Certified Veterinary Assistant Program

Entry level skills and knowledge, roughly equivalent to 90 days of on-the-job training in a veterinary clinic.

• Applicant must be at least 16 years of age
• Applicant must have obtained 90 days of practical work experience (equivalent to 500 hours, paid or volunteer) in a veterinary setting under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or a certified veterinary technician
• Applicant must submit a completed application for examination for CVA Level I certification including complete payment of examination fee(s)
• Completed CVA Level I “Skills Validation Checklist”
• Applicant must score 70% or better on the CVA Level I certification exam

• Intermediate level skills and knowledge, roughly equivalent to 180 days of on-the-job training in a veterinary clinic beyond certification Level I.
• Applicant must hold a valid CVA Level I certification
• Applicant must have obtained 180 days of practical work experience (equivalent to 1,000 hours, paid or volunteer) under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or a certified veterinary technician, counted from the date initial certification at CVA Level I was awarded (see section 3.3 for exception).
• Applicant must submit a completed application for examination for CVA Level II certification including complete payment of examination fee(s)
• Completed CVA Level II “Skills Validation Checklist”
• Applicant must score 70% or better on the CVA Level II certification exam

Advanced level skills and knowledge, roughly equivalent to 180 days of on-the-job training in a veterinary clinic beyond certification Level II.

• Applicant must hold a valid CVA Level II certification
• Applicant must have obtained 180 days of practical work experience (equivalent to 1,000 hours, paid or volunteer) under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian or a certified veterinary technician, counted from the date initial certification at CVA Level II was awarded (see section 3.3 for exception).
• Applicant must submit a completed application for examination for CVA Level III certification including complete payment of examination fee(s)
• Completed CVA Level III “Skills Validation Checklist”
• Applicant must score 70% or better on the CVA Level III certification exam

For one low price, just $295, students will have access to the course material and the exam once they meet all the criteria to sit for the exam.

A CVA certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issuance. Those wishing to maintain their certification will have to renew.

A person holding the CVA credential will need to take 10 hours of continuing education to qualify for renewal. There is a renewal fee of $99 for MVMA members and $149 for non-members. Instructions and an invoice will be sent to credential holders approximately 90 days prior to the expiration of the certification.

Yes, the program includes rigorous learning milestones and the exam tests particular skills at each corresponding level. Solely on-the-job-training is inconsistent from practice to practice. So everyone seeking a CVA must start at Level I.

Each course must be completed within 12 months of registration. Because the course is all online, how long it takes to complete varies widely.