(a) “Licensee” means a California licensed veterinarian.

(b) “Continuing education” means education needed to maintain competence and skills consistent with current standards and practices and that is beyond the initial academic studies needed to be licensed.

(c) “Statutorily recognized provider” or “recognized provider” means an organization, institution, association, university or other person or entity that is authorized to offer continuing education in veterinary medicine pursuant to subsection (b)(1) of section 4846.5 of the Code.

(d) “Approved provider” means an organization, institution, association, university or other person or entity that is approved by the Board or the Board recognized national continuing education approval body to offer continuing education courses in veterinary medicine.

(e) “Qualifying continuing education” or “qualifying course” means an orderly learning experience which meets the criteria specified in this article and is administered by a recognized or an approved provider. It includes a variety of forms of learning experiences, including, but not limited to, lectures, conferences, workshops, video conferencing, distance learning technologies, and self-study courses.

(f) “Self-study course” means a form of orderly learning that does not offer participatory interaction between the licensee and the instructor during the instructional period. Self-study includes, but is not limited to, correspondence courses, independent study and home study programs, reading journals, viewing of videotapes, or listening to audiotapes.

(g) “AAVSB” means the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.

(h) “Approval entity” means the entity responsible for approving a provider of continuing education who is not a recognized provider. The entity shall be either the Board recognized national continuing education approval body or the Board itself