Regulations Governing Veterinary Practice Registration and Continuing Education

Article 1 This set of Regulations is formulated in accordance with Article 5.4 of the Veterinarian Act.

Article 2 A person with a veterinary certificate may apply for a veterinary license if none of the conditions listed in Article 6 of the Veterinarian Act is applicable to the person.

Article 3 3.1 The application for veterinary practice registration shall be submitted to the competent authority at the local level (special municipality, city or county) – also the agency to issue the license – by filling out the application form, paying the required license fee, and attaching the following documents: 3.1.1 Original and photocopy of the veterinary certificate, in which the original would be inspected for authenticity and returned subsequently; 3.1.2 Two identical pieces of two-inch photos (half length, front view, no hat) taken within the past six months; 3.1.3 Proof of membership of the veterinary association at the location of practices; 3.1.4 Proof from the institution of intended practice; this proof can be waived for the applicant applying to concurrently set up a new veterinary facility. 3.1.5 Proof of completion of required continuing education listed in Section 8.1.

3.2 The proof in Section 3.1.5 may be waived if any of the following situations exists: 3.2.1 The applicant has obtained his veterinary certificate less than five years before applying for practice registration. 3.2.2 The applicant has voluntarily suspended the practice for less than two years before applying for registration renewal prior to the target date to renew on a current license, or the current license has no “target renewal date”.

Article 4 If any of the following situations exists, the proof in Section 3.1.5 may be fulfilled with proof of completion of more than one sixth of the required credits in Section 8.1 during the 12 months prior to applying for practice registration: 4.1 This is the veterinarian’s initial application for practice registration after obtaining the veterinary certificate for more than five years. 4.2 There has been a voluntary suspension of practice for more than two years.

Article 5 Application for a renewed license to practice shall be submitted – within six months prior to the “target renewal date” on the current license – to the authority that has issued the current license by filling out the application form, paying the required license fee, and attaching the following documents: 5.1 The current license to practice. 5.2 Two identical pieces of two-inch photos (half length, front view, no hat) taken within the past six months. 5.3 Proof of existing membership of the veterinary association at the location of practice at the time of renewal application. 5.4 Proof of completion of continuing education listed in Section 8.1.

Article 6 Depending on the scenario, “target renewal date” on the newly-issued veterinary license shall be: 6.1 The day after the sixth anniversary of the registration approval if applying for registration according to Article 3.1; or the target date on the current license if applying for registration renewal prior to that date and after a voluntary suspension of practice less than two years. 6.2 The day after the sixth anniversary of the “target renewal date” on the current license if applying for license renewal according to Article 5. 6.3 The day after the sixth anniversary of this set of Regulations enters into force if applying for replacement license according to Article 14.1.

Article 7 For a veterinary license that has been lost or defaced, the veterinarian shall submit the application for re-issuance or replacement – to the original authority that has issued the current license – by filling out the application form, paying the required license fee, and attaching two identical pieces of two-inch photos (half length, front view, no hat) taken within the past six months; the defaced current license shall be surrendered for a replacement.

Article 8 8.1 A veterinarian shall earn at least 120 credit points of continuing education every six years to remain eligible to practice. The courses shall be in the fields of 8.1.1 Veterinary science, practice, and technology, 8.1.2 Quality of veterinary services, and 8.1.3 Professional ethics and relevant regulations.

8.2 For courses described in Sections 8.1.2 and 8.1.3, one shall obtain at least 12 credit points. However, a maximum of only 24 points will be recognized.

8.3 Formats of continuing education and credit earned are listed in the attached Table.

Article 9 Verification of continuing education courses and recognition of credits in Article 8 shall be performed by an institution (a veterinary group or agriculture foundation) accredited by the central competent authority.

Article 10 10.1 Institutions applying for accreditation to validate courses and recognize credits of continuing education in Article 8 and Article 9 shall be: 10.1.1 Societies of veterinary science, veterinary associations, or agriculture foundations at the national level, 10.1.2 Established for at least three years, 10.1.3 Over 10% of the membership in the national-level veterinary groups are practicing veterinarians, or veterinary assistants, or 10.1.4 An agriculture foundation with more than two years of experience in veterinary-related training and/or promotion.

10.2 The veterinary groups or agriculture foundations shall submit the application for accreditation in Article 9 to the central competent authority by filling out an application form and attaching a Proposal containing the following: 10.2.1 The institution’s establishment or registration paper, by-laws or other documents to meet the eligibility criteria in Section 10.1. 10.2.2 Organization overview, and plans to perform course validation and credit recognition: these include manpower allocation, workflow, operational mode, supervisory mechanism, document retention, quality control of courses, as well as fee items and amount. 10.2.3 Other documents or information required by the central competent authority.

Article 11 To review an application filed according to Article 10, the central competent authority may carry out on-site inspections at the applying institution.

Article 12 Institutions accredited by the central competent authority shall validate courses for veterinary continuing education, recognize credit, and collect fees according to the approved Proposal; they must also assess and update verified previously validated courses at the proper time.

Article 13 13.1 The central competent authority may revoke the accreditation to an institution if any of the following situations exists: 13.1.1 Gross negligence in validating courses or recognizing credit in veterinary continuing education regarding compliance with regulations or the Proposal. 13.1.2 Failure to comply with the Proposal in fee collection – overcharging pre- approved items or charging fees which are not pre-approved. 13.1.3 Evading, hindering or refusing audits by the central competent authority.

13.2 The central competent authority may annul the courses or credits involved in the situation in Section 13.1.1. 13.3 An institution whose accreditation has been revoked in Section 13.1 are not eligible to apply for re-accreditation within one year.

Article 14 14.1 For licenses issued before this set of Regulations enters into force, veterinarians shall apply for replacement licenses within one year of promulgation of the Regulations, by filling out the application form and attaching the following: 14.1.1 The current license to practice, and 14.1.2 Two identical pieces of two-inch photos (half length, front view, no hat) taken within the past six months.

14.2 For a replacement application described in Section 14.1, the regular license fee may be waived. 14.3 Failure to apply for a replacement license in accordance with Section 14.1 will void the current license (issued before the Regulations become effective).

Article 15 This set of Regulations shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.

Table: Formats of continuing education and credit points

Format Credit 1. Veterinary related courses for 1. Participant: one point for each continuing education offered by session schools (college level or above), 2. Teacher: five points for each veterinary groups (academic societies, session trade associations or bodies), foundations, veterinary teaching hospitals, or organizations accredited by government agencies or the central competent authority. 2. International veterinary academic 1. Participants: two points for each conferences with public solicitation of session papers and review mechanism. 2. Presentation or poster: first author three points, other authors one point each 3. Keynote speaker: 10 points for each lecture 3. Veterinary academic conferences – 1. Participant: one point for each organized by domestic veterinary session schools, or veterinary groups 2. Presentation or poster: first author (academic societies, trade associations two points, other authors one point and bodies) – with public solicitation each of papers and review mechanism. 3. Keynote speaker: three points for each lecture 4. Taking veterinary on-line courses 1. One point for each session 2. A maximum of 40 points will be recognized 5. Taking correspondence courses 1. One point for each session offered by veterinary or biomedical 2. A maximum of 20 points will be journals recognized 6. Original veterinary paper published 1. Sixteen points for the first or in veterinary related journal, domestic corresponding author, six points for or overseas, with review mechanism the second author, and two points each for the rest 2. Credits for other categories of papers will be reduced by 1/2 7. Taking relevant courses in a 1. Five points for each course credit domestic or overseas university 2. A maximum of 15 points will be recognized each semester 8. Teaching animal quarantine or 1. Two points for each session veterinary public health in outreach 2. A maximum of 30 points will be programs recognized 9. Practicing veterinary medicine Ten points for each year abroad with proof of continuing education in that country 10. Further/advanced studies at a 1. Two points for each day of study domestic or overseas veterinary 2. A maximum of 20 points will be research institution recognized 11. Residency training at a veterinary Thirty points each year teaching hospital

Notes: 1. A session refers to a period of at least 45 minutes. 2. Credits for veterinary practice in Taiwan’s offshore islands will be doubled except for Points 5 and 9 in the Table. 3. Fifty percent more credit will be earned for veterinary practice in the following areas except for Points 5 and 9 in the Table. (1) New Taipei City: Shiding, Pingling, Pingxi, Shuangxi, Yulai (2) Ilan County: Datung, Nanou (3) Taoyuan City: Fuxin (4) Hsinchu County: Ermai, Jianshi, Wufong (5) Miaoli County: Nanzhuang, Shitan, Taian (6) Taichung City: Heping (7) Nantou County: Zhongliao, Guoxing, Xinyi, RenAi (8) Chiayi County: Fanlu, Dapu, Alishan (9) Tainan City: Nanxi, Nanhua, Zhuozhen, Longchi (10) Kaohsiung City: Tienliao, Liouguai, Jiaxien,Shanlin, Maolin, Taoyuan, Namaxia (11) Pingtung: Manzhou, Sandimen, Wutai, Majiaxiang, Taiwu, Laiyi, Chuenri, Shihzi, Mudan (12) Hualien County: the entire county (13) Taitung County: the entire county