Continuing Education for Veterinarians “Education is a life-long process” Plato

Abstract

Extract

Veterinary continuing education can be simply thought of as those activities veterinarians pursue throughout their careers in order to maintain their professional competence in a changing environment. This life-long learning process is essential for the maintenance of professional standards if they are to keep up with the pace of change in today's world. The pace is such that if the profession is to fulfil its responsibilities to help provide food, fibre, animal companionship and human health care, all veterinarians must be free to participate in continuing education. In New Zealand it is the clinical practitioners who must struggle most to maintain their knowledge. Yet this group, because of its size and activities, forms the main interface between the profession and the public. Thus it must be of concern to the whole profession that all members and in particular the practitioners have an equal and ample opportunity to participate in continuing education.