Important Notice for Federally Accredited Veterinarians

New National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) Regulations became effective February 1, 2010.

The NVAP is undergoing changes intended to address the needs of the increasingly complex and fast-paced world of animal health, business, trade, and travel. The new accreditation will require renewal every three years. Veterinarians will be accredited in one of two different categories. Each has different requirements. Category I veterinarians work only with dogs, cats, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rats, mice, rabbits, laboratory animals, non-human primates, rabbits, ferrets, mink, gophers, amphibians/reptiles, and native non-ruminant wildlife. Category II veterinarians work with ALL species including, but not limited to, food and fiber animal species (cattle, swine, sheep, goats, all other ruminants), horses (mules, asses, ponies, zebras), all birds, poultry, farm-raised aquatic animals, livestock species (bison, captive cervids, llamas, alpacas, antelope and other hoofed animals), elephants and zoo animals that can transmit exotic animal diseases to livestock. Category I veterinarians will be required to complete 3 continuing education units (CEUs) every 3 years to renew their accreditation. Category II veterinarians will be required to complete 6 CEUs every 3 years. Currently, the only CEUs approved for renewal are on-line courses. There are plans to expand such CEUs to lectures and courses at professional meetings. There are no costs or fees for the renewal or the on-line training courses. No CEUs are needed this year.

This is a brief description, refer to this link for more information — http://www.aphis.usda.gov/nvap/.

If you are currently accredited and you wish to continue to participate in the NVAP, then you will need to complete a new VS Form 1-36A (National Veterinary Accreditation Program Application Form) and choose either Category I or II. The form is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/vet_accreditation/downloads/vs1-36a.pdf

Please submit the VS Form 1-36A by mail, by fax or scanned online.

USDA, APHIS, VS, NVAP Staff,
4700 River Road, Unit 64
Riverdale, MD 20737
Telephone: 301-734-NVAP (6827)
Fax: 301-734-3641
E-mail: NVAP@aphis.usda.gov

Important: Check block number 3 on the VS Form 1-36A as your reason for submitting.

If you are accredited in multiple states, then only a single VS Form 1-36A needs to be submitted, but list all states in which you are currently accredited.

Once this form is processed, you will be notified of your unique six-digit national accreditation number, your renewal date, and your accreditation category. This will be then entered into the NVAP database. (Please note that your first renewal date may be either three, four or five years from now. We are doing this to lessen the administrative burden of having all accredited veterinarians on the same renewal cycle. After your initial renewal, you will be on a three-year cycle.)

All currently accredited veterinarians must make their decision and submit their completed application on VS form 1-36A before August 2, 2010. After this date, any currently accredited veterinarian who has not submitted the VS Form 1-36A declaring their accreditation category will be dropped from the national and state databases of accredited veterinarians. No CEUs are needed this years.

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National Veterinary Accreditation Program

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