The state emergency order for COVID-19 including the state-wide mask mandate has been lifted by the Governor for vaccinated individuals, however, individual businesses may still require employees and customers to wear masks, and/or other health/safety protocols.

Please continue to monitor your local county health department for updated mandates and regulations regarding COVID-19.

The latest PACFA Advisory Committee meeting was held virtually on June 17, 2021. Topics covered were new Advisory Committee member orientation, a preview of the new PACFA Qualifying Education Course, the proposed rule that will require qualifying education for new applicants beginning this fall, and continuing education for current licensees beginning during renewal in 2023/24. Stakeholder meetings regarding animal transport and importation and rulemaking around the implementation of HB 21-1102 and HB 21-1160 will be held this fall in an in-person or hybrid format. An email notification will be sent out to everyone on our email listserv once stakeholder meetings for each rulemaking topic have been scheduled.

The next PACFA Advisory Committee meeting will be scheduled in November. An email notification will be sent out once the meeting has been scheduled.

PACFA Qualifying Education Course

The PACFA Qualifying Education Course has been created and we will be ready to begin implementation this fall for new license applicants. The course is designed to cover four modules (Click on the Design Module link below) and covers topics ranging from regulatory requirements to standards for disease control and transportation.

Requirements to complete these courses as a condition for licensure will be defined through rule. The Commissioner has the authority under 35-80-109 to set qualification standards for new and renewal licenses. A public hearing on the proposed rule will be noticed for a date between August 16th-24th, with review by the Agriculture Commission on September 8th. The proposed rule will require qualifying education for all new applicants prior to receiving a license and a continuing education course for current licensees to be taken once every two years. Current licensees will take the Qualifying Education Course as their first continuing education course in 2023 or 2024. More information to come as the course is rolled out this fall.

There is excitement to have PACFA launch this essential addition to our program as it will establish a baseline of knowledge for all licensees to help achieve greater compliance and enhanced animal health, safety, and welfare and enhance consumer protection for those consumers who use pet-care-related services.

We also want to recognize and thank, Michele Barton who has assumed the new role as the PACFA Licensing and Education Administrator, and our SME Team Leads, PACFA Lead Inspector Cindy Thompson, and PACFA Inspector Becky Robison for their tireless work in helping this project come to fruition.

We are very excited about how the course turned out and we are excited to be able to offer the course at no cost to our licensed community! This means that anyone who wants to have their staff take the course can ask and we can register your managers, and/or employees for the course.