Specialty Guidelines

Policies and Procedures for NAVTA

Recognition of Veterinary Technician Specialties

On February 21, 1994, the Executive Board of the North American Veterinary Technician Association formed the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS) and adopted the following policies and procedures for recognition of a veterinary technician specialty.

Purposes of the Committee

The purposes and duties of CVTS are to:

1. Establish and evaluate criteria for determining whether a proposed specialty fills a recognizable need and represents a distinct area of specialization in veterinary technology.
2. The CVTS will attempt to obtain information and opinion from the profession and from the public concerning recognition of the proposed specialty. Sources of information and opinion can include but are not limited to: NAVTA membership, existing specialty organizations, appropriate educational, research, governmental, military, commercial, and public bodies.
3. Furnish advice and assistance to those groups submitting petitions for establishment and recognition of specialty organization.
4. Review petitions to assure that essential requirements established by the CVTS are fulfilled.
5. Make appropriate recommendations to the NAVTA Executive Board concerning granting of NAVTA recognition.
6. Receive and review annual reports from all recognized specialty groups who have received full recognition. After the group has had full recognition for 5 years, evaluate an in-depth report every 10 years.
7. Receive and review reports from provisionally recognized specialty groups annually. After a minimum of ten years, consider the petition for full recognition.
8. Determine through annual reports and five/ten year reviews that the procedures for credentialing and examination are fairly administered by the specialty group.
   

Committee Make-up

Membership and voting privileges on the CVTS will be limited to:

1. Current President of NAVTA - Co-Chair
2. NAVTA Executive Director - Co-Chair
3. Three veterinary technicians, who are NAVTA members, appointed by the NAVTA Executive Board, who are eligible for specialty credentialing. Each member will be appointed for a two year term and may be reappointed twice.
4. Corresponding Secretary of NAVTA who will serve a two year term
5. Past President of NAVTA
   

How a Specialty Group Becomes Recognized

The following procedures must be followed for obtaining recognition by NAVTA as a veterinary technician specialty:

1. A veterinary technician specialty organization, such as a society, seeking NAVTA recognition as a Veterinary Technician Specialty Academy should:
   a. submit a letter of intent to NAVTA CVTS Chair.
   b. form an organizing committee which would be responsible for the development of the Academy.
   c. appoint a member of the organizing committee to act as the liaison with the NAVTA CVTS.
2. The organizing committee is responsible for developing the specialty. This includes completing the petitioning process to CVTS as outlined in this document and all other work necessary to begin credentialing specialists in the designated area.
3. The members of the organizing committee shall:
   a. be NAVTA members
   b. be veterinary technicians who have graduated from an AVMA accredited education program AND/OR are legally credentialed to practice as veterinary technicians in their state, province, or country.
   c. be recognized as exceptionally qualified specialists in their field with a minimum of seven years of experience in the specialty with no less than 75% of time spent being devoted to the specialty.
   d. have qualifications far exceeding those proposed necessary for candidates desiring to take the certifying examination of the organization.
   e. be replaced only with extenuating circumstances once the petitioning process has begun.
4. Curriculum vitae and work experience forms must be submitted for all members of the organizing committee.
   a. the designated representative of the organizing committee, who will act as a liaison with CVTS, will be responsible for collecting curriculum vitae and work experience summary forms from all potential organizing committee members and submitting them to the CVTS Chair.
   b. Only those veterinary technicians who meet the CVTS guidelines for organizing committee members should have their names put forward. It is up to the liaison to review the vitae and question those candidates who do not appear to meet the criteria.
   c. The petition for recognition as a specialty can be submitted once the organizing committee is in place.
5. Once organization of the specialty has been completed, and the Academy is ready to examine its first group of candidates, members of the organizing committee are eligible to become Charter Members of the specialty at the discretion of a majority of the organizing committee members. Charter Members are not required to submit to examination.
6. A formal petition must be submitted. (guidelines for petition to follow) Ten copies of the entire petition must be submitted to the Chair of CVTS.
7. All petitions submitted will be reviewed by CVTS and recommendations made to the Executive Board prior to the annual meeting.
8. Initial recognition of the specialty will be termed provisional recognition.
9. After a minimum of ten years, a petition may be submitted to the CVTS for full recognition. Full recognition indicates that the organization is fully functional and fulfilling its stated objectives. The specialty group will have ten years from the date of provisional recognition to apply for full recognition. If the CVTS determines that the specialty group is not fulfilling its stated objectives, provisional recognition status will be removed.
   

Review of the Petition

Petitions for specialty recognition should be submitted by April 1 of a calendar year to allow the CVTS adequate time for review and solicitation of information. Meetings will be scheduled by the Committee Chair and may take place before or after the mid-year officer retreat or may, when deemed appropriate by the chair, be held via conference call. At this time the committee will consider all
petitions which have been submitted. A recommendation will be made to the NAVTA Executive Board for consideration by the entire Board prior to the Annual meeting. The announcement of the Board's action on the petition will be made during the annual meeting.

Content of Petition

Contents of the petition for a new specialty organization are as follows (pages of the report should be sequentially numbered) :

1. Establish a standard route through education, training, and experience that provides the most efficient pathway to qualify for examination.
2. The specialty organization must examine only veterinary technicians who meet the following criteria:
   a. have graduated from an AVMA accredited education program AND/OR are legally credentialed to practice as veterinary technicians in their state, province, or country.
   b. meet the education, training, and experience requirements established by the specialty organization.
3. Members seeking specialty credentialing are strongly encouraged to be members of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.
4. The specialty organization must certify only those technicians who meet all of the following criteria:
   a. meet established education requirements
   b. meet established experience requirement
   c. attain acceptable scores on comprehensive examinations administered by the specialty organization
5. Encourage and implement special training beyond the veterinary technology degree to enhance the ability of candidates to meet credentialing requirements and to update the competence of existing
   credentialed specialists.
6. Assure that all written and/or oral examinations reflect the professional activities expected of a specialist in the field.
7. Promptly report to candidates details concerning any deficiencies in credentials or examination results that prevent credentialing by the specialty.
8. Establish a formal appeal procedure for candidates in case of adverse decision by the specialty organization.
9. Notify CVTS of all changes in the constitution and bylaws of the specialty organization at the time of the annual report.
10. The group must be legally incorporated as a not-for-profit educational organization within a state or district of the United States.
11. The specialty organization must represent a distinct and identifiable specialty of veterinary technology and should be supported by an existing veterinary specialty.
12. Have a necessary number of potential candidates which will demonstrate that a need exists within the profession.

Additional Requirements

There must be documentation that the specialty organization meets the criteria for a veterinary technician specialty organization as described above. In addition:

1. The organization must justify its role in fulfilling a recognizable need.
2. The organization must identify the science and define where the science fits in current curricula.
3. Describe current or proposed continuing education programs.
4. A copy of the proposed constitution and bylaws should be submitted which should contain at a minimum:
   a. the name of the organization
   b. a statement of objectives
   c. titles, election procedures, and duties of officers
   d. description of membership categories
   e. statement of prerequisites for candidacy, including education, experience, publications, and
   qualifications of preceptors if required
   f. dues and fees
   g. causes and procedures for suspending credentialed specialists
5. There should be a description of how the specialty plans to organize and initiate its functions including: initial officers duties, examination preparation, administration and monitoring, and establishment of training programs.
6. Evidence should be submitted that facilities and programs are available for the advanced training of veterinary technicians that will lead to specialty credentialing.
7. A statement of support should be included from the veterinary specialty board which corresponds to the veterinary technician specialty. The role the veterinary specialty group will play, if any, should be outlined.
   

Title Designation

1. 1. Veterinary technicians who have met all requirements as stipulated by a recognized Academy, shall be known as Veterinary Technician Specialists, VTS, with the specialty designated in parentheses. For example VTS (Emergency and Critical Care).
   

Reports Required of NAVTA Recognized Specialty Organizations:

1. Annual reports: each recognized specialty organization is required to make an annual report to the CVTS. A form for the report is attached and is due to the NAVTA office by December 15.
2. Five-year in-depth reports: each recognized specialty organization is required to submit an in depth report of its status and activities to the CVTS at five year intervals. An outline for this report is included. The report is due to the NAVTA office by December 15.
3. Ten-year in-depth reports: after five years as a recognized specialty organization, the interval for an in-depth report will be increased to ten years.
   

Criteria for Full Recognition

After a minimum of 10 years at provisional recognition, a petition may be submitted to the CVTS requesting full recognition. Full recognition will be granted providing the following criteria are met:

1. That the organization is fully functional and fulfilling its stated objectives.
2. That annual reports have consistently been filed in a timely fashion.
3. That the Academy continues to have strong development and improvement as an organization.
4. That there be a continued interest of veterinary technicians to apply as candidates.
5. That the Academy continues to review their credentialing examination to reflect evolving technology and industry standards.
6. That there is no significant catastrophic failure of the Academy and/or Constitution and By-Laws.
7. That CVTS has no outstanding concerns or recommendations.

Withdrawal of Recognition

As a result of findings upon review of specialty organization reports, or after appropriate investigation of a complaint by a third party, CVTS may recommend withdrawal of recognition of the speciality organization to the NAVTA Executive Board.

Causes for withdrawal of recognition or change of status are:

1. Failure to meet the criteria for specialty organizations.
2. Actions by a specialty organization considered detrimental to the veterinary, veterinary technology professions or the general public.
3. Failure to submit required reports.
4. Failure to “get up and running.”
   

Revised 6/9/96, 6/97, 12/98, 2002, 2005, 2006

Policies and Procedures for NAVTA
Recognition of Veterinary Technician Specialties

On February 21, 1994, the Executive Board of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America formed the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS) and adopted the following policies and procedures for recognition of a veterinary technician specialty.

Purposes of the committee
The purposes and duties of CVTS are to:

1. Establish and evaluate criteria for determining whether a proposed specialty fills a recognizable need and represents a distinct area of specialization in veterinary technology.
   The CVTS will attempt to obtain information and opinion from the profession and from the public concerning recognition of the proposed specialty. Sources of information and opinion can include but are not limited to: NAVTA membership, existing specialty organizations, appropriate educational, research, governmental, military, commercial, and public bodies.
2. Furnish advice and assistance to those groups submitting petitions for establishment and recognition of specialty organization.
3. Review petitions to assure that essential requirements established by the CVTS are fulfilled.
4. Make appropriate recommendations to the NAVTA Executive Board concerning granting of NAVTA recognition.
5. Receive and review annual reports from all recognized specialty groups who have received full recognition. After the group has had full recognition for 5 years, evaluate an in-depth report every 10 years.
6. Receive and review reports from provisionally recognized specialty groups annually. After a minimum of ten years, consider the petition for full recognition.
7. Determine through annual reports and five/ten year reviews that the procedures for credentialing and examination are fairly administered by the specialty group.

Committee make-up
Membership and voting privileges on the CVTS will be limited to:

• Past President of NAVTA who will chair the committee
• Current President of NAVTA.
• Three veterinary technicians, who are NAVTA members, appointed by the NAVTA Executive Board, who are eligible for specialty credentialing. Each member will be appointed for a two-year term and may be reappointed once.
• Corresponding Secretary of NAVTA who will serve a two year term.
• NAVTA Executive Director

How a specialty group becomes recognized
The following procedures must be followed for obtaining recognition by NAVTA as a veterinary technician specialty:

1. A veterinary technician specialty organization, such as a society, seeking NAVTA recognition as a Veterinary Technician Specialty Academy should:
   1. Submit a letter of intent to NAVTA CVTS Chair.
   2. Form an organizing committee which would be responsible for the development of the Academy.
   3. Appoint a member of the organizing committee to act as the liaison with the NAVTA CVTS.
2. The organizing committee is responsible for developing the specialty. This includes completing the petitioning process to CVTS as outlined in this document and all other work necessary to begin credentialing specialists in the designated area.
3. The members of the organizing committee shall:
   1. Be NAVTA members
   2. Be veterinary technicians who have graduated from an approved college or school of veterinary technology accredited by the AVMA, or who are currently credentialed as veterinary technicians.
   3. Be recognized as exceptionally qualified specialists in their field with a minimum of seven years of experience in the specialty with no less than 75% of time spent being devoted to the specialty.
   4. Have qualifications far exceeding those proposed necessary for candidates desiring to take the certifying examination of the organization.
   5. Be replaced only with extenuating circumstances once the petitioning process has begun.
4. Curriculum vitae and work experience forms must be submitted for all members of the organizing committee.
   The designated representative of the organizing committee, who will act as a liaison with CVTS, will be responsible for collecting curriculum vitae and work experience summary forms from all potential organizing committee members and submitting them to the CVTS Chair.

Only those veterinary technicians who meet the CVTS guidelines for organizing committee members should have their names put forward. It is up to the liaison to review the vitae and question those candidates who do not appear to meet the criteria.
The petition for recognition as a specialty can be submitted once the organizing committee is in place.

Once organization of the specialty has been completed, and the Academy is ready to examine its first group of candidates, members of the organizing committee are eligible to become Charter Members of the specialty at the discretion of a majority of the organizing committee members. Charter Members are not required to submit to examination.

A formal petition must be submitted. (guidelines for petition to follow) Ten copies of the entire petition must be submitted to the Chair of CVTS.

All petitions submitted will be reviewed by CVTS and recommendations made to the Executive Board prior to the annual meeting.

Initial recognition of the specialty will be termed provisional recognition.

After a minimum of ten years, a petition may be submitted to the CVTS for full recognition. Full recognition indicates that the organization is fully functional and fulfilling its stated objectives. The specialty group will have ten years from the date of provisional recognition to apply for full recognition. If the CVTS determines that the specialty group is not fulfilling its stated objectives, provisional recognition status will be removed.

Review of the Petition
Petitions for specialty recognition should be submitted by April 1 of a calendar year to allow the CVTS adequate time for review and solicitation of information. Meetings will be scheduled by the Committee Chair and may take place before or after the mid-year officer retreat or may, when deemed appropriate by the chair, be held via conference call. At this time the committee will consider all petitions which have been submitted. A recommendation will be made to the NAVTA Executive Board for consideration by the entire Board prior to the Annual meeting. The announcement of the Board's action on the petition will be made during the annual meeting.

Content of Petition
Contents of the petition for a new specialty organization are as follows:

1. Establish a standard route through education, training, and experience that provides the most efficient pathway to qualify for examination.
2. The specialty organization must examine only veterinary technicians who meet the following criteria:
   a. have graduated from an AVMA accredited education program AND/OR are legally credentialed to practice as veterinary technicians in their state, province, or country.
   b. meet the education, training, and experience requirements established by the specialty organization.
3. Members seeking specialty credentialing are strongly encouraged to be members of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.
4. The specialty organization must certify only those technicians who meet all of the following criteria:
   1. Meet established education requirements
   2. Meet established experience requirement
   3. Attain acceptable scores on comprehensive examinations administered by the specialty organization
5. Encourage and implement special training beyond the veterinary technology degree to enhance the ability of candidates to meet credentialing requirements and to update the competence of existing credentialed specialists.
6. Assure that all written and/or oral examinations reflect the professional activities expected of a specialist in the field.
7. Promptly report to candidates details concerning any deficiencies in credentials or examination results that prevent credentialing by the specialty.
8. Establish a formal appeal procedure for candidates in case of adverse decision by the specialty organization.
9. Notify CVTS of all changes in the constitution and bylaws of the specialty organization at the time of the annual report.
10. The group must be legally incorporated as a not-for-profit educational organization within a state or district of the United States.
11. The specialty organization must represent a distinct and identifiable specialty of veterinary technology and should be supported by an existing veterinary specialty.
12. Have a necessary number of potential candidates, which will demonstrate that a need exists within the profession.

Additional Requirements
There must be documentation that the specialty organization meets the criteria for a veterinary technician specialty organization as described above. In addition:

1. The organization must justify its role in fulfilling a recognizable need.
2. The organization must identify the science and define where the science fits in current curricula.
3. Describe current or proposed continuing education programs.

A copy of the proposed constitution and bylaws should be submitted which should contain at a minimum:

1. The name of the organization
2. A statement of objectives
3. Titles, election procedures, and duties of officers
4. Description of membership categories
5. Statement of prerequisites for candidacy, including education, experience, publications, and qualifications of preceptors if required
6. Dues and fees
7. Causes and procedures for suspending credentialed specialists

There should be a description of how the specialty plans to organize and initiate its functions including: initial officers duties, examination preparation, administration and monitoring, and establishment of training programs.

Evidence should be submitted that facilities and programs are available for the advanced training of veterinary technicians that will lead to specialty credentialing.

A statement of support should be included from the veterinary specialty board which corresponds to the veterinary technician specialty. The role the veterinary specialty group will play, if any, should be outlined.

Title designation
Veterinary technicians who have met all requirements as stipulated by a recognized Academy, shall be known as Veterinary Technician Specialists, VTS, with the specialty designated in parentheses. For example VTS (Emergency and Critical Care).

Reports required of NAVTA recognized specialty organizations:

Annual reports: each recognized specialty organization is required to make an annual report to the CVTS. A form for the report is attached and is due to the NAVTA office by December 15.

Five-year in-depth reports: each recognized specialty organization is required to submit an in depth report of its status and activities to the CVTS at five year intervals. An outline for this report is included. The report is due to the NAVTA office by December 15.

Ten-year in-depth reports: after five years as a recognized specialty organization, the interval for an in-depth report will be increased to ten years.

Withdrawal of recognition
As a result of findings upon review of specialty organization reports, or after appropriate investigation of a complaint by a third party, CVTS may recommend withdrawal of recognition of the specialty organization to the NAVTA Executive Board.

Causes for withdrawal of recognition or change of status are:

1. Failure to meet the criteria for specialty organizations.
2. Actions by a specialty organization considered detrimental to the veterinary, veterinary technology professions or the general public.
3. Failure to submit required reports.
4. Failure to "get up and running."

Revised 6/9/96, Revised 6/97, Revised 12/98 - this document replaces all others in existence.

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