California veterinary CE requirements (DVM)
Last verified 2026-10-14. Plain-English summary, not legal advice. The Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) has the final word.
| Rule | California DVM | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per 2-year renewal | 36 hours (first renewal after licensure is exempt) | 16 CCR 2085.1, VMB memo 10/1/26 |
| Self-study cap | 6 hours | 16 CCR 2085(f), VMB memo (BPC 4858.1(b)(2)) |
| Spay/neuter volunteer credit (AB 1733, 2026) | up to 4 hours, separate from self-study (10 hours total). Effective date not yet confirmed by the VMB | VMB memo |
| Antimicrobial stewardship | at least 1 hour every 4 years (every other renewal) | VMB, CVMA |
| Business / practice-management / stress cap | up to 24 hours | CVMA |
| Credit unit | 1 hour = at least 50 minutes; each course at least 1 hour | 16 CCR 2085.3 |
| Records | keep certificates 4 years | 16 CCR 2085.9 |
| Audit | CVMA says the board audits about 10% of renewals | CVMA |
Online is not the same as self-study
Live webinars and video conferences where you can interact with the instructor in real time count as regular CE toward your 36 hours (16 CCR 2085(e)). Self-study means courses with “no participatory interaction,” like on-demand recordings, and only 6 of those hours count. If you watch a webinar recording later, it becomes self-study. Some national CE tables list California online CE as “unlimited.” That leaves out the self-study cap.
Who counts as an approved provider
Statutory providers (AVMA, AVMA-accredited veterinary colleges, accredited universities, AVMA specialty and allied groups such as AAHA, state and local VMAs, ACCME/AMA/ADA-CERP and others) or RACE-approved programs (CVMA approved providers, 16 CCR 2085.5). The statute was renumbered: the VMB’s 2026 memo cites BPC 4858.1/4858.2, while older guidance cites 4846.5.
Antimicrobial stewardship courses the VMB lists
- USDA APHIS NVAP Module #23 (needs a National Accreditation Number)
- VetVine: Antimicrobial Stewardship Made Practical for Practitioners
Source: VMB course list.
Next steps
- Short on hours? See Need CE fast.
- Browse free veterinary CE tagged live vs self-study.
- Plan a trip from the conference calendar.
- RVT? See California RVT CE requirements.