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Continuing Education

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners (KBVE) requires periodic renewal of licenses and certificates issued by the board.

Continuing Education Requirements

The number of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) required for renewal varies by licensure type. All CE can be earned online (201 KAR 16:590). Open the drop-down headings below​ for more information.

Licensees are responsible for keeping track of their own CE. This includes securing documentation of completed attendance at each course - 201 KAR 16:590, Section 5.  Proof of completion shall include a certificate or email from the provider showing: 

1. Hours earned

2. Name of Course

3. Provider of course, 

4. Method of delivery, and if an online course, if live, interactive, or non-interactive; 

5. Dates of course, and

6. Licensee's name, 

Licensees should be certain to note the approving body for the CE: AVMA, KBVE, USDA, or RACE. 

Licensees are required by 201 KAR 16:590, Section 5 to retain proof of all continuing education for a minimum of four (4) years past the date of last renewal in case of an audit by the KBVE. Licensees may enter CE as it is earned into their account on the eServices Portal. 

Approved Continuing Education (201 KAR 16:590, Section 4.

  • (a) All scientific programs of all organizations of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), its constituent organizations, ​and its recognized specialty groups as listed on the AVMA Web site, and Council on Education (COE) or Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) accredited veterinary medical institutions whose meetings impart educational material directly relating to veterinary medicine and veterinary technology;
  • (b) Programs approved by the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB);
  • (c) NVAP Accreditation modules offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) -- limited to 6 hours for Category II holders and 3 hours for Category I holders per renewal cycle; 
  • (d) Attendance at a board meeting, which shall be counted for the time the attendee is present and during which the board is in session or the duration of the meeting in half-hour increments up to three (3) hours, per meeting. There shall be a maximum of six (6) hours allowable for veterinarians and three (3) hours per LVTs per renewal cycle​; and
  • (e) All programs approved by the KBVE. All Board Approved Programs are listed in the right sidebar. Click the green button for the current year’s listing, and see the archive for courses approved in previous years.

Licensees who completed a fellowship, internship, or residency during the renewal period and wish to seek approval to use this time as CE must include a letter from the provider for Board review. The letter should be on company letter head and ​include:

  1. N​ame of licensee,
  2. License number,
  3. Dates of internship or residency, and
  4. A general list of duties and responsibilities during the fellowship, ​internship, or residency.

30 CEUs are required during a renewal cycle (October 1 of an even year to September 30 of the next even year). All CE may be earned online, however at least half (15 hours for veterinarians) must be earned in a live, realtime format either in-person or online. 

(a) At least twenty (20) of the thirty (30) hours shall be directly related to the practice of veterinary medicine.

(b) For the renewal period and reinstatements beginning after September 30, 2024, at least two (2) of the thirty (30) required renewal hours shall be in:
1. Pharmacy or controlled substances;
2. Antimicrobials; or
3. State or federal laws and regulations related to the practice of veterinary medicine.

(c) No more than ten (10) of the thirty (30) hours shall pertain to practice management or other administrative, wellbeing, and professional topics that are not directly related to the practice of veterinary medicine.

New veterinarian licensees - CE hours exception (201 KAR 16:590, Section 3(6)). Applicable to newly licensed veterinarians who graduated during the biennium of licensure.

  • New veterinarian licensees who graduated during the first year of the biennium shall complete fifteen (15) hours of continuing education.
  • New veterinarian licensees who graduated during the second year of the biennium shall be granted a waiver on the CE requirements, however the licensee must still complete the renewal process.

New veterinarian licensees – Renewal fee exception (201 KAR 16:510, Section 5). If you are not sure when your license was issued, visit the Board's online verification system and search for your license.

  • For veterinarians initially licensed in the second year of the biennium between October 1 and March 31, the renewal fee is reduced by half.
  • For veterinarians initially licensed in the second year of the biennium between April 1 and September 30, the renewal fee is waived, however the licensee must still complete the renewal process.

Military personnel - Renewal fee exception (201 KAR 16:510, Section 9). Licensees must have on file or submit with the ​renewal a DD-214 or other approved military documentation.

  • For veterinarians in active duty military, active reserves, and National Guard, the renewal fee is waived.
  • For veterinarians who retired from the military with 20 or more years of service, the renewal fee is reduced by half.

Inactive licenses – CEU and renewal fee exceptions (201 KAR 16:510, Section 7 and 16:580, Section 1). "Inactive" status is a way to hold the license in escrow when not practicing in Kentucky. ​For veterinarians choosing “Inactive” licensure status, the renewal fee is $100 and CE is not required.  Inactive licensees are prohibited from practice in Kentucky but must still renew during each renewal period, or the license will expire.  When ready to practice in Kentucky again, returning the license to "active" status is easier and less costly than applying for a new license.

Inactive licenses do not need CE until such time as the licensee applies to reinstate the license. At that time, a reinstatement application is due along with all required attachments, fees, and CEUs. Refer to the reinstatement application on the Applications and Forms page to determine the scope of requirements. There is a comprehensive checklist in the back of the application.

Six (6) CEUs are required during a renewal cycle (October 1 of a year to September 30 of the following year) in the area of the practice of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology to be eligible for renewal of their license. All CE may be earned online,  however at least half (3 hours for LVTs) must be earned in a live, realtime format either in-person or online​.​

(a) For the renewal period and reinstatements beginning after September 30, 2024, at least one (1) of the six (6) hours shall be in:
1. Pharmacy or controlled substances;
2. Antimicrobials; or
3. State or federal laws and regulations related to the practice of veterinary medicine or the practice of veterinary technology.
(b) No more than three (3) of the six (6) hours shall pertain to practice management or other administrative, wellbeing, and professional topics that are not directly related to the practice of veterinary medicine or the practice of veterinary technology.


New veterinary technician licensees - CEU exception (201 KAR 16:590, Section 3(7)). For a new veterinary technician licensee completing his or her initial term of licensure who also graduated within 12-months of initial licensure, CEU requirements are waived.

New veterinary technician licensees - Renewal fee exception (201 KAR 16:512, Section 4(5)). For veterinary technicians initially licensed in on or after June 2, the renewal fee is waived. If you are not sure when your license was issued, visit the Board’s online verification system and search for your license.

Military personnel - Renewal fee exception (201 KAR 16:512, Section 8). Licensees must have ​on file or submit with the renewal a DD-214 or other approved military documentation.

  • For veterinary technicians in active duty military, active reserves, and National Guard, the renewal fee is waived.
  • For veterinary technicians who retired from the military with 20 or more years of service, the renewal fee is reduced by half.

Inactive licenses – CEU and renewal fee exceptions (201 KAR 16:512, Section 6, 16:580, Section 1). For veterinary technicians choosing “Inactive” licensure status, the renewal fee is reduced to $10 and CE is not required. Inactive licensees must still renew during each renewal period, or the license will expire.

Inactive licenses do not need CE until such time as the licensee applies to reinstate the license. At that time, a reinstatement application is due along with all required attachments, fees, and CEUs. Refer to the reinstatement application on the Applications and Forms page to determine the scope of requirements. There is a comprehensive checklist in the back of the application. Inactive licensees must still renew during each renewal period, or the license will expire. Inactive licensees must still renew during each renewal period, or the license will expire.

There are currently no CE requirements for Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialists.

Certificate renewal occurs annually, and is due on-time by March 1, or if late with a late fee by April 30. Certificates not renewed will expire. Note that there are separate renewals required for Animal Euthanasia Specialists and Animal Control Agencies.

Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialists who are no longer employed by a KBVE certified Animal Control Agency shall have their license moved to “Inactive” and cannot practice the profession in the Commonwealth.

Note that KBVE Certified Animal Euthanasia Specialists are ​only authorized to conduct euthanasia on shelter owned animals. Certified specialists should not be conducting euthanasia on privately owned animals. Except in rare emergency situations, all euthanasia should be conducted onsite at the shelter.

There are currently no CE requirements for Certified Animal Control Agencies.

Certificate renewal occurs annually, and is due on-time by March 1, or if late with a late fee by April 30. Certificates not renewed will expire and be reported to the DEA for inactivation of the DEA Registration. Any Animal Euthanasia Specialists affiliated with the Animal Control Agency at the time of expiration will be moved to Inactive Status and not allowed to practice their profession until such time as the shelter completes all requirements for and is approved by the KBVE for reinstatement.

Animal Control Agencies who have an ​expired certificate or are not certified by the KBVE are not allowed to keep controlled substances or euthanasia drugs, nor have staff conduct euthanasia onsite. A licensed veterinarian may be contracted for this work and conduct it at the shelter, however the prohibition on drug storage at the shelter remains in effect as long as the KBVE certificate and DEA Registration are expired.

KRS 321.211 and 201 KAR 16:590 allow for a 60-day grace period on renewals, permitting licensees to renew as late as November 30 following the end of a renewal period. This grace period allows additional time to earn CE, however a late fee is also applied. For veterinarians, the late fee is an additional $300; for veterinary technicians, the late fee is an additional $30. If the license is not renewed by November 30, the license will expire and a reinstatement application is required to switch back to active​ status.

Are you interested in getting a course approved for use by licensees of the Board? Please visit KBVE's Forms page, under the drop-down heading "Requests and Other Forms" complete the Request for Continuing Education Approval, and submit to Vet@ky.gov.​

Approv​​ed CEUs:

For available continuing education units (CEUs) other than AVMA or RACE approved courses, please view at the Board’s current listing for approved CEUs.

Board App​roved ​CEUs​

KBVE-KVMA Joint Education Meetin​gs:

No meetings scheduled at this time.​