Veterinarians · North Carolina · Continuing education
North Carolina Veterinary CE Requirements (2026)
01 In short
- DVM20 hours every year; renewal by December 31.
Official source: the state licensing board · checked Oct 28, 2026
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03 Requirements
North Carolina DVM CE requirements at a glance
- CE required
- 20hours
- Renewal cycle
- 1 year
- Deadline
- Dec 31
- Reporting
- —
- Renewal deadline
- By December 31
- Accepted credit
- Courses presented or approved by AVMA, AAHA, NCVMA, USDA-APHIS, AAVSB RACE, or academies/schools/colleges of veterinary medicine; other courses with prior Board approval
- Online limit
- 50% of hours
- New licensees
- Veterinarians licensed in their year of graduation need no CE for the next renewal.
- Audits & records
- Keep a file of course content for the three most recent renewal periods.
Good to know. 20 hours per calendar-year license period; max 10 hours self-study, prerecorded webinars or non-interactive online. Live interactive webinars count as in-person. Proposed amendment (hearing 10/7/2026, proposed effective 1/1/2027) would add 1 hour of opioid training — not yet in force.
Source: www.ncvmb.org · 21 NCAC 66 .0206 · checked Oct 28, 2026
04 Conferences in North Carolina
05 Questions
Which CE courses count for veterinarians in North Carolina?
Courses presented or approved by AVMA, AAHA, NCVMA, USDA-APHIS, AAVSB RACE, or academies/schools/colleges of veterinary medicine; other courses with prior Board approval.
How many CE hours do veterinarians need in North Carolina?
20 hours every year.
How do I verify a veterinarian license in North Carolina?
Use the license lookup of the North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board (ncvmb.org); the board's own record is the primary source. CE status itself is checked by the board at renewal.
When is the renewal deadline for veterinarians in North Carolina?
Licenses renew by December 31 (1 year cycle).