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CVMA Certified Veterinary Assistant Program General Information

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CVMA Certified Veterinary Assistant Private Practice Program

The CVMA CVA private practice program provides training and skills for veterinary assistants in a variety of areas, including medical care, client communication, and practice safety. Students in the program acquire flexible online education through Patterson Veterinary Academy, along with on-the-job practical experience and skills assessment and then go on to take their final examination online. A veterinarian or RVT will mentor the student throughout the program, assessing and verifying their skills along the way.

As an added benefit, CVMA CVAs receive one year of complimentary CVMA membership after completion of Level I certification!

Benefits to Veterinary Practices

  • High-quality training for students on a flexible schedule
  • Improved patient care
  • Reduced turnover by creating career opportunities, not just jobs

Program Fees

CVMA CVA Course Fee: $295 per learner

CVMA CVA Final Exam Retest Fee: $55

Multiple staff members within the practice may be enrolled in the program at the same time, each working at their own pace.

 

Practices employing at least one CVMA Member who register for the CVMA CVA Course, may additionally purchase an annual subscription to Patterson Veterinary Academy (PVA) with a 10% discount by using code CVMA10 . This is an optional subscription and is not required to participate in the CVMA CVA course. For more information and to subscribe to PVA, click here.

CVMA CVA Mentor

Registered Veterinary Technicianss and veterinarians may serve as mentor students enrolled in the CVMA CVA program.  This opportunity provides more informed and skilled team members in the practice and allows mentors to serve as role models to the CVMA CVA students. The CVMA CVA training process increases veterinary assistants’ appreciation of the advanced knowledge and skills of RVTs.

CVMA CVA Level I Program

Veterinary assistants increase their knowledge through four components: online education materials, practical experience, evaluation (skills assessments), and a written examination. Participants of the CVMA CVA Level I program learn:

  • Medical terminology
  • Breed identification
  • How to give medications
  • Proper lifting and restraining techniques
  • How to safely handle chemicals
  • How to assist veterinarians during examinations
  • How to communicate with clients
  • How to schedule appointments
  • And much more.

Education

Each participant is required to view more than 150 videos and written materials through online education.

Experience

The CVMA CVA Level I participant is required to complete 600 hours of hands-on training. By learning on-the-job from highly trained veterinarians and RVTs at their practice, participants are able to continue working while they are learning. 

Evaluation

Mentors will evaluate the CVMA CVA Level I participant’s ability to accomplish 100 skills from these areas of the task list:

  • Communication and Client Relations
  • Office Procedures and Medical Terminology
  • Animal Identification
  • Animal Restraint
  • Safety Concerns and Cleanliness
  • Auxiliary Skills
  • Pharmacy and Pharmacology
  • Laboratory Procedures
  • Diagnostic Imaging
  • Veterinary Dentistry
  • Surgical Preparation and Assisting

Examination

To become certified for two years, upon completion of the online learning and practical experience/skills assessment components, applicants must pass a certification exam. The online exam consists of 100 randomly generated questions. The CVMA CVA Level I participant will have a two-hour time limit to complete the exam and must score 75% or higher.

Maintaining CVMA CVA Certification

To maintain certification, 10 hours of continuing education units are required every two years plus a minimal certificate renewal fee ($30 Members/$100 Non-Members).

CVMA CVA Level I Program General Requirements

  • Applicant must be 16 years of age or older.
  • Practice must designate a California-licensed DVM or RVT mentor
    • Mentor must complete and return mentor responsibility agreement.
    • Limit of five CVMA CVA learners at one time, per mentor.

CVMA CVA Level II Program

Level I CVMA Certified Veterinary Assistants can further advance their knowledge in the CVMA CVA Level II program! CVMA CVAs will complete the online education component and the evaluation component (skills assessments task list) in this advanced program. Participants of the CVMA CVA Level II program will learn about topics including:

  • Recognizing Diseases and Symptoms
  • Anatomy
  • Cytology/Laboratory
  • Fluid Therapy and Medications
  • Wound Care/Triage Emergency
  • Dentistry
  • Exotics
  • And much more

 

Participants are required to view 130 videos and written materials through online education and accomplish tasks from the level II skills task list. They will also be required to pass a final written examination (passing score of 80% required). A student is eligible to take this test for the Level II course if they are a current CVMA CVA in good standing.

Questions? Contact the CVMA’s Membership and Student Services Manager, Laura Phillips, by calling 800.655.2862 or email lphillips@cvma.net.

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