Why should I pursue a VTS in Physical Rehabilitation? I already have my physical rehabilitation credentialing and have spent a lot of time and money on this.
At this present time, NAVTA does not recognize certification in Rehabilitation for Veterinary Technicians. We realize there is a great deal of time, energy and effort the rehabilitation professionals in Veterinary Medicine endure to become credentialed in rehabilitation. The members behind the Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (APRVT) and the APRVT mentor from the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation feel that by creating a VTS in rehabilitation, utilizing the rigorous NAVTA requirements, will aid in providing all credentialed rehabilitation veterinary technicians the next step in becoming widely recognized as experts in our field.
Why can I not be grandfathered in to the VTS in rehabilitation, I have already become certified through other programs?
NAVTA has very strict requirements to recognize a VTS. A VTS in physical rehabilitation means that you have the knowledge and skill above and beyond those that are certified in physical rehabilitation. A VTS will be held to a higher standard and recognized as a true specialist in rehabilitation. We realize there is a great deal of time, energy and effort the rehabilitation professionals in Veterinary Medicine endure to become credentialed in physical rehabilitation. The members behind the Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (APRVT) feel that by creating a VTS in physical rehabilitation, utilizing the rigorous NAVTA requirements, will aid in providing all veterinary technicians credentialed in physical rehabilitation the next step in becoming widely recognized as experts in our field. Physical rehabilitation is an important emerging field in the world. We feel we are in a unique position to grow and show support for the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR), which the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians recognizes as validation of specialization in veterinary physical rehabilitation. These veterinarians are required to meet exceptional standards above any beyond any current qualifications or experiences while contributing to research and education. Members of VTS in physical rehabilitation will be expected to participate in furthering rehabilitation in the country and abroad by: speaking at international, national and state conferences; publishing rehabilitation articles in veterinary journals; and teaching research in the field of veterinary rehabilitation. This will hold Academy members to a higher level of standards while supporting the organization’s Mission—“ to provide assistance in physical rehabilitation, encouraging veterinary professionals and colleagues to further their education, while improving the quality of animals’ lives”.
I am practicing rehabilitation but have not maintained my technician licensing or registration in my state, province or territory. Can I apply?
No. Please refer to application requirements. Applicants need to fulfill the following requirements to be eligible: - Proof of graduation from an AVMA approved Veterinary Technician program and/or credentialing license to practice as a Veterinary Technician in some State or Province of the United States, Canada, or other country. - Current membership with North American Veterinary Technicians Association - Minimum of five (5) years as a credentialed veterinary technician (10,000 hours working 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year) with two (2) of those years with experience as a credentialed veterinary technician (4,000 hours) AND three (3) of those years containing at least 4,500 hours (75% of 6,000 hours, 3 years - 40 - hour work week) of work experience as a credentialed veterinary technician working in veterinary physical rehabilitation. Verification of experience required
How Would I benefit from earning a VTS?
The APRVT was organized to further the recognition of credentialed veterinary technicians as critical components in the physical rehabilitation team. Veterinary Technicians seeking recognition by the APRVT should be committed to advancing their professionalism in the field of physical rehabilitation. Recognition provides a way to further your career and enhance your personal growth. Membership in the APRVT will provide continuing education opportunities, mentorship for publishing articles and studies, member benefits with our Industry sponsors and the chance to be on the forefront of advancing our career field.
I can't find a Veterinarian mentor and really want to apply for the Academy. I meet all the criteria except for mentorship, what are my options?
Is there a mentor program for help with the application?
Yes. As of 2022 the APRVT offers mentorship from a current member for applicants who have not met the application criteria (e.g. the first application packet has been rejected in either phase 1 or phase 2). Please contact the credentialing chair for more information.
I do not currently work with a veterinarian, am I still eligible to apply?
The APRVT code of ethics provides guidance for credentialed veterinary technicians working in clinical practice. Applicants can also refer to this document for further guidance.
Does the Academy recognize other species in addition to canine and feline?
A species subspecialty for the APRVT requires sufficient numbers of exceptionally recognized experts to develop a subspecialty and must follow the current CVTS guidelines set forth by NAVTA. Individuals wishing to develop a species subspecialty should contact the current APRVT President!
Once I am a VTS (Physical REHABILITATION), do i need to renew?
The VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) certification is conferred for a period of five (5) years. The certification period will begin on the first day of the month that the examination is passed and end on the same date five (5) years later. Maintenance of Certification shall occur every 5 years from being awarded the title VTS (Physical Rehabilitation). The VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) may elect to retake the examination, including all fees, or may accrue points by performing a number of activities to benefit the Academy and field of veterinary physical rehabilitation. A points system will be determined by the Board of Directors and may include participation on the Board of Directors, serving as a committee member, continuing education, lectures or scholarly articles. Renewal information is located in the Member Portal (membership log-in required).
Is rehabilitation certification required for a VTS (physical Rehabilitation)?
No. While it is extremely beneficial to obtain additional credentialing in physical rehabilitation, it is not required. Applicants in this category may meet additional criteria in the Points System which helps support exceptional experience in physical rehabilitation.
I have been solely working in Physical rehabilitation for over 5 years, can i still apply?
I have been working solely in physical rehabilitation for over five years and have the required two years' prior experience as a veterinary technician. Am I still eligible to apply?
Application Questions
What happens if my application is late or incomplete
Your application will be rejected and may be submitted the following cycle.
Will I be able to add something to my application packet after it is submitted?
Nothing can be added after application has been received. The credentialing committee will notify applicants if clarification of materials is required, but supplemental information will not be accepted.
When will I know if I am eligible to sit the exam?
You will be notified within 90 days after receipt of all required application materials. It is encouraged for applicants to study before they receive eligibility notification.
Why do i need to write exam questions for the APPLICATION?
Writing exam questions, even if you have never done this before, is an essential part of becoming a VTS in any technician specialty. It is important to maintain a database of diverse questions over the course of a long period of time to ensure advancements in rehabilitation are maintained.
My application was rejected the first time, do i need to start over?
No. Applicants may re-apply once in the following year without needing to resubmit an entire packet. Oftentimes only portions of the application do not meet application criteria and need revision. An applicant may recycle portions of the application packet, but should adhere to the individual guidelines determined by the credentialing committee in the application decision letter. If an applicant does not submit an application in the immediate year, they must re-submit a pre-application packet and then a new packet, to "renew" the Application Information Number. Do not assume information previously submitted will be eligible for your application year cycle.
My Pre-Application phase 1 packet was accepted but now that im closer to the deadline for phase 2, what do i do now?
As soon as an applicant determines they will be unable to submit an application they should contact the credentialing committee chair. Depending on when an applicant expects to apply, a new AIN may be assigned.
My phase 2 packet was accepted but i am unable to take the examination, what do i do?
No. You may defer taking the examination by one year. After that time candidates must resubmit an entire application, including pre-application materials.
What process does the Academy use to process applications?
The credentialing committee uses a Phase system to review applications. In phase II, credentialing committee reviewers are unaware of an applicants name and reviewers are assigned a private reviewer number. Should an application receive inconsistent scores by reviewers, a third party review is performed to ensure scoring fairness for all applicants. Phase I - Review of CV, LOI, Recommendation Letters, Continuing Education, Work Experience, Exam Questions, and all other required signature forms located in the application packet. Phase II - Case Logs and Skills List evaluation Phase III - Examination
when am I allowed to start collecting my case studies and skills?
Applicants may collect case reports and case logs in the year the application is due. Advanced skills are not accepted longer than 5 years prior to an application submission.
How Many parts of the application packet are there?
There are two parts (or phases). Phase 1 is the submission of everything except the skills list, case logs, and case report. Here is a linkto the application process.
With regard to skill set and case log references, should the skill number cross reference with the case log?
Yes. The case logs are a representative of your knowledge and skill. The applicant should make every effort to demonstrate this in the case log reporting form. Simply stating "demonstrated skill to Dr. Smith" is not representative of an applicants knowledge and the committee will have difficulty assessing experience and skill levels.
I have been working in the field for a long time. How many years can I go back and count cases for reporting case logs.
Applicants may only use cases acquired in the year of application submission. When claiming skills, the applicant may have a mentor attest to skills obtained in the immediate five (5) years prior to application.
I have provided lectures and want to use it towards the points system accrual and am unsure of how to provide evidence that it was done, what will be accepted as "proof"?
If you are unable to provide a photocopy of a certificate, publication, syllabus, flier, proceedings, or article for your lecture, you may use a letter from the conference coordinator or professor (submitted on the organization letterhead including the persons title and position) stating the name of the conference, title of lecture, date provided, audience and type of CEU. If there is a publication under review which you wish to submit, please contact the credentialing chair for more information. DO NOT SUBMIT your powerpoint presentation as proof, it will not be reviewed.
How far back can my continuing education credits be claimed?
You may count continuing education as far back as five (5) years from the application deadline. It must directly correlate with the continuing education domains listed in the application packet. Please make sure the CEU claimed directly relate to physical rehabilitation. For example, a lecture of nutrition is accepted, however a lecture on nutritional needs for management of a pancreatitis case will not be accepted.
I used a RACE approved continuing education certificate course taught by multiple providers for my online continuing education but it was rejected. Why?
Some continuing education courses are taught by multiple providers with varying levels of credentialing. For those courses taught by multiple providers, it is recommended to contact the course provider to determine how many CEU was provided by each provider to prevent the entire course from being rejected should a providers credentials be rejected. Please refer to the application packet for details on currently approved course providers.
Examination Questions
When is the exam offered?
Examinations will be held in the Fall months of the year and until an annual conference is established. Exact dates will vary year to year. Consideration of CE and cost to the applicant are determining factors for examination location. Applicants will have at a minimum 8 months to study before an examination is held one applications are submitted.
What if i do not pass the exam the first time? Can i take it again?
You may take the exam a total of 2 times in 2 years (for a total of 3 times) with the acceptance of the application. Please refer to the ByLaws of the current year for details.
When should i start studying?
The APRVT strongly suggests potential VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) candidates begin to study as soon as the Application Packet is submitted. This will give YOU, the applicant, 8 months (with the exception of the first examination cycle) to study in preparation for the examination held each year.
Does the academy provide special ACCOMMODATIONS?
Yes. The applicant is responsible for submitting a request for special accommodations within the specified time period stated in the Bylaws. Requests received in time periods afterwards cannot be guaranteed to be accommodated.
SKILLS LIST AND CASE LOG FAQ's
Q: I wanted to get some clarification on an "uncomplicated case" for case logs. What is considered a complication? Complications can include any co-morbidity (metabolic, behavioral, previous pain experiences, medical concerns, etc.). A patient recovering from a TPLO procedure with muscle loss and changes in joint range of motion is considered an uncomplicated case.
Q: The skills list is confusing, does each skill need to have a correlating case log? No. Each skill does not need a correlating case log, but each case log needs a correlating skill. It is recommended to submit more skills and case logs than requested in case they are rejected. If a a case log is rejected, the skill is also rejected.
Q. One of my case logs was rejected, is the correlating skill also rejected? Yes. The case logs are an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate mastery of a skill.
Q. My correlating case log was rejected and I used it for my case report. Now what. Unfortunately if the case log is rejected, the case report is also rejected. A case log can be rejected for something as simple as missing the date of treatment or body weight.
Q: I have a patient who has been coming to our facility for a very long time and I would like to use them for a case log. Am I allowed to use this? Yes. However you may only use the immediate year prior to the application deadline for any skills attested to. Please indicate that this is a long-term patient, including years seen.
Q: Are we allowed to have less that three (3) case logs on one page? No. By following the reporting guidelines, three (3) case logs fit on one page. The only exception is for the final page. If your case logs do not contain enough information to demonstrate knowledge in the skill, it may be rejected.
Q: When writing case logs, the patient utilized multiple skills. How should this be recorded? A: When writing a case log with multiple skills, only reference ONE skill per log. Do not list more than one skill in the skill explanation section or the committee reviewer may be unable to determine which skill is being claimed. Try to elaborate as much as possible the skill being used - this is how competency is determined and that applicants understand why the therapeutic plan was chosen for the patient. We understand patients utilize a combination of therapies, but for example we want to know an applicant understands why grade II joint mobilizations are indicated in a patient with chronic elbow dysplasia and reduced ROM.
Q: There are subcategory sections within some skills, why is this necessary? A: Some skills require a layered level of knowledge but encompass one actual skill. If ONE subcategory box is not marked off it will be assumed the applicant does not fully possess full expertise in the skill. The skill will be rejected. In the example below, the log was written well but the pain score does not match the written description. Explanation for persistent lameness is required to rule out pain or physiological/functional lameness secondary to the injury.
CASE REPORT FAQ's
Q: What style should references be in for my case reports? A: Harvard Style. Formatting instructions have been provided in the Application packet in the Case Report Section. References must be included for all information derived from texts or search of pain related literature. They should be placed at the end of the document. References may include standard reference texts, online reference material (e.g. www.ivis.org , www.vin.com ), published conference proceedings, and peer-review literature as indexed in Pubmed . (www.pubmed.org). References MUST include pages numbers. Authors may not simply list a book or webpage for numerous references. List the pages (or section for webpages) for each reference. Evaluators should be able to follow a reference to its source to verify it.
Q: Are references part of the written page maximum in the case reports? A: No, They can be added to the end of the report, but do not exceed the total page maximum. Please follow the required reference format and case report submission guidelines.
Q: Do you have a case report example to follow? I am getting stuck and don't know what the Academy is looking for. Yes. If you have submitted a pre-application packet and have received a AIN number, but have not received the case report example, please email the Credentialing Chairperson.
Q: I have a case where the animal had serial goniometric measurements of the hip and all other joints were normal. Is that sufficient as long as I make it clear on my log and report that the other joints were normal? Yes. If goniometry of normal joints was not assessed at each visit or remained normal throughout a therapy program, stating this in the beginning of the report is sufficient.
Q: When writing case reports, are we to use approved abbreviations or should I spell them out prior to using them in the report? Abbreviations used in case reports should be spelled out first with the abbreviation in parenthesis. For example - Underwater Treadmill (UWTM). If an abbreviation is not listed in the approved list, permission to use must first be obtained by the credentialing chair.
Q: I have written case reports for my rehabilitation credentialing, isn't this the same thing? No. Case reports for a VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) are considered a much higher level of comprehension and knowledge and should be written in a manner to be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal article. Reports are to be written so a reader may replicate the therapeutic plan and follow references to their source.
