Georgia DVM License Renewal · 2025–2026 Biennium
The Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine (not us!) will require all licensees who must complete continuing education for renewal (both veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians) to register and report their CE hours through CE Broker®.
Here are some important details that will help you navigate this new reporting requirement:
Not all of your 30 CE hours are interchangeable. Georgia sets two firm requirements inside the 30-hour total: a minimum amount of scientific subject matter and a set amount of LEAP (Georgia laws, rules and professionalism). The balance may be general professional development. Knowing which category a course falls into is what keeps a renewal from stalling in CE Broker.
The 30 hours at a glance
| Category | Required hours | What it covers |
| Scientific CE | At least 18 hrs (ok to have more 😊) | Clinical, evidence-based medicine and surgery. Anything tied directly to patient care. |
| LEAP CE | 2 hrs minimum requirement | Georgia laws, rules and professionalism. Must be delivered live. |
| General CE | Maximum 10 hrs | Practice management, leadership, DEI, communication and other non-clinical topics. |
1. Scientific CE: 18 hours minimum
“Scientific subject matter includes all conventional medical and surgical sub-categories that are evidence based in addition to the science of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease as it relates directly to patients and includes a comprehensive range of the practice of veterinary medicine.”
Rule of thumb: if it’s an “–ology” (or a clinical science that supports one) and it relates directly to patient care, treat it as scientific CE.
Typical examples:
Cardiology · Oncology · Dermatology · Ophthalmology · Neurology · Endocrinology · Radiology & imaging · Pharmacology · Anesthesia & pain management · Surgery · Dentistry · Internal medicine · Emergency & critical care · Theriogenology · Clinical pathology · Infectious disease · Parasitology · Clinical nutrition
2. General CE: maximum of 10 hours
General CE is professional development that supports the practice of veterinary medicine but is not medical or surgical in nature. It counts toward your 30 hours, but it does not count toward the 18 scientific hours.
Practice management · Leadership development · Diversity, equity & inclusion · Communication & client service · Business, finance & accounting · Marketing & social media · HR & team development · Wellbeing & burnout prevention · Technology & records systems · Ethics or jurisprudence not specific to Georgia
3. LEAP CE: 2 hours
LEAP stands for Laws, Ethics And Professionalism — the Georgia-specific requirement built into the 30 hours. Three rules people miss:
- It must be live. In person, or a live interactive webinar with measures that confirm active participation. Pre-recorded sessions do not count.
- Blanket approval does not apply. Every LEAP course must be individually Board-approved and offered by a Board-approved provider.
- Out-of-state practice is exempt. Licensees who do not practice in Georgia are not required to meet the 2-hour LEAP requirement.
Side by side
| Scientific | General | LEAP | |
| Counts toward the 30 hrs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Counts toward the minimum 18 scientific hrs | Yes | No | No |
| Required amount | At least 18 hrs | Maximum 10 hrs (no minimum) | 2 hrs |
Reporting essentials
- Report in CE Broker first. Every course must be recorded in CE Broker before you can submit a renewal — the Board will not process it until CE is reported and approved.
- Attach your documentation. Certificates or transcripts must be uploaded with each entry. No document, no credit.
- No carry-over. CE credits cannot move from one biennium to the next.
- Keep proof for 3 years and provide it on request if audited.
- Veterinary technicians: 10 hours per biennium, including 1 hour of LEAP. No separate scientific minimum.
Caps
- 12 hrs per calendar day
- 1 hr per 50 minutes of contact time
- 15 hrs of interactive computer courses (testing required)
- 3 hrs journal studies
- 6 hrs in-house training (veterinarians)
- 3 hrs peer review
- 2 hrs per lecture you present, up to 5 subjects.
Sources: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 700-7-.03 (Continuing Veterinary Education) · Georgia Secretary of State, Veterinary Medicine Continuing Education · Georgia Veterinary Medical Association, CE Requirements Overview.
Verify before you renew: requirements and course approvals are set by the Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine and can change. Confirm current rules on the Board’s website or with the Board directly.
