2013 AIMVT RECERTIFICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

The Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (AIMVT) certification is designed to assure the public and the profession that veterinary technician specialists (VTS) in internal medicine (IM) in the subspecialties of small animal internal medicine (SAIM), large animal internal medicine (LAIM), cardiology, oncology and neurology are competent to provide an exceptionally high standard of care to patients.

The goal of recertification is to ensure that specialists stay current with new developments in diagnosis and treatment and to encourage members to improve patient care through education and research.

You may choose not to be recertified, recognizing that you will no longer be certified as a VTS in Internal Medicine.  You will lose your membership in the AIMVT.

On the AIMVT recertification application form provided enter your certification date, name, and address, current employer and whether you are legally credentialed to practice as a veterinary technician in your state.  Enclose a copy of your current State License with your application and documents.

1. Indicate whether or not you want to become recertified in one of 3 ways:
   1. by retaking the examination or
   2. by showing that you have accumulated sufficient continuing education (CE) or
   3. that you wish to relinquish your VTS status. 
2. If you choose to apply for recertification by retaking the examination you will be notified of the date, time, and location of the exam.  You are not allowed to use this option if you have served on the examination committee within the last 2 years.  The submission date for your application is December 31 of the year that is five (5) years after your initial AIMVT certification and every five (5) years thereafter.
3. If you choose to apply for recertification by demonstrating that you have met the requirements for accumulating sufficient continuing education credits, complete the CE worksheet.  Written proof of acquired CE must be attached to the CE worksheet/s.  Fraudulent documentation will result in the loss of certification as a VTS in Internal Medicine
4. In either case for recertification, 10 exam questions, as per instructions and worksheet on exam question writing  must be submitted with your application and other documents unless you have held office or Chair a committee of AIMVT. Two questions from each domain must be submitted, each domain question must be from a different task. If you have held office or have chaired a committee of AIMVT this requirement is waved.
5. If you choose not to apply for recertification, recognize that you will not be certified as a (VTS) in Internal Medicine.  Your loss of certification will be recorded as voluntary and not as the result of any disciplinary action if you are currently a member in good standing.
6. Complete and sign all continuing education worksheets, exam questions and the waiver, release and indemnity agreement.
7. All recertification documents must be submitted in an electronic format to the Recertification Committee Chair. (Unless individual exceptions are made, in writing, by the Recertification Committee Chair)
8. The application must be postmarked no later than December 31 of the year that is five (5) years after acquiring your initial VTS (Internal Medicine) certification and every five (5) years thereafter.  You will be contacted by the AIMVT Recertification Committee to remind you of your renewal and recertification via electronic mail 6 months prior to deadline.  Failure to submit proper documentation for recertification before the deadline will result in the loss of certification as a VTS (Internal Medicine).  

2013 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES

All required points must be accrued between the date of initial certification and five (5) years later, for example between 6/3/2008 and 6/3/2013 .  Continuing education may be received or presented at a national, regional, state or local veterinary meeting.  Keep track of accumulated points using the continuing education worksheet/s as needed.  These must be submitted with all of the other documentations.

If you choose to meet the recertification requirements by continuing education, you must accumulate 60 POINTS in a combination of any of the following ways:

 20 points minimum – Attending lectures or labs on subjects related Internal Medicine.

• 1 point per hour for attending a lecture
• 2 points per hour for attending a lab
• Required documentation: certificate of attendance

 10 points maximum – Attending lectures or labs on subjects related to general veterinary medicine.

• 1 point per hour for attending a lecture related to general veterinary medicine.
• 2 points per hour for attending a lab related to general veterinary medicine.
• Required documentation: certificate of attendance

15 points maximum – Reading journal articles on subjects related to internal medicine, attending webinars and from attending in house training in internal medicine.

• 1 point for reading an article related to veterinary internal medicine in a journal
• 1 point for first hour and 0.5 points for each additional hour for attending webinar related to veterinary internal medicine
• 1 point per hour attending in house training in veterinary internal medicine
• Required documentation: summary of journal article (include journal title, date, volume and title of article), certificate of completion for webinars, certificate of attendance for in-housetraining.

40 points maximum – Writing on the subject of veterinary internal medicine and having your work published in a newsletter, journal or book chapter, by lecturing or instructing in a lab or by serving on the examination committee.

• 2 points per newsletter article published
• 20 points for a journal article published
• 30 points for a book chapter published
• 5 points per hour for lecturing at a meeting, or per hour and per class at a college of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology program.
• 5 points per hour for being a lab instructor at a meeting, or per hour and per class at a college of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology program.
• 3 points per hour for being a lab assistant at a meeting, or per hour and per class at a college of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology program.
• 10 points for primary author on a research paper
• 5 points for secondary author on a research paper
• 10 points per year for holding office or serving as a committee chair of AIMVT.
• 5 points per year for serving on a committee of AIMVT. A letter from the Chair is required stating that you actively participated in the duties of the committee.
• Required documentation: copy of published article or book chapter, meeting program highlighting your lecture/lab, letter from lead institutional instructor indicating your participation in lecture/lab (as applicable to above points)