Continuing Education for 2018-2020 Biennial Renewal

 

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION

Board of Veterinary Medicine

RULE NO.:RULE TITLE:

61G18ER20-1Continuing Education for 2018-2020 Biennial Renewal

SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FINDING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE: The Board of Veterinary Medicine (hereinafter the “Board”) is statutorily mandated to adopt rules establishing a procedure for the biennial renewal of licenses. The Board is authorized to condition such renewal upon the completion of continuing education courses. Pursuant to this authority, the Board has promulgated rules setting forth the requirements for continuing education as a predicate for licensure renewal and outlining the standards for said continuing education credits.

Rule 61G18-16.002, Florida Administrative Code, states that every person licensed pursuant to chapter 474, Florida Statutes, is required to complete thirty (30) hours of continuing education courses approved by the Board in the 24 months preceding each biennial reviewal period. Subsection (2)(b) requires that no more than 15 hours of the continuing education course for renewal be in a non-interactive correspondence/distance learning format. The biennium for licensure renewal for all of Florida’s licensed veterinarian ends on May 31, 2020.

On March 1, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 20-51 which directed the State Health Officer and Surgeon General, Dr. Scott Rivkees, to declare a public health emergency pursuant to the spread of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). On March 9, 2020, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order Number 20-52 (Emergency Management - COVID-19 Public Health Emergency) and officially declared that a state of emergency exists in the State of Florida. COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory illness that can spread among humans through respiratory transmission and presents with symptoms similar to those of influenza. As of March 24, 2020, there are over 1400 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the State of Florida. The Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) recommends mitigation measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 such as staying home when sick, keeping away from others who are sick, staying home when a household member is sick with respiratory disease symptoms, and for those who are at higher risk, including older adults and those who have serious chronic medical conditions, to avoid non-essential air travel and to avoid crowds as much as possible. In fact, as of March 16, 2020, the CDC has recommended the cancellation of any event that would be attended by ten (10) or more people.

Since the issuance of the Executive Orders and declaration of a public health emergency by the State Health Officer and Surgeon General Dr. Rivkees, the Board office has received numerous calls and emails from licensees concerned about the dangers of travel related to COVID-19 and attending in-person continuing education seminars. Many have inquired as to whether there is an alternative method by which they can obtain continuing education courses. Some licensees are concerned about the dangers of being in large groups of people, others are concerned about the travel itself, some believe that their attendance at seminars/courses may potentially contribute to the spread of the virus, and others state they are in the high-risk groups identified by the CDC.

Florida’s veterinarians, and those who come in contact with them, should not be unnecessarily put at risk during this healthcare emergency. Accordingly, the Board, by emergency rule, will waive the fifteen (15) hour limitation of non-interactive correspondence/distance learning continuing education hours for the 2018-2020 biennial licensure renewal period. The Board finds that these actions are a measured regulatory approach that helps to mitigate the threat of exposure to COVID-19 to veterinary physicians and to those that come in contact with them.

REASON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PROCEDURE IS FAIR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES: Given the recently declared emergency in the State of Florida and the recent guidance from the CDC, the fact that the 2018-2020 biennial renewal for licensure ends May 31, 2020, and that some veterinarian may be required to attend in person continuing education courses/seminars to fulfill continuing education renewal requirements, the Board finds that an immediate danger to the public health, safety, or welfare necessitates immediate action regarding this issue. Notice of this emergency meeting was published in the Florida Administrative Register in Volume 46, No. 58 on March 24, 2020. In addition, notice of the Board’s emergency meeting was posted on the Board’s official website.

SUMMARY: The proposed emergency rule waives the fifteen (15) hour limitation on non-interactive correspondence/distance learning courses for the 2018-2020 biennial licensure renewal period and allows all licensees to comply with mandated continuing education requirements through courses taken in distance learning format.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS: Ruthanne Christie, Executive Director, Board of Veterinary Medicine, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0771.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

 

61G18ER20-1 Continuing Education for the 2018-2020 Biennial Renewal.  For the 2018-2020 biennial renewal period, licensees are permitted to obtain all 30 hours of continuing professional education credits from non-interactive correspondence/distance learning courses.

Rulemaking Authority: 474.206, 474.211, FS.  Law Implemented: 455.2133, 455.2177, 474.211, FS. History—New.

 

THIS RULE TAKES EFFECT UPON BEING FILED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE UNLESS A LATER TIME AND DATE IS SPECIFIED IN THE RULE.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 1, 2020