Become a Specialist

Achieving the VTS (Behavior) Specialist Credentials Requires

• An accumulation of skills and knowledge gained over time that meet the standards set forth by AVBT under the guidance of NAVTA

• Self-study through text books (see the Recommended Reading List), webinars, conferences, courses, etc

• Self-assessment to identify knowledge and skill weaknesses and strengths

• Reaching out to other qualified pet professionals to round out your skills (this may be in addition to your current job duties)

• Support from veterinary colleagues and often your employer to allow for your skills expansion

• Time to dedicate toward achieving the standards within the packet and compiling the packet

• Finances to purchase educational materials and/or attend educational courses/conferences

• Finances to cover the cost of packet submission, exam fee and travel to the exam site

How do I get started?

• Candidates must be credentialed veterinary technicians, licensed or certified to practice in the state in which they reside.

• Prospective candidates should familiarize themselves with the recommended reading list, skills list, and basic requirements for the candidate packet described further below.

• Extensive continuing education, clinical practice, and skills assessments must be completed before candidates can apply to be considered to take the exam.

• Cover letter

• Signed Application Agreement, Application Fee, and Statement of Ethics

• Curriculum Vitae

• Proof of Graduation

   Include proof of graduation from an AVMA-CVTEA Accredited Veterinary Technician Program. *

   Acceptable proof includes transcripts or a graduation certificate.

  * If you are a credentialed technician having passed the VTNE or your country’s equivalent based on legal eligibility routes other than graduating from an AVMA Accredited Program, include an explanation about this instead of Proof of Graduation.

   

• Proof of Licensure or Credentialing

  You must be credentialed, licensed, registered, or certified to practice as a veterinary technician in good standing within your jurisdiction.

   Proof of licensure is a copy of your current license clearly displaying your name and the expiration date.

   Exceptions to proof of licensure include only municipalities where there is no available option for credentialing, licensing, registration, or certification. If you practice in a state or province with voluntary credentialing, you must be credentialed and provide a copy of this active credential clearly displaying your name and expiration date.

  British Columbia (RVT), New Hampshire (CVT,) Rhode Island (CVT), Connecticut (CVT), New Jersey (CVT), Vermont (CVT), Florida – FVTA & FVMA (CVT), Newfoundland and Labrador (EVTA) (AHT), Wyoming (CVT), Massachusetts (CVT), Prince Edward Island (EVTA), (AHT), Minnesota (CVT), Quebec (ATSAQ) (RVT)

   

• Proof of a Professional Membership

  Proof of membership in a professional veterinary organization. Examples include state, provincial, or national veterinary technician organization.

• Letters of Recommendation

  Two (2) letters of recommendations from the following:

  • VTS (Behavior)

  • Supporting Veterinarian

  • Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior

• Completed Skills Assessment Form (SAF)

• Some skills require video submission. Read the submission instructions carefully.

  The skills form documents those skills that have been mastered by the candidate and are necessary to practice as a veterinary behavior technician at an advanced level. The form will be provided by the credientals approval committee. It is subject to change based upon the current state of the art in veterinary behavior medicine. The Skills Assessment Supervisior (SAS) must be a credentialed technician or veterinarian. The applicant can email the Examination Committee @ info@avbt.net for approval of other credentials for their SAS.

• Completed Time Sheets (2)

  Prevention Time Sheet

  Intervention Time Sheet

  A minimum of three (3) years of work experience as a credentialed veterinary technician in animal behavior. This includes a minimum of four thousand (4,000) hours.

  The minimum time allowed to accumulate four thousand hours (4,000) hours is 3 years. March 1, 2021 - February 28, 2024.

  The maximum time allowed to accumulate four thousand hours is within 5 years of your application date.  March 1, 2019 – February 28, 2024.

  ·      A minimum of 1,000 of the total hours must be intervention based requiring a veterinarian’s diagnosis and supervision of treatment by the veterinarian.

  ·      A maximum of 3,000 of the total hours may be prevention based, not requiring a veterinarian’s diagnosis.

  ·      Sufficient detail  must be provided regarding the specific skill performed during entries.

  ·      Hours may be segmentally logged by the day, week, or month.

  ·      The maximum reporting segment is one month per entry.

• Continuing Education – Proof Required

  A minimum of forty (40) hours of continuing education related to veterinary behavior.

  General animal training CE does not count toward the minimum hours required.

  CE hours must be within 5 years of the application date. March 1, 2019 – February 28, 2024.

  Acceptable example sources: Veterinary conferences and symposia, veterinary sponsored CE providers, veterinary school and technician school Continuing Education presentations (not curricula), veterinary topics presented at ClickerExpo or APDT Conference.

  A maximum of 28 CE hours can be counted from any single source/event.

• Case Logs

  Intervention Case Log (Required)
  Prevention Case Log (Optional)

  Case logs must include at least fifty (50) cases.

  Cases in the log must occur within a single 12-month period (e.g. Jan 1-Dec 31, Apr 1-Mar 31, etc.)

  The 12 contiguous months of cases must occur within three (3) years of the application date. For 2024 Examination, this means between March 1, 2021 and February 28, 2024.

  Cases may be either all intervention, or a combination of intervention and prevention. Intervention Log: 75% to 100% of cases (38 to 50 cases) must be intervention, requiring a veterinarian’s diagnosis.

  Prevention Log: 0% to 25% of cases (0-12 cases) may be prevention, not requiring a veterinarian’s diagnosis.

  The log should include the following:

  • Date

  • Patient Identification (name or number)

  • Species/Breed

  • Age

  • Sex

  • Weight

  • Veterinary Diagnosis

  • Length of care

  • Final Outcome

  • Summary of behavior techniques used and procedures performed by the applicant on the patient

• Case Reports (5)

   Case reports must represent the original work of the applicant.

  Case reports must be from cases within the Case Log.

  Case reports must be appropriately referenced in-text to support assertions.

  A minimum of three (3) case reports must be intervention, requiring a veterinarian’s diagnosis.

  A maximum of two (2) case reports may be prevention, not requiring a veterinarian’s diagnosis.

   

  Case reports must include, at minimum:

  ·      Complete signalment of patient

  ·      Statement of presenting complaint

  ·      Behavior history

  ·      Significant physical and laboratory findings

  ·      Behavioral diagnosis (if applicable)

  ·      Previous treatments attempted (applied by client or another person)

  ·      Prescribed treatment plan

  ·      Description of treatment plan as presented to the client (language at the client level of understanding)

  ·      Your contributions to the case and treatment plan

  ·      Method of communication between yourself and the veterinarian

  ·      Method of communication between yourself and the client

  ·      All medications and supplements the patient is taking.

  ·      Medication dosages should be listed in mg/kg and include the drug name (not the trade name)

  ·      Follow up care including application of prescribed treatment plan including home visits, hospital visits, and telemedicine appointments.

  ·      General follow up assessment (if home visit, include family interactions and observable behavior)

  ·      Response to current treatment plan

  ·      Observations and discussion pertaining to follow up

  ·      Goals for next follow up care

  ·      Results

  ·      Discussion- The discussion is your opportunity to showcase your knowledge. You may include:

  o   Reasoning behind selection of treatment recommendations

  o   Assertions about why interventions were successful or unsuccessful

  o   Conclusions you determined during the case

  ·      List of references corresponding with the in-text citations

• Client Education Resource

Submit one example of client education material on a veterinary behavior topic which represents your original work.

Examples would include a handout, online publication, article, or tutorial, or a video designed for clients.