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Home / State CE requirements / California
CA · PacificCalifornia veterinary CE and license renewal requirements
Veterinarians: 36 hours every 2 years. RVTs: 20 hours every 2 years. Last verified 2026-10-15. Veterinary Medical Board has the final word.
Verified from rule text
California CE requirements for veterinarians (DVM)
| Hours required | 36 hours every 2 years |
|---|---|
| Deadline / reporting period | Hours must be completed during the preceding 2-year renewal period; certify at renewal (16 CCR 2085.1) |
| Online and self-study limits | Self-study (incl. on-demand without real-time interaction) max 6 |
| Live / in-person requirement | Live webinars with real-time interaction count fully |
| Mandatory or capped topics | 1 hr antimicrobial stewardship every 4 years |
| Accepted providers | Not verified yet. Check with the state board. |
| Carryover | Not verified yet. Check with the state board. |
| Records and audits | Keep certificates 4 years from course completion and provide them on audit or request (16 CCR 2085.9; RVTs 16 CCR 2086.8). CVMA says about 10% of renewals are audited |
| First renewal | First renewal exempt |
Recent changes: AB 1733 (eff. 2027-01-01): adds up to 4 hrs shelter spay/neuter service credit for DVMs (2 for RVTs) within totals (per CVMA legislative update; confirm with VMB)
California vet tech CE requirements (RVT)
| Credential | RVT |
|---|---|
| Hours required | 20 hours every 2 years |
| Caps and notes | Self-study max 4 |
California veterinary license renewal
Renew through the Veterinary Medical Board, which also runs the official license lookup. CE timing: Hours must be completed during the preceding 2-year renewal period; certify at renewal (16 CCR 2085.1). Records: Keep certificates 4 years from course completion and provide them on audit or request (16 CCR 2085.9; RVTs 16 CCR 2086.8). CVMA says about 10% of renewals are audited. Renewal fees change; check the board for the current amount.
Short on hours? Need CE fast lists 55 free live sessions. Check them against the online limit above.
In-depth: California DVM guide
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.
In-depth: California RVT guide
Last verified 2026-10-14. Plain-English summary, not legal advice. Confirm with the Veterinary Medical Board.
| Rule | California RVT | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hours per 2-year renewal | 20 hours (first renewal after licensure is exempt) | 16 CCR 2086.2, VMB memo 10/1/26 |
| Self-study cap | 4 hours | VMB memo (BPC 4858.2(b)(2)), 16 CCR 2085 |
| Spay/neuter volunteer credit (AB 1733, 2026) | up to 2 hours, separate from self-study (6 hours total). Effective date not yet confirmed by the VMB | VMB memo |
| 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 2086.8 |
Live online counts fully
Live webinars with real-time interaction count toward your 20 hours. On-demand recordings are self-study and only 4 hours count per renewal. Courses must come from an approved (statutory) provider or be RACE-approved.
Where to find RVT CE
- Vet tech CE hub: free options stated as open to techs.
- Free veterinary CE: most free live webinars are open to the whole team; check each provider’s page.
- Need CE fast if your renewal is close.
- Conferences: most have RVT pricing (see each conference page).
Veterinary conferences in California 2026–2027
LocalVirtual
RACE status unverified
UC Davis Veterinary Specialty Symposium - AggieVET Southern California
7 CE hrsfrom $299DVM
LocalLabsVirtual
RACE status unverified
Fetch Long Beach Veterinary Conference 2026
14 per person (7 Fri + 7 Sat); up to 16 with sponsored mealsPrice TBA
Fish Camp
Regional
RACE status unverified
CVMA Spring Seminar 2027 (combined with Large Animal Medicine Seminar)
up to 12 (California-approved)Price TBA
RegionalLabsVirtual
LocalLabsVirtual
Nearby (Pacific)
Regional
Online options
Free veterinary CE: 55 live webinars plus on-demand catalogs, all with RACE status shown. California's online rule: Self-study (incl. on-demand without real-time interaction) max 6. Want CE with a trip attached? See CE vacations or all conferences.
California veterinary CE FAQ
How many CE hours do veterinarians need in California?
California requires 36 hours every 2 years for veterinarians (DVM). Timing: Hours must be completed during the preceding 2-year renewal period; certify at renewal (16 CCR 2085.1).
Can California veterinary CE be done online?
Self-study (incl. on-demand without real-time interaction) max 6
How many CE hours do RVTs need in California?
20 hours every 2 years. Self-study max 4.
When is the California veterinary license renewal CE deadline?
Hours must be completed during the preceding 2-year renewal period; certify at renewal (16 CCR 2085.1)
Can extra CE hours carry over in California?
We haven't verified this from California's official text yet. Check with the Veterinary Medical Board.
Does California accept RACE-approved CE?
Yes. The AAVSB lists California as accepting RACE-approved programs. Online or self-study caps still apply.
Official sources
- Veterinary Medical Board
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/16-CCR-2085.1
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/16-CCR-2086.2
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/16-CCR-2085
- https://vmb.ca.gov/licensees/antimicrobial_ce.shtml
- https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/california/16-CCR-2085.9
Last verified 2026-10-15. Plain-English summary, not legal advice. Spot an error? Tell us.
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