Maryland Veterinary Licensing Explained: The July 1 Renewal, 18 Hours of CE, CDS Permits and RVTs

Maryland is a dense, well paid veterinary market between Washington, Baltimore and the Eastern Shore. Its board does more than most: it licenses veterinarians, registers technicians, and also licenses and inspects veterinary hospitals. And Maryland renews on the state's fiscal year, which surprises new licensees: everyone renews by July 1, even someone licensed in May.

Who regulates veterinary medicine in Maryland

The Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners sits within the Maryland Department of Agriculture in Annapolis. It:

• licenses and registers veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians (RVTs);
• licenses veterinary hospitals and animal control facilities, and inspects hospitals and shelters;
• investigates complaints and disciplines licensees;
• approves continuing education; and
• works with a Veterinary Technician Committee on practice standards for RVTs.

Board members are appointed by the Governor for five year terms. The practice act is in the Agriculture Article, section 2-301 and following, of the Annotated Code of Maryland, with regulations in COMAR Title 15, Subtitle 14.

Getting a Maryland veterinary license

Applications go through the state's OneStop portal. The Board asks for:

• Transcripts sent directly from your school.
• ECFVG or PAVE certification if you graduated from a school the AVMA has not accredited. See foreign-trained veterinarians: ECFVG vs PAVE.
• NAVLE scores. If you applied through Maryland within the past 12 months, they transfer automatically. Otherwise they are sent through the Veterinary Information Verifying Agency. See the NAVLE explained.
• A recent headshot.
• Letters of good standing sent directly from every state where you have ever been licensed. Faxes are not accepted.
• Documents for any discipline or criminal conviction, other than minor traffic violations.
• An attestation that you have read and understood Maryland's veterinary laws and regulations.

Old scores

If your exam scores are more than five years old, you need new scores, unless for the five years before applying you have practiced clinical veterinary medicine continuously, taught clinical veterinary medicine at an AVMA accredited institution, or lived outside the US because you or your spouse served the government.

Fees

You must have your license and registration in hand before you begin practicing. Maryland now emails certificates rather than mailing them.

Renewal: every year by July 1

Maryland renews on the fiscal year. Everyone renews by July 1. The Board warns that someone licensed in May or June to work the last month or two of the fiscal year must still renew by July 1. And anyone who has ever held a Maryland license, however long ago, should reactivate through OneStop rather than apply again.

Continuing education

Maryland veterinarians need 18 hours of continuing education each year. The Board does not require CE in a veterinarian's first year of licensure.

Reinstatement

A lapsed license is reinstated through OneStop with 18 hours of CE for each year the license was lapsed (36 hours for two years, earned between the lapse and the application), a current résumé, and letters of good standing from other states.

Controlled substances: a separate permit

Maryland veterinarians who prescribe or dispense controlled substances need an individual CDS permit from the Maryland Department of Health, not the veterinary board, in addition to a federal DEA registration. Two requirements come with it:

• 2 hours of Board approved CE in prescribing or dispensing CDS before an initial permit or a renewal (since October 1, 2018). This applies even in the first year of licensure, when the veterinary board itself requires no CE.
• Registration with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). Veterinarians are currently exempt from reporting to the PDMP, but they must register to get a CDS permit.

Registered veterinary technicians

Maryland registers technicians, so the credential is RVT. The Board sets RVT practice standards with its Veterinary Technician Committee, and RVT continuing education is governed by its own chapter of the regulations, COMAR 15.14.16. Check the Board's current RVT requirements before you apply or hire.

What Maryland jobs pay

From Maryland postings that stated pay in Zuse's data in November 2026, the typical advertised rate was about $26.50 an hour for technicians and $18.50 for assistants. See veterinary technician pay by state.

What this means for Maryland practices

• Check everyone after July 1. With one renewal date for the whole state, early July is when lapses show up.
• Track CDS permits separately. They come from a different agency on a different schedule.
• Your hospital is licensed too. Keep the hospital license current and be ready for inspection.

How Zuse helps

Zuse Hire shows Maryland practices the licensed veterinarians and RVTs nearby, checked against the Board's record. On Zuse Talent, Maryland veterinarians and technicians can claim their license and browse vet tech jobs and veterinarian jobs with pay shown.

Sources

• Maryland Department of Agriculture, Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
• Maryland OneStop, Application for veterinary license
• Code of Maryland Regulations, Title 15, Subtitle 14, including Chapter 15.14.16 (continuing education for registered veterinary technicians)
• Zuse, veterinary pay by state, November 12, 2026

Fees and rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the Maryland State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

FAQ

When do Maryland veterinary licenses renew?

Every year by July 1, on the state's fiscal year. Someone licensed in May or June still renews by July 1.

How much CE do Maryland veterinarians need?

Eighteen hours each year. The Board does not require CE in the first year of licensure.

How much does a Maryland veterinary license cost?

A $300 application fee, then a $300 license and registration fee (or $150 if licensed between January 1 and June 30). Annual renewal is $300, with a $200 late fee after July 1.

Do Maryland veterinarians need a separate permit for controlled substances?

Yes. An individual CDS permit from the Maryland Department of Health, which requires 2 hours of CE on prescribing or dispensing CDS and registration with the PDMP.

What if my Maryland license lapsed?

Apply for reinstatement through OneStop with 18 hours of CE for each year it was lapsed, a résumé and letters of good standing from other states.