Minnesota Licenses

Veterinary License Renewal & CE Requirements

Minnesota

Next Renewal Deadline: March 1, Every Other Year

Minnesota veterinary licenses are issued for a period of two years and renew biennially on March 1.Even-numbered licenses renew in even years; odd-numbered licenses in odd years.

Proactive Advice

To ensure timely renewal and avoid penalties, veterinarians should complete their continuing education and submit their renewal applications well in advance of the March 1 deadline. The Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine primarily communicates important updates and application status via email, making it essential to ensure a current email address is on file.

Official Board Information

Board Name: Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine
Website: https://mn.gov/elicense/a-z/index.jsp?id=1083-231696
Email: vet.med@state.mn.us (implied from application instructions for sending documents)

At a glance

CE Requirements

Veterinarians:

Minnesota veterinarians must complete 40 hours of CE every two years. No more than 10 hours may be focused on practice management.

Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs):

10 continuing education credits are required every two years.
CE credits must be earned within the two-year cycle (July 1–June 30; odd year to odd year / even year to even year).
A minimum of 5 CE credits must be obtained from an interactive source.
A minimum of 7 CE credits must be in a medical category.
Late renewals (after June 30) require 5 additional credits, which must be both medical and interactive, plus a $40 late fee.

For Busy Veterinarians

Proactively manage your license renewal, which occurs biennially on March 1, to avoid late penalties.
Initiate your application process well in advance, as applications are deemed abandoned if all requirements are not completed within one year of filing.
Ensure all required documents, including notarized references and official transcripts, are submitted promptly to prevent delays.
Bookmark the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine's eLicense portal for direct access to your account and application status: https://mn.gov/elicense/a-z/index.jsp?id=1083-231696

get an email reminder a month before your license renewal is due

deep dive

What Counts and What Doesn’t

Application Process & Requirements (Veterinarians)

License Types: The Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine offers various license types, including those for new graduates, foreign graduates, individuals previously licensed in other states or Canada, professional firms, and University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center (U of M VMC) faculty. Temporary and Specialty VMC Clinician Licenses require specific paper forms and cannot be applied for online.
Educational Requirements: Applicants must provide proof of graduation, typically a copy of their diploma or an official transcript conferring a DVM degree from an AVMA-accredited College of Veterinary Medicine. For those applying before graduation, a letter from the Dean attesting to student status and anticipated graduation date is acceptable. Graduates from non-accredited schools require verification of Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) enrollment and anticipated completion.

Examinations:
- North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE): Score reports must be certified by the Veterinary Information Verifying Agency (VIVA) if not previously sent to the Board.
- Minnesota Jurisprudence Exam: A 50-question open-book exam covering Minnesota veterinary laws and rules is required. Eligibility for this exam requires submission of all other application requirements, including a passing NAVLE score. The exam is sent electronically, has a two-hour time limit, and requires a 90% passing score. A $75 fee applies for retakes, and applicants are allowed up to 5 attempts.

Required Documents:
- Completed online application.
- Fees (Application, Jurisprudence Exam, Criminal Background Check, Initial 2-year License).
- Criminal Background Check: A fingerprint-based criminal background check is mandated by Minnesota law (Minn. Stat. § 214.075) since June 1, 2016. The $32 fee is bundled with other licensing fees, and an email packet with instructions for fingerprinting will be sent after payment. Previously taken fingerprints cannot be used, and the report is only valid for one year.
- Notarized Letters of Reference: At least two from veterinarians and three from other non-related adults are required. These letters must detail the duration and circumstances of the acquaintance and attest to the applicant's qualifications. Veterinarians providing references must include their active license number and state of practice.
- Military Discharge Papers: If applicable, a copy of discharge papers.

Application Process Notes: Applications are deemed abandoned if all licensing requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed. Applicants are explicitly prohibited from practicing veterinary medicine until the Board issues a license, even if all exams are passed and background checks are clear.