Section 216-RICR-40-05-14.7 - Continuing EducationA. Continuing education requirements for veterinary medicine practice are pursuant to the provisions of R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-25-12(e).B. Veterinarians initially licensed after the May 1st renewal date shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements stated in this Part until the date of the next renewal cycle (i.e., April 30th of the next even numbered year).C. All veterinarians licensed to practice in this state shall maintain evidence that in the preceding two (2) years, he/she has satisfactorily completed at least twenty-four (24) hours of continuing veterinary medical education courses offered or sponsored by organizations approved by the Board.D. Continuing education programs approved by the Board include those offered or approved by:1. Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association or other state veterinary medical association;2. American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA);3. Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE);4. American Animal Hospital Association;5. Boards of licensure of veterinary medicine in other states;6. Academic coursework or continuing education programs offered by an approved school of veterinary medicine.E. A maximum of four (4) hours of the required twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education in a two-year period may be non-contact hours (e.g., online courses) or articles such as those in the Veterinary Learning Systems Compendium for continuing education.F. A maximum of four (4) hours of the required twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education in a two-year period may be related to business management. The remaining twenty (20) hours of continuing education in a two-year period shall be related to the professional practice of veterinary medicine.G. It shall be the sole responsibility of the individual veterinarian to obtain documentation from the recognized sponsoring or co-sponsoring organizations, agencies or other, of his or her participation in the learning experience and the number of dated credits earned. Furthermore, it shall be the sole responsibility of the individual to safeguard the documents for review by the Board, if required. These documents shall be retained by each licensee for no less than four (4) years and are subject to random audit by the Department.H. The Department may extend for any one six (6) month period, these educational requirementsif the Department is satisfied that the applicant has suffered hardship which preventedhim/her from meeting the educational requirements stipulated in this Part.I. Failure to produce satisfactory documentation of completion of the continuing education requirements of this section, upon request by the Board, constitutes grounds for disciplinary action under the provisions of the Act and this Part.216 R.I. Code R. § 216-RICR-40-05-14.7