BQA Re-Certification Guidelines

A Georgia BQA Certification is good for three years. You must be re-certified to renew your Georgia Beef Quality Assurance Certification. There are two options you may choose to accomplish this. The first option is that you may take the BQA Training and Test again to renew your certification. The second option is for you to accumulate the required re-certification credit hours during your three year certification period. Producers/industry members must obtain three (3) re-certification credit hours in
accordance with the re-certification guidelines in order to renew their certification.

Please note that all re-certification credit hours must be received in the Georgia Beef Board office within 90 days after the expiration of your certification. All producers who obtain the required re-certification credit hours will be mailed a renewal notice after certification expiration.

Educational credit hours can be obtained by attending or participating in an educational event containing at least 20-30 minutes of educational presentation on the following topics:

Importance of Beef Quality Assurance

  • Vaccine and Drug Practices
  • Livestock Feeds and Feedstuffs
  • Impact of Practices on Carcass Quality (Genetics, Meat Science)
  • Quality Assurance of Market Cows and Bulls
  • Handling and Facilities
  • Transportation
  • Biosecurity Measures
  • Non-Ambulatory Cattle
  • Cattle identification and Record Keeping


Examples of presentations that would qualify include cattlemen’s association meetings, GCA convention sessions, educational allied industry meetings, or university sponsored educational events (short courses, trainings).

Credit hours are assigned as follows:

20-30 minutes = .5 hour
30-1 hour = 1 hour
1.5-2 hours = 2 hours
University Beef Cattle Short Course = 3 hours

We would like a UGA County Extension Agent or Specialist to sign off on the event. If one is not available, please contact Raymond Fitzpatrick (706-384-2843) or Jason Duggin (706-624-1403) for approval.