Background Information for the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America:

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) Committee for Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS) governs organizations termed Veterinary Technician Specialties. Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTS) are expert level veterinary technicians who are seeking to learn an advanced level of education and skill.

The CVTS has specific guidelines for each VTS discipline. Veterinary technicians interested in forming a VTS discipline must be exceptionally qualified experts with a minimum of seven years’ experience with 75% of their time spent in the field. The NAVTA/CVTS provides guidelines to develop the specialty with requirements include electing officers, writing a constitution and by-laws, creating a credentials packet, an exam, a delineation of study and other unique documents for their proposed academy. Once approved by the CVTS and NAVTA Board of Directors, the Board offers provisional approval and recognizes a new specialty academy after the first qualifying examination is administered. Full recognition for an academy is granted after 10 years of operation and successful submission of annual reports, proving the solvency of the academy and its commitment to advancement of the specialty.

Background Information for the Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (APRVT):

In 2012, a group of Credentialed Veterinary Technicians certified in veterinary physical rehabilitation formed a Board of Directors committee known as the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (AARVT), which was endorsed, supervised and under the auspice of the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians (AARV). Late 2012, after filing with the state of Missouri, the AARV Board of Directors elected to merge the two associations (AARV and AARVT) to increase overall membership and collaboration in the rehabilitation profession. It was advised at the time by the Academy veterinary mentor, Dr. Julia Tomlinson DACVSMR to form a separate entity organization, now known as the Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians, to further encourage specialization of veterinary technicians in the field and follow existing NAVTA guidelines for veterinary technician specialists. This change was finalized in November of 2014 by the state of Missouri and the AARVT Board of Directors became the APRVT.
 
The APRVT Charter Members felt efforts would be best put towards establishment of an Academy following the NAVTA CVTS guidelines by remaining autonomous from the AARV. A separate Association/Society for physical rehabilitation CVT’s was not pursued due to the existence and framework of the AARV Technician Associate membership availability through the AARV and time investment attempting to concurrently form an Association/Society with an Academy. The AARV can serve as a basis for newly credentialed rehabilitation veterinary technicians working in physical rehabilitation wishing to learn more about educational and professional opportunities in the specialty field. The AARV holds a Technician Liaison position on the Board of Directors Member who will help bridge communication between the Academy and the AARV and in 2023 the AARV adopted Bylaws allowing a credentialed veterinary technician to hold office as President. The AARV can help guide newly certified rehabilitation CVT’s in their first three years of experience in veterinary physical rehabilitation in preparation for Academy application.
 
The APRVT was granted provisional accreditation by the CVTS in February 2017 and the first certifying examination was held August 9, 2018. The first VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) members successfully completed recertification requirements, a rigorous application demonstrating participation in the speciality, in 2022. As a recognized VTS Academy, the APRVT focuses on providing credentialed veterinary technicians expert level skills and knowledge;  and assistance for the AARV veterinary members and diplomates of the ACVSMR who encourage and promote research within the profession to validate the science of veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation. Members actively contribute to the profession by providing continuing education lectures, seminars, wet labs around the world; assistance with research; editorial contributions in journals, textbooks and manuscripts; and advisory capacities regarding regulatory measures affecting credentialed veterinary technicians. In 2021, the Academy successfully trademarked VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) with the US Patent and Trademark Office and the APRVT mark; and in 2024 trademarked the term Veterinary Technician Specialist in a co-existence agreement with the Coalition for the Protection of Veterinary Technician and Nurse Specialists. It is the aim of the Academy to maintain title protection for all Veterinary Technician Specialists in order to solidify the place of expert-level credentialed veterinary technicians (and veterinary nurses) across the United States. 

If you are interested in taking your physical rehabilitation knowledge to the next level and would like to join this elite group of Credentialed Veterinary Technicians, please consider the APRVT and earn a VTS (Physical Rehabilitation). Visit our Applicant Information tab on our website (www.aprvt.com) to find out more information on the application and credentialing process.
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We at the APRVT wish you the greatest success in joining this exciting field of veterinary medicine and advancing your career as a credentialed veterinary technician.

APRVT Charter Members

The Academy will forever be in gratitude for the hard work and determination of these individuals. 
Kristen Hagler BS, RVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRP, CVPP
Wendy Davies BS, CVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRVN
Lis Conarton BS, LVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRP, CVPP
Deana Cappucci LVT,  VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRVN, CCMT
Kari Koudelka LVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRP
Mary Ellen Goldberg BS, LVT, CVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), SRA, CCRVN
Maria Maddox LVT, CVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRP
Sandra Dowd BA, LVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRP, CSMP
Jennifer Panko RVT, VTS (Physical Rehabilitation), CCRP, OCMC, CAPMC

(C) 2025 Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians (TM)
The Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Technicians (est. 2014) is a Section 501(c)(6) not-for profit organization and is a recognized Academy accepted by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians (NAVTA)
The Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians logo,  business entity and VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) are registered trademarks of the USPTO                                                                         and any attempt to represent, ​copy or distribute without the express permission from the APRVT may be subject investigation.
The titles VTS (Physical Rehabilitation) and VTS (Physical Rehab) are restricted for members use only as stated in the ByLaws and any unlawful                                                                                            attempts will be  investigated and considered trademark infringement.