If you are having trouble logging in to your account, it may be a pop-up issue. Click here for more information.
If you are having trouble logging in to your account, it may be a pop-up issue. Click here for more information.
The CVMA Certified Veterinary Assistant (CVMA CVA) program is offered to accredited Registered Veterinary Technician programs in California in partnership with veterinarians and RVTs who serve as mentors and program advisors. Many RVT programs have found that the CVMA CVA program compliments their curriculum, aids in teaching, and provides enrolled students with an additional certificate upon completing the program.
The CVMA established the CVMA CVA program in order to provide veterinary practitioners with more qualified, professional, and productive employees in the traditional entry-level positions of the veterinary support staff.
The CVMA CVA program emphasizes basic training and skills in a variety of areas, including medical care, client communication, and practice safety through online learning and experience in a veterinary practice.
As an added benefit, CVMA CVAs receive one year of complimentary CVMA membership after completion of Level I certification!
To maintain certification, 10 hours of continuing education units are required every two years plus a minimal certificate renewal fee ($30 CVMA Members/$100 Non-Members).
School Administrators may sign up by contacting Jessica Gray at Patterson Veterinary Academy at jessica.gray@pattersonvet.com.
With the CVMA CVA program, participants increase their knowledge through online education materials, practical experience, evaluation (skills assessments), and a written examination.
Participants learn topics including:
Education
Complete, with a passing grade, a minimum of nine months or two semesters of an approved high school or adult learning curriculum designed to prepare students for employment in the animal care industry. Applicants are required to view more than 150 videos and written materials online.
Experience
The experience required to complete the AVMA approved RVT program will meet the experience requirement for the CVMA CVA program.
Evaluation
Mentors will evaluate the applicant’s ability to accomplish 100 skills from these areas of the task list:
Examination
To become certified for two years, upon completion of the experience and education components, applicants must pass a certification exam. The online exam consists of 100 randomly generated questions. The applicant will have a two-hour time limit to complete the exam and must score 75% or higher.
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:
Applicants 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.
Skip to content