in-20250903-IR-888250432FNA: The Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) is soliciting public comment on adding, amending, and repealing rules at 888 IAC 1.1-3 and 888 IAC 1.1-10 concerning governing fees, fines, civil penalties, and continuing education requirements. BVM seeks comment on the affected citations listed and any other provisions of Title 888 that may be affected by this rulemaking.

Notice of First Public Comment Period LSA Document #25-432 Sec. 4. (a) The following fees apply as follows: (b) Verification of licensure or registration is ten dollars ($10) and may be subject to regular transaction fees. Sec. 5. (a) Disciplinary fines levied by the board under IC 25-1-9-9 are set at fifty percent (50%) of the statutory maximum. If no statutory maximum is set, the fine is set at one thousand dollars ($1,000). (b) A fine levied under subsection (a) may be reduced or increased after consideration of the mitigating factors identified in subsection (c) and aggravating factors identified in subsection (d). (c) Mitigating factors include the following: (d) Aggravating factors include the following: Sec. 6. (a) The schedule of civil penalties for violations of IC 25-1-4, and the rules adopted under these laws, are as follows: (b) In determining whether to assess a civil penalty, or the amount of a civil penalty, the board shall consider: (c) The board shall consider the following mitigating factors when assessing a civil penalty and may adjust the amount of the civil penalty downward: (d) The board shall consider the following aggravating factors when assessing a civil penalty and may adjust the amount of the civil penalty upward: Sec. 1. (a) A veterinarian licensed in Indiana is required to Licensed veterinarians shall complete forty (40) clock hours of continuing education in the area of veterinary medicine, as set forth in section 5 of this rule, for biennial license renewal on October 15 of each odd-numbered year. (b) A Registered veterinary technician is required to technicians shall complete sixteen (16) clock hours of continuing education in the area of veterinary medicine, as set forth in section 5 of this rule, for biennial registration renewal of a registration on January 1 of each even-numbered year. (c) A licensed veterinarian or registered veterinary technician is not required to complete the continuing education requirements set forth in this rule for the year in which first renewal following the initial license licensure or registration. is issued (d) Continuing education clock hours must be obtained within the biennial renewal period and may not be carried over from one (1) renewal period to another. (e) A veterinarian or registered veterinary technician who serves as an instructor, a speaker, or a discussion leader of an approved provider will be allowed continuing education course credit for actual presentation time, plus actual preparation time of up to two (2) hours for each hour of presentation. Time will not be allowed for repetitious presentations of the same course. (f) Continuing education credit will be allowed for actual authorship of peer-reviewed articles or books, provided the subject matter of the articles or books complies with this section. Up to five (5) continuing education hours will be allowed for actual time spent writing or researching for each article or book. (g) Licensed veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians meet the continuing education requirements in this rule if, during the preceding biennium, they were: (h) Licensed veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians participating in an internship program may apply for continuing education credit as outlined in section 5 of this rule. (i) Continuing education hours required by disciplinary order may not be used to satisfy renewal requirements unless approved by the board. (j) Continuing education clock hours used to satisfy continuing education requirements of another state may be applied toward the fulfillment of the continuing education clock hours required in Indiana. Sec. 2. (a) A Licensed veterinarian veterinarians and a registered veterinary technician must technicians shall certify completion of continuing education required by section 1 of this rule at the time of license or registration renewal on a form in a manner provided by the health professions bureau board. (b) A Licensed veterinarian veterinarians and a registered veterinary technician must technicians shall retain a record of continuing education required by section 1 of this rule for four (4) three (3) years following the end of the biennium licensing period for which the continuing education applied. (c) It is the responsibility of the veterinarian or registered veterinary technician to verify that courses attended have been approved by the board. Without approval, as provided in section 3 of this rule, credit will not be given. (d) The board will not renew a license of a veterinarian or a registration of a veterinary technician who fails to comply with this rule. (e) Continuing education clock hours used to satisfy continuing education requirements of another state may be applied toward the fulfillment of the continuing education clock hours required in Indiana. Sec. 5. (a) An individual or organization seeking continuing education course approval shall submit an application provided by the board. As a condition to the approval of courses, a sponsoring organization shall agree to provide participants with a record of attendance and to retain records of attendance by participants for four (4) years from the date of the course. (b) The board will approve a course if it determines that the course will make a significant contribution to the professional competence of veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians who enroll. In determining if a course meets this standard, the board will consider whether the following requirements are met: (c) Continuing education programs for veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians sponsored by the following organizations are considered approved and no additional approval by the board is required: (d) An individual or organization seeking continuing education approval for an internship shall submit an application provided by the board. The applicant will be required to provide evidence that the internship meets the qualifications in subsection (e) or (f). (e) To qualify for continuing education credit, the veterinarian internship must be as follows: (f) To qualify for continuing education credit, the veterinary technician internship must be as follows: (g) The hours earned from approved continuing education courses are fully accepted, regardless of the delivery method or ability to interact with the presenter. Sec. 6. (a) After each biennial renewal period, the board may randomly audit veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians for compliance with the continuing education requirements set forth in sections 1 and 2 of this rule. (b) Licensees selected for audit shall provide documentation of compliance with the continuing education requirements set forth in section 1 of this rule in a manner prescribed by the board. (c) Documentation of completed continuing education programs must contain the licensee's name, name of the program completed, sponsor of the program, date of attendance, and continuing education hours received. Copies of program booklets, handouts, hotel receipts, or canceled checks are not acceptable proof of completion. (d) Continuing education audits will be conducted under and in accordance with IC 25-1-4. (e) Noncompliance with the continuing education requirements may result in the assessment of a civil penalty as set forth in 888 IAC 1.1-3, completion of remaining continuing education hours, and suspension of the veterinarian's license or registered veterinary technician's certificate of registration under and in accordance with IC 25-1-4. (f) Continuing education completed to achieve compliance with the audit cannot be counted as continuing education hours for the next biennial renewal period. (g) The board may grant a hardship waiver as allowed under IC 25-1-4-4. (h) Individuals seeking a waiver under this rule shall provide evidence that they qualify for the waiver. (i) Individuals seeking a waiver under this rule may be required to appear before the board.