Animal Welfare: Education
Featured Topic: Animal welfare course syllabus
Educators can use the AVMA's model animal welfare syllabus as a template to meet the core competencies that students need to learn to protect animal welfare in any field of veterinary medicine. The template can be customized for a variety of uses, including individual lectures, sections of existing courses, or standalone courses of varying credit hours. It's a practical tool for college and university professors, and also can be used in other settings.
Animal Welfare Assessment ContestÂ
The annual Animal Welfare Assessment Contest provides a unique educational experience that teaches students to assess the welfare of animals in a variety of settings using science-based methods and reasoning. Students are given the opportunity to weigh evidence and present sound evaluations, strengthening their communication skills at the same time that they acquire enhanced knowledge of animal welfare.
The competition is open to veterinary students, undergraduates, and graduate students. A limited number of veterinarians also take part each year as non-competitive participants.
Human-Animal Bond Certificate
The AVMA is proud to be the founding educational partner for the Human-Animal Bond Certification Program offered through the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC). This certification allows veterinary professionals to fully appreciate the science behind the human-animal bond, and its benefits for both animals and people, and get practical advice on how to ensure good bonds are built and maintained. It also demonstrates how communicating the bond's benefits to clients can help your patients and your practice. AVMA members receive a 20 percent discount off the cost of the program.
Animal Welfare in Veterinary Medical Education and Research
The proceedings of this 2009 symposium provide information on the role of the veterinary profession in animal welfare education, research and advocacy as presented by an international line-up of expert speakers. Included are copies of presentations, poster abstracts, and links to published papers.
Specialty Training
American College of Animal Welfare (ACAW): The mission of the American College of Animal Welfare, an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization, is to advance animal welfare through education, certification, and scientific investigation. Diplomates of the American College of Animal Welfare are veterinarians with specialized training and experience to carry out the ACAW mission.​