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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!
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.
Registered Veterinary Technicians 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.
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:
Each participant is required to view more than 150 videos and written materials through online education.
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.
Mentors will evaluate the CVMA CVA Level I participant’s ability to accomplish 100 skills from these areas of the task list:
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.
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).
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:
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.
