(A) A license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the state veterinary medical licensing board pursuant to sections 4741.11 to 4741.13 of the Revised Code expires biennially on the first day of March in even-numbered years. A limited license to practice veterinary medicine issued by the board pursuant to those sections expires biennially on the first day of July. A license or limited license may be renewed in accordance with the standard renewal procedures contained in Chapter 4745. of the Revised Code upon payment of the required renewal fee and fulfillment of the continuing education requirements contained in division (B) of this section unless otherwise provided by law. The board shall issue a duplicate certificate to any holder upon request and upon due proof of loss of the original.

(B) As a condition precedent to each renewal of a license or limited license, a licensed veterinarian shall demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the board, that the licensed veterinarian has completed thirty hours of continuing education during the two years immediately preceding renewal of the licensed veterinarian's license or limited license that meets the requirements established by rule of the board as to form and content.

(C) The board may waive the requirement of division (B) of this section if the licensee submits an affidavit evidencing that the licensee was prevented from attending an approved educational program during a year because of the occurrence of an unusual and prolonged emergency, provided the licensee otherwise complies with such requirements as the board determines.

(D) Educational program requirements not completed during the biennial license period, due to a waiver granted by the board under division (C) of this section, are cumulative on the requirements for the succeeding biennial license period.

(E) Any license or limited license which is not renewed at the end of the biennium becomes an inactive license or limited license. A licensee may reactivate an inactive license or limited license upon application to the board. The board shall prescribe continuing education and other requirements as it considers necessary to reactivate a license or limited license. Any license or limited license which has been inactive for more than four years expires if the licensee has not applied for reactivation of the license or limited license. Upon expiration, a license or limited license becomes void.

(F) Division (E) of this section does not apply to any veterinarian who serves solely in a professional capacity with any federal, state, or local government agency or with any branch of the armed forces of the United States.

Effective Date: 03-02-1992; 10-12-2006 .