The AVMA accreditation of veterinary technology programs is voluntary. Expenses incurred for a site visit are the responsibility of the program. Consultation prior to application is available by contacting the AVMA Division of Education and Research at 800/248-2862 ext. 6624 and the Association of Veterinary Technician Educators (AVTE) at www.avte.net.
- The program submits an application for initial accreditation or re-accreditation (Appendix E). AVMA will confirm receipt of application and work with the program to set a tentative site visit date. Classes must be in session during the site visit evaluation. The initial accreditation site visit is usually conducted when the initial class has completed approximately two-thirds of the curriculum.
- The program submits copies of a self-evaluation report (Appendix G) (see also format guidelines in Appendix F) and copies of the college catalog to the site team members, and an electronic copy of the self-evaluation report to AVMA. If computer limitations prevent all appendices from being sent electronically, the program should indicate which items have been omitted. Programs applying for re-accreditation must submit their report to the AVMA office 6 weeks prior to the site visit. Programs applying for initial accreditation must submit their report 8 weeks prior to the site visit and an application fee of $2,500.
- The self-evaluation report is reviewed by the AVMA for major deficiencies or any other needed clarification. If no major deficiency is apparent, the site visit date is finalized and an agenda is sent to the program.
- An evaluation team is formed. The evaluation team consists of five members: a CVTEA member who chairs the evaluation team, a veterinarian who is a member of the state veterinary medical association, a veterinary technician, a public member, and an AVMA staff member. AVMA staff is responsible for identifying the CVTEA and state VMA member. The program director is responsible for providing the names, addresses, phone, and email information of the public member and the veterinary technician as follows:
- The name of an individual willing to serve as the public member must be submitted. The public member may not be associated with the College and may not be a veterinarian or a technician or serve on the program's advisory committee. Submitted name should include a brief background.
- The veterinary technician member must be a graduate of an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program and should be chosen by the state technician association, if at all possible. While preferable that the veterinary technician not be a graduate of the program being evaluated, a graduate may be accepted if graduates of other programs are not available. The technician cannot be a member of the program's advisory committee.
- To ensure that all matters dealing with accreditation of programs of veterinary technology are conducted in an unbiased manner, the CVTEA has adopted the following Conflict of Interest Policy:
The site team member:
- is not currently associated with the program being evaluated.
- is not employed by the program being evaluated.
- is not a member of the advisory council of the program being evaluated.
- will reveal any potential conflict of interest to the site team (including having graduated from the program being evaluated or provided consultation on accreditation matters with the program being evaluated).
Potential conflicts of interest revealed to the entire team may not preclude service on the site team if the team agrees the individual can serve in an unbiased manner.
- The program to be evaluated may comment on the membership of the evaluation team after it has been formed and reject site team members. Such rejection must take place early enough for a replacement to be found.
- AVMA staff will write a first draft report based on the self-evaluation materials and send the draft Report of Evaluation to the evaluation team.
- The site visit evaluation is conducted. The site visit will be structured to include sites where clinical and/or technical instruction is provided. The evaluation team will:
- Interview the program director.
- Inspect physical facilities, equipment, and library.
- Interview faculty members and staff.
- Review curriculum and course outlines.
- Interview students.
- Consult privately to review findings.
- Report findings to program director.
- Report findings to institutional administration.
- Prepare a written report of site visit.
- After the site visit, a second draft Report of Evaluation will be distributed to the evaluation team for review and appropriate changes.
- A third draft Report of Evaluation will be submitted to the program director of the institution for verification and comment.
- The CVTEA member will present a final draft Report of Evaluation and site visit information to the CVTEA at the earliest possible regular meeting. Reports from site visits conducted less than 60 days prior to a CVTEA meeting may be deferred and considered at the next Committee meeting. AVMA staff will provide information about the specific dates for consideration of a particular report.
Information received subsequent to the evaluation (addendum, update, etc.) will not be considered during the report to the CVTEA. The site visit is a "snap-shot" that verifies the condition of the program at that time. Such information may be considered following the decision on accreditation status.
- CVTEA will determine the accreditation status of program based on a majority vote of CVTEA members.
- AVMA staff will notify the program director and chief executive officer of the institution of the program's assigned status and provide a final Report of Evaluation with recommendations for improvement. Recommendations and final reports of site visits are considered private communication between CVTEA and the institution involved. Release of reports shall be at the discretion of the institution. AVMA will notify the state veterinary medical association of the assigned accreditation status of the program.
- AVMA staff will add the program to its published list of accredited programs after a 30-day period for potential appeals.
- The evaluation process is repeated at five year intervals until a program has been fully accredited for two cycles, after which time site visits are conducted at six-year intervals. Major changes or concerns can also precipitate site visits.
- All site visit participants are required to sign an AVMA CVTEA confidentiality agreement. (Section II, page 2)
- Programs are responsible for all costs associated with the accreditation process including the site visit.
Subsequent Reporting
Subsequent to receiving initial accreditation, programs are required to submit annual evaluation reports until the program has been accredited for five years. Please refer to Appendix J for the annual/biennial/interim report format. Programs are assigned to either a spring or fall reporting schedule.
CVTEA will review the annual report at its next meeting and vote to continue or change the accreditation status based on the content of the report. Following review, AVMA staff will report its decision to the program director, chief executive office of the school, and the state VMA.
A program that has been fully accredited for five consecutive years, and has again been granted full accreditation status after a second complete evaluation and site visit, shall be required to submit biennial reports and shall be subject to a complete re-evaluation at the end of the third biennium (every six years) unless major changes in the program indicate to CVTEA that an earlier site visit may be necessary.
Programs are placed on either a spring or fall annual or biennial reporting schedule. Reports are due for review approximately 60 days prior to the scheduled CVTEA meeting. AVMA staff will announce when reports are due at least six months in advance of the due date. The CVTEA reserves the right to lower the accreditation of a program that, after due notice, fails to submit a self-evaluation, annual, biennial, or interim report. Subsequent accreditation will be considered only after submission of application for accreditation, self-evaluation and other accreditation materials, followed by a site visit to the program. Based on the progress noted in an annual or biennial report, the CVTEA may request an appearance of a program representative at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The cost for such an appearance will be borne by the respective program/parent institution.
Substantive changes in the program must be reported within sixty days of implementation. This report must document how the program will continue to comply with the Standards. Failure to meet this requirement may result in administrative probation or other changes in accreditation status.
Substantive Change
The CVTEA must be notified of any of the following changes in the program:
- Change in the established mission or objective of the program.
- Change in the legal status, form of control, or ownership of the parent college.
- Change in administration (including change of Program Director, primary Program faculty, Dean, and College President), organization, association with the parent institution or Program instructional personnel.
- Changes in courses that represent a significant departure in either content or method of delivery.
- Changes in name of degree or addition of any degree or credential level offered
- Changes in the clock hours (student contact hours) for completion.
- Changes in off-campus sites that provide primary instructional support where essential skills are taught and evaluated.
- Other changes that affect teaching/education of students.
- Changes in general contact information including email, phone, and name changes.
Approval of substantive changes is at the discretion of the CVTEA based upon the information received and continued compliance with the standards. A site visit may be required to verify the reported substantive changes.
Accreditation may be withdrawn from a program that fails to provide a report of self-evaluation at least 45 days before a scheduled site visit, fails to provide an annual, biennial, or requested interim report by the published due date prior to the CVTEA meeting at which the program is to be reviewed, or fails to invite a site visit at the required time.
A program for which accreditation has been withdrawn may apply for accreditation after one year by submitting a report of self?evaluation and other accreditation forms, requesting a site visit, and demonstrating that it meets the established Standards of an Acceptable Program for Educating Veterinary Technicians.
Initial Accreditation and Adverse Accreditation Decisions
Programs assigned less than full accreditation status shall be immediately notified of the actions necessary to achieve full accreditation. A program that fails to meet the requirements for full accreditation after five consecutive years of provisional accreditation shall be placed on probationary accreditation or have accreditation withdrawn. Programs may seek full accreditation following the graduation of its first class and collection and analysis of outcomes, at any time during the five-year period by providing evidence in a self-evaluation and reaccreditation report showing that the program has complied with the recommendations related to the program's accreditation status. Those recommendations are contained in the Report of Evaluation. Subsequent to receipt of the report, a site visit by an evaluation team may be required.
Programs with probationary accreditation must show annual progress toward achieving full accreditation and meet the requirements for full accreditation within a two-year period. Full accreditation may be sought at any time by providing evidence in a self-evaluation and reaccreditation report, showing that the program has complied with the recommendations related to the program's accreditation status. Those recommendations are contained in the Report of Evaluation. Subsequent to receipt of the report, a site visit by an evaluation team may be required.
Programs have the right to appeal adverse accreditation decisions. The CVTEA will notify the appropriate credentialing agencies and the public within thirty days of any final adverse accreditation decision. Programs may reapply for accreditation one year after accreditation has been withdrawn. Please refer to the Procedures for Appeal of Adverse Decisions on Accreditation (Section X).
Communication of Accreditation Status
Any reference by an institution or program to CVTEA accreditation may state the following: "[Identification of program] is accredited (or fully accredited) by the AVMA as a program for educating veterinary technicians."
Complaints Against a Program
Any written complaint concerning the quality of an accredited program will be acknowledged by AVMA staff within 30 days. Staff will make a preliminary investigation of the facts involved. The complaint and the result of the preliminary investigation will be reviewed by the CVTEA at its next regular meeting. If the complaint appears to be of sufficient substance to affect the accreditation status of the program, it will be further investigated by mail or personal contact to the extent necessary to determine its validity. Upon completion of the investigation, CVTEA will take whatever action, if any, is necessary to bring the accreditation status of the program into conformity with the established classification. The complainant will be informed of the results of any investigation and any subsequent action taken by CVTEA. In any case, the program complained against will be informed of the nature and source of the complaint and the resultant action considered by CVTEA before such action is taken.
Accreditation Fees
In addition to costs associated with site visits, new programs are assessed an application fee of $2,500. A $500 annual accreditation fee is invoiced to all AVMA-accredited programs to cover the costs of maintaining accreditation. This annual accreditation fee will be deferred until the year following the initial accreditation decision. Failure to pay the annual $500 accreditation fee by July 1 of the assessed calendar year will result in a $500 penalty fee. Programs with unpaid annual accreditation fees as of October 1 of the year due will result in having their accreditation withheld. Administrative Probational accreditation may result in a penalty fee up to double the annual accreditation fee. Programs are responsible for all costs associated with conducting the site visit.
|
= AVMA/SAVMA Members Only
