Licensing
Oregon Veterinary Licensing Explained: CVTs, Odd and Even Year CE Reporting, and Online Verification
The Zuse TeamHow the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board licenses veterinarians and certified veterinary technicians, the CE rules with their limits and required antibiotic and analgesia hours, why Oregon no longer issues letters of good standing, and how to verify.
4 min read
Oregon's veterinary board is small but active, with recent rule changes on facility closures and an ongoing workgroup on certified veterinary technicians. Two things stand out for licensees: veterinarians and technicians report CE in alternate years, and Oregon has stopped issuing letters of good standing in favor of its online verification.
Who regulates veterinary medicine in Oregon
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board (OVMEB) licenses veterinarians and certifies veterinary technicians. The practice act is ORS Chapter 686, and the rules are in Chapter 875 of the Oregon Administrative Rules. Oregon law requires that all of a veterinary technician's duties be performed under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
Oregon's technician credential is the certified veterinary technician (CVT). The board runs a CVT workgroup on technician rules, so check for updates.
Continuing education
Under OAR 875-010-0090, everyone completes CE every two years, but reports it in different years:
| Veterinarians | CVTs | |
|---|---|---|
| Hours | 30 | 15 |
| Reported with renewal in | Odd numbered years | Even numbered years |
| Journal reading, at most | 4 hours | 2 hours |
| Non scientific topics, at most | 6 hours | 3 hours |
What counts
- Hours may be earned online.
- Scientific workshops and seminars approved by the board or by RACE.
- Reading approved scientific journals, within the caps above: one subscription counts as one hour.
- Non scientific subjects related to practice, such as communication, practice management, stress management or chemical impairment, within the caps.
- Pre approved sponsors include the AVMA and Canadian VMA and their specialty groups, regional meetings, state and local veterinary associations, AAHA, AVMA accredited veterinary schools, and federal, state and regional veterinary academies.
- A graduate residency at an AVMA approved school satisfies CE for the year, and postgraduate coursework counts by credit.
Required topics for veterinarians
Each reporting period, veterinarians need at least one hour on judicious antibiotic use and one hour on appropriate analgesic and anesthetic methods.
Records
Keep proof of CE for at least two years. The board may inspect it, and failing to keep or provide records is grounds for non renewal or revocation.
No more letters of good standing
The OVMEB announced that staff no longer provide letters of good standing. Its online verification system is the official, real time primary source for Oregon licenses. It is free, shows the initial licensure date, expiration and any discipline, produces a printable verification, and lets anyone download lists of licensees. Oregon will not fill in other states' forms by hand.
If you are moving from Oregon, point your new board to the online verification. If you are moving to Oregon, the board accepts other states' online verifications as primary sources too. See moving states with a veterinary license.
Recent rule changes
In 2025 the board adopted rule amendments requiring facilities to notify the board and their clients before closing, setting requirements for what happens to patient records when a facility closes, and making the managing veterinarian responsible for meeting those requirements. It also added definitions for pregnancy, sterility and fertility evaluations.
How to verify an Oregon license
Use the OVMEB's online verification. Search by name or number, confirm the type (veterinarian or CVT), and read the status, expiration and any discipline. Save the printable verification for your hiring file. See how to verify a veterinary license.
How Zuse helps
Zuse Hire shows Oregon practices the licensed veterinarians and CVTs nearby, checked against the board's record. On Zuse Talent, Oregon veterinarians and technicians can claim their license and browse vet tech jobs and veterinarian jobs with pay shown.
Sources
- Oregon Administrative Rules, OAR 875-010-0090, Continuing education requirements
- Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board, announcements, rule changes and verification policy
- Oregon Revised Statutes, Chapter 686
Rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board.
FAQ
How much CE do Oregon veterinarians need?
Thirty hours every two years, reported with the renewal in odd numbered years, including at least one hour each on judicious antibiotic use and on analgesic and anesthetic methods.
How much CE do Oregon CVTs need?
Fifteen hours every two years, reported in even numbered years, with at most 2 hours of journal reading and 3 hours of non scientific topics.
Can Oregon CE be done online?
Yes. Oregon's rule allows the required hours to be obtained online, within the limits on journal reading and non scientific topics.
Does Oregon issue letters of good standing?
No. The OVMEB's free online verification is the official primary source and replaces letters of good standing.
Who regulates veterinary technicians in Oregon?
The Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board certifies them as CVTs, and all their duties must be performed under a licensed veterinarian's supervision.
Cheers,
The Zuse Team