NY State Dept. of Education Changes C.E. Requirements

From our May 2012 newsletter:

As of January of this year, the continuing education requirements for veterinary doctors and veterinary technicians in the state of New York have been changed. Section 6704-a and Section 6711-b, of the Education Law respectively require veterinarians to complete 45 hours and veterinary technicians to complete 24 hours of acceptable continuing education every three years in order to be legally licensed to practice. The only exception is for those veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are teachers. Half the credits may be earned through an approved self-instructional coursework program. Be sure to keep all certificates as the Education Department conducts random audits. 

Clay Cass, PCI; Corey Randell, PCI; Pam Schwartz, Dechra; 

and Dr. Cathy Just, Dechra at a recent PCI continuing education seminar

PCI Animal Health spoke to Terri Li, practice manager for the Downtown Medical Veterinary Hospitals in New York City, including the newly opened Seaport Animal Hospital (www.seaportanimalhospital.com). She believes the change will have positive effects. 

“We strongly believe that these new CE requirements will only enhance veterinary medicine and the care that we provide to our patients. New medicine, methods of practice and technology change so frequently; especially in our digitized world, that we can only benefit from learning what other options are available in providing the best medicine,” said LI.

PCI has conducted various lectures in the past that count towards continuing education credits. Be on the lookout for future lectures. For more information on the CE requirements visit http://www.op.nysed.gov/prof/vetmed/vetcenotice.htm.