Section 1. Bi-annual Renewal.

    (a) Certificates shall expire two (2) years after the date of issue. There is no grace period for renewal of a certificate. A certificate shall be renewable by providing the Board with the following, post marked on or prior to the license expiration date:

      (i) Payment of the renewal fee;

      (ii) Complete application for renewal;

      (iii) Verification of compliance with the continuing education requirements as set out below.

    (b) Each Certificate Holder shall earn a minimum of eight (8) contact hours of Board approved training during the twenty-four (24) months immediately proceeding the license expiration date.

      (i) Contact hours for purposes of this section shall be the actual number of hours during which instruction was received. A minimum of fifty (50) minutes constitutes a contact hour. For academic courses, one (1) semester credit equals fifteen (15) contact hours. One (1) CEU credit is equal to ten (10) contact hours.

      (ii) Excess continuing education credit hours acquired in one twenty-four (24) month period may not be carried forward to the next period.

      (iii) The following standards shall govern acceptability of continuing education activities:

        (A) These activities shall have significant intellectual or practical content, and the primary objective shall be to increase the participant's competence in the practice of animal euthanasia.

        (B) These activities shall constitute an organized program of learning dealing with matters directly related to the practice, professional responsibility or ethical obligations of animal euthanasia technicians.

        (C) Presenters of these activities should be experts in animal euthanasia. The scope of practice in these rules and regulations may be used as a basis of what knowledge and skills are acceptable to the Board as continuing education activities.

        (D) Continuing education programs sponsored by the following organizations, which are germane to practice of animal euthanasia, are approved by the board:

          (I) Humane Society of the United States

          (II) National Animal Control Association

          (III) American Veterinarian Medial Association

          (IV) American Humane Association.

        (E) Continuing education programs not sponsored by the above organizations may be submitted for review and approval by the Board. The course outline or course synopsis along with the Instructor credentials must be submitted to the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to course. Failure to provide the Board with the course outline or synopsis within the thirty (30) day limit may disqualify the course from being considered as continuing education.

      (vi) Certificate Holders shall attest to the number of continuing education hours completed.

      (vii) Certificate Holders shall list their continuing education activities on the form provided by the Board.

        (A) In addition to the listing, the Certificate Holders shall attach copies of any certificates of attendance, letters certifying attendance, transcripts, or any other official documents which show attendance.

        (B) Proof of attendance shall contain the activity title, dates, contact hours attended, sponsor, presenter, and the name of the Certificate Holder.

      (viii) Certificate Holders are responsible for maintaining their own continuing education documentation.

      (ix) Approximately sixty (60) days prior to the renewal date the Board will send a renewal application to the address of record.

      (x) Renewal applications will not be accepted more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the expiration date.

      (xi) Renewal applications received which are postmarked after the certificate expiration date, or after the next business day in cases when the certificate expiration date falls on a weekend or official holiday, will not be processed and the certificate will expire.

      (xii) Failure to receive an application for renewal from the Board does not excuse a Certificate Holder from the requirement for renewal under the Act and these rules.  

  Section 2. Waiver of Continuing Education Requirements. Upon written request received prior to the license expiration date, the Board may waive the continuing education requirement for renewal of a license for good cause. Good cause is hereby defined as:

    (a) A severe physical disability, illness or other extenuating circumstance exceeding one hundred and eighty (180) consecutive days in any calendar year which substantially interferes with a certificate holder's ability to meet the continuing education requirement prior to the deadline.

  The licensee shall provide supporting documentation from a third party acceptable to the Board.

    (b) A civilian called to active duty in the armed forces of the United States for a period of time exceeding one hundred and eighty (180) consecutive days in any calendar year. The exemption shall be for a maximum of four (4) PDUs for each calendar year that the licensee is performing active duty.

  Section 3. Reinstatement. An expired certificate may be reinstated by the Board. Request for reinstatement must be made in writing and post marked within thirty (30) calendar days of the expiration date. The applicant must submit,

    (a) The renewal application,

    (b) The eight (8) hours of continuing education which were required for renewal, and

    (c) An amount equal to double the license renewal fee.