Business and Professions Code section 4858.2
(a)
The board shall issue renewed veterinary technician registrations only to those applicants who have completed a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education in the preceding two years.(b)
Continuing education hours for registered veterinary technicians shall be earned as follows:(1)
Attending courses provided by those specified in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 4858.1 or sponsored or cosponsored by one of the following:(A)
National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) recognized veterinary technician specialty organizations.(B)
State veterinary technician associations recognized by the secretary of state in that state.(2)
Up to 4 hours of the required 20 hours of continuing education may be earned by doing either of the following, or a combination thereof:(A)
Up to four hours may be earned by taking self-study courses, which may include, but are not limited to, reading journals, viewing video recordings, or listening to audio recordings.(B)
Up to two hours may be earned by performing pro bono animal health care tasks related to spaying or neutering services for a public animal control agency or shelter, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals shelter, humane society shelter, or rescue group in compliance with the following:(i)
The services shall be performed under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian at a veterinary premises registered with the board pursuant to Section 4853.(ii)
Proof of completion of continuing education pursuant to this subparagraph shall be documented, with a copy provided to the registered veterinary technician, by the supervising veterinarian and include the date of performance of animal health care tasks, the name, address, and telephone number of the entity for which the animal health care tasks were provided, the name and veterinarian license number of the supervising veterinarian, and the name, address, and veterinary premises registration where the animal health care tasks were performed.(3)
A registered veterinary technician who teaches a course described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) may receive continuing education credit for the course one time during a renewal period.(4)
Up to nine hours of continuing education credit may be earned by participating as an expert in an examination preparation workshop for the national licensing examination.(5)
Up to 13 hours of continuing education credit may be earned for completing courses in business practice management or mental health and wellness and its impact on the delivery of veterinary services.(6)
Up to one hour of continuing education credit may be earned by passing the Veterinary Law Examination.(7)
Up to two hours of continuing education credit may be earned by attending a board or Veterinary Medicine Multidisciplinary Advisory Committee meeting, as verified by the board.(c)
Providers offering continuing education courses pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) shall comply with the requirements of Section 4858.3.(d)
For good cause, the board may adopt an order specifying, on a prospective basis, that a continuing education source authorized pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of subdivision (b) is no longer an acceptable source.
Source:
Section 4858.2, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=4858.2. (updated Jan. 1, 2026; accessed Dec. 15, 2025).
