The Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (APRVT) appreciates your interest in becoming a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Physical Rehabilitation, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation). The APRVT’s goal is to assure the veterinary profession and the public that an APRVT certified technician possesses the knowledge, skills and experience needed to practice physical rehabilitation applications at an advanced level of competency. Although the academy requirements are rigorous, they are not designed to be obstacles to prevent candidates from becoming certified. The requirements of eligibility for application and examination are defined in the APRVT constitution and bylaws.
Note: use this document to retrieve forms and signature pages. A completed application must be submitted as a .PDF file through Drop Box
Submission of your License and Diploma
Applicants must be a graduate of an AVMA approved Veterinary Technology Program and/or legally credentialed to practice as a veterinary technician in a state of the United States, province of Canada or other country. Below are the acceptable credentials we will accept from a country outside of the USA. Please contact the APRVT for specific information about credentialing if a country is not listed.
United Kingdom (UK): must submit a copy of the RCVS certificate. Candidates must hold a license to practice as an RVN and be in good standings with the RCVS. At this time the RCVS diploma is not required.
Australia: must submit a copy of the Certificate IV in veterinary nursing or a Bachelor of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. At this time a diploma in veterinary nursing is not required.
Canada: must be credentialed to work as a veterinary technician in your province. This requires that you take and pass the VTNE.
A scanned copy (.pdf) of the current license must be included. If the current license does not indicate the original date of credentialing, documentation must accompany the license which includes the date.
Graduates of an AVMA approved veterinary technology program must submit a scanned copy of the diploma as proof of gradation along with the name of the school. If a state does not issue a paper license and has a voluntary credential process, an official letter from the state Veterinary Medical Board or state Veterinary Technicians Association stating the original date of credentialing and that the applicant is in good standing to legally practice as a veterinary technician must be included. Canceled checks and other documents will not be accepted as proof.
Those states without voluntary credentialing for veterinary technicians must be a graduate of an AVMA approved Veterinary Technology program AND pass the VTNE, which will serve as the date of credentialing.
Case Reports
Four (4) detailed case reports are required. Case reports must demonstrate expertise and understanding of principles in the management of a variety of veterinary patients requiring veterinary physical rehabilitation. Case reports must be the original work of the applicant and strictly adhere to the case report submission and guidelines in the Application Packet. Case reports shall correlate with a case log. If the correlating case log is rejected, the report is automatically rejected. This is a professional report and is of the caliber for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. A case report example will be sent to candidates after acceptance of pre-application submission materials.
Candidates are encouraged to adhere to the reading list when preparing for the examination and when writing case reports, providing a minimum number of references for case reports and questions about the advanced skills list. Formatting guidelines for references may be submitted to the credentialing chair.
Part of the VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) application process and ongoing membership is collaboration with our veterinarian colleagues. Individuals are encourages to contribute to the AARV (American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians) Technician Member Spotlight at least once during the pre-application process and is accepted in accumulation of points system points. Please contact the AARV technician associate member liaison.