WSR 20-04-027
PERMANENT RULES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(Veterinary Board of Governors)
[Filed January 28, 2020, 9:37 a.m., effective February 28, 2020]
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: WAC 246-935-270 through 246-935-310, veterinary board of governors (board) veterinary technician continuing education rules. The board adopted the rules to modernize veterinary continuing education rules and streamline requirements. Changes to the rule include decreasing the reporting period from three years to two years; reducing the total number of hours from thirty hours to twenty hours, which maintains the intent of completing an average of ten hours per year; clarifying expectations when a veterinary technician is audited; setting a minimum requirement of fourteen scientific or clinical hours; allowing a maximum of six hours to be obtained through teaching; designating live, web-based coursework to be equivalent to in-person coursework; and expanding the approved provider list.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 246-935-285 and 246-935-295; repealing WAC 246-935-300; and amending WAC 246-935-270, 246-935-280, 246-935-290, and 246-935-310.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 18.92.030.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 19-21-134 on October 21, 2019.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Loralei Walker, P.O. Box 47852, Olympia, WA 98504-7852, phone 360-236-4947, fax 360-236-2901, TTY 360-833-6388 or 711, email loralei.walker@doh.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 2, Amended 4, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 2, Amended 4, Repealed 1.
Date Adopted: December 9, 2019.
Liz Davies, DVM, Chair
Veterinary Board of Governors
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 08-20-126, filed 10/1/08, effective 11/1/08)
WAC 246-935-270Purpose.
The standards established in WAC 246-935-270 through 246-935-310 may be cited as the "veterinary technician continuing education rules." The purpose of these rules is to establish standards of continuing education for licensed veterinary technicians. The rules ((designate approved))provide for qualifying training methods, ((identify))designating approved continuing education providers and ((set))setting minimum continuing education credit requirements.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 08-20-126, filed 10/1/08, effective 11/1/08)
WAC 246-935-280((Basic requirement—Amount.))Continuing education requirement.
((Continuing education consists of programs of learning which contribute directly to the advancement or enhancement of the skills of licensed veterinary technicians. Beginning with license renewals on or after July 23, 2007, licensed veterinary technicians must complete thirty hours of continuing education every three years. No more than ten hours can be earned in practice management courses in any three-year reporting period. Licensed veterinary technicians must comply with chapter 246-12 WAC relating to continuing education requirements.))(1) Beginning January 1, 2020, a licensed veterinary technician shall complete twenty hours of continuing education every two years. Licensed veterinary technicians shall comply with chapter 246-12 WAC, Part 7 relating to continuing education requirements.
(2) A veterinary technician shall complete the continuing education requirements as follows:
If continuing education is due on the veterinary technician's renewal date in:
The next continuing education due date is on the veterinary technician's renewal date in the year below and every two years thereafter:
2020
2022
2021
2023
2022
2024
(3) The board may audit up to twenty-five percent of veterinary technicians after the license is renewed and may audit a veterinary technician for cause.
(a) Upon request by the board, the veterinary technician is responsible for submitting documentation of completed continuing education. Documentation must include, at a minimum:
(i) The name and credentials or qualifications of the continuing education provider;
(ii) The date of attendance or completion;
(iii) Course title or subject; and
(iv) The number of hours earned.
(b) Documentation for continuing education earned pursuant to WAC 246-935-295 (2)(b) must include, in addition to (a)(i) through (iv) of this subsection, a list of attendees, and materials that sufficiently describe the content of the presentation.
(c) Failure by a veterinary technician to cooperate with an audit or provide the requested proof of continuing education to the board is grounds for disciplinary action.
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-935-285Approval of courses.
The board will not authorize or approve specific continuing education courses or materials. All continuing education courses must be provided by organizations, institutions, or individuals in WAC 246-935-290 and contribute to the professional knowledge and development of the practitioner, enhance services provided to patients, and contribute to the practitioner's ability to deliver current standards of care. The board will accept continuing education that reasonably falls within these criteria, and relies upon the integrity of each individual practitioner, as well as that of program sponsors, in complying with this requirement. Courses cannot be exclusively for product promotion. The board reserves the right to not accept credits from any area for any practitioner if, upon auditing, the board determines that a course or material did not provide appropriate information or training.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-16-070, filed 7/28/16, effective 8/28/16)
WAC 246-935-290((Qualified organizations approved by the veterinary board of governors.))Organizations, institutions, or individuals approved by the veterinary board to provide continuing education courses.
((Courses offered by the following organizations qualify as continuing education courses for veterinary technicians.
(1) The Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians.
(2) National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.
(3) All veterinary technician specialty academies recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.
(4) The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).
(5) The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
(6) The Washington State Veterinary Medical Association.
(7) Any board approved college or school of veterinary medical technology.
(8) Any board approved college or school of veterinary medicine.
(9) Any state or regional veterinary association which is recognized by the licensing authority of its state as a qualified professional association or educational organization.
(10) The American Animal Hospital Association.
(11) Veterinary specialty boards recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association.
(12) Regional veterinary conferences and allied organizations recognized by AAVSB.
(13) The Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE).
(14) Other courses as approved by the board.))The board approves veterinary technician continuing education courses provided by organizations, institutions, or individuals (providers) including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) Any board approved college or school of veterinary medical technology.
(2) Any international, national, state, provincial, regional or local veterinary technician association.
(3) National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).
(4) A veterinary technician specialist who is certified by a veterinary technician specialty (VTS) academy recognized by NAVTA when teaching a course within his or her area of specialty.
(5) All veterinary technician specialty academies recognized by NAVTA.
(6) The Washington state association of veterinary technicians (WSAVT).
(7) Organizations, institutions, or individuals approved for veterinarians in WAC 246-933-460.
NEW SECTION
WAC 246-935-295Categories and methods of continuing education activities.
(1) Categories of continuing education:
(a) Scientific or clinical. A minimum of fourteen scientific or clinical credit hours must be earned in any two-year reporting period. Credits must be obtained through education offered by an approved provider listed in WAC 246-935-290.
(b) Practice management or professional development. A maximum of six practice management or professional development credit hours may be claimed in any two-year reporting period.
(2) Methods by which continuing education may be obtained:
(a) Live attended courses. There is no limit for credit hours earned through live courses attended remotely, provided that attendees have the documented opportunity to question the instructor, hear the questions of other attendees, and receive responses in real time. The course must be obtained through education offered by an approved provider listed in WAC 246-935-290.
(b) Teaching. A maximum of six teaching credit hours may be claimed in any two-year reporting period. Qualifying courses must either meet the criteria under WAC 246-935-290 or must be presented through an accredited health care learning institution. Courses must be presented to veterinary technicians, other credentialed health care providers, or students of health care professions. Three credit hours will be granted for each course hour taught. Credit will be granted for only the first time a course is taught.
(c) Preprogrammed materials. Preprogrammed educational materials are noninteractive and may be presented in any form of printed or electronic media. A maximum of six credit hours may be claimed in any two-year reporting period for completion of preprogrammed educational materials. The materials must be obtained through education offered by an approved provider listed in WAC 246-935-290, and must require successful completion of an examination or assessment.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 08-20-126, filed 10/1/08, effective 11/1/08)
WAC 246-935-310Exceptions.
The board may excuse from or grant an extension of continuing education requirements to a licensed veterinary technician due to illness or other extenuating circumstances.
Licensees seeking an extension must petition the board, in writing, at least ((forty-five))thirty days prior to the end of the reporting period.
REPEALER
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
WAC 246-935-300
Self-study continuing veterinary technician education activities.