3 hours of self-study).
- Veterinary Technicians: No state requirements, but certification through MVTA requires 10 CE hours per renewal cycle, with a maximum of 3 hours from online sources.
Mississippi veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 15 CE hours required annually, with up to 5 hours allowed through online courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: Must earn 10 CE hours annually, with all 10 hours eligible online.
Missouri veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 10 CE hours required every year, all of which may be earned through online learning.
- Veterinary Technicians: 5 CE hours must be completed annually, all of which are eligible online.
Montana veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 20 CE hours are required every two years, with up to 10 hours permitted through online courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: The state does not mandate CE, but the Big Sky Veterinary Technician Association requires 16 hours biennially, with 4 hours allowed online.
Nebraska veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 32 CE hours must be completed every two years, with a maximum of 8 hours eligible online.
- Veterinary Technicians: 16 CE hours required biennially, with up to 4 hours allowed through online learning.
Nevada veterinary continuing education requirements
- Veterinarians: 20 CE hours required annually, with up to 10 hours allowed through online or correspondence courses.
- Veterinary Technicians: Must earn 10 CE hours annually, with a limit of 5 hours completed online.
Reminder: These regulations change regularly – when in doubt, please contact your state veterinary board for confirmation.
Meeting your veterinary CE requirements
So now you know what they are, how can you meet the veterinary CE requirements for your state? Whether you’re a veterinarian or a vet tech, the first step is to look at your interest areas or areas you lack confidence to help you decide what to do your veterinary CE in. Our tips for planning your CE might be helpful there!
Next, you’ll need to find a CE course that focuses on these areas. Online veterinary CE courses are a great way to boost your confidence in an area without leaving the comfort of home. With most States allowing you to combine your CE across two or more years, a postgraduate certificate program is the perfect way to hone your skills and get a qualification that isn’t just recognized in the next state, but globally. We have postgraduate certificate programs for veterinarians and veterinary technician certificates too.
Still have questions? You can always contact us! Our team of experienced CE advisors are always happy to help.