This information is for applicants applying in 2024 (March and September) for the 2025 certifying exam.
Please ensure you are looking at the correct information for YOUR application year!
ERRATA and CLARIFICATIONS:
May 2024: The Oncology essential advanced skill for microscopy has been updated. You can find the new submission requirements HERE
ONCOLOGY APPLICANTS: These additional instructions regarding the PARR essential advanced oncology skill were provided by the Oncology DAL on August 14, 2024
Because PARR can be performed on many types of tissues and fluids, there is no 1 set procedure for collection. The recommended information for this specific procedure that differs from the general instructions is in bold. Due to the extensive list of sample collection procedures, these can be bulleted lists.
September, 2024 essential skills clarification:
As you work to finalize your submissions, we want to be sure to clarify expectations around the write ups, especially around anesthesia and sedation protocols.
For anesthesia we are looking for general protocols. Remember you are pursuing an IM VTS, not an anesthesia VTS! For the essential skills, we expect to see the generic drug name, dose range, why this drug is being used, and common complications/concerns to monitor for when using the drug. For the essential skills write ups, it is not required to include detail on MOA or discuss drugs you are not using. We know you want to explain all potential choices but that is not necessary for the essential skills submissions. Also, we are not looking for a defense of your protocols, we are looking for your understanding of what is needed for general anesthesia for the named procedure.
For essential skills that include "potential complications", those are related to the procedure itself, not the anesthesia.
Additionally, It is acceptable to reference another essential skill submission if necessary, to avoid excess repetition. This applies ONLY to the essential skills submissions!! YOU MAY NOT REFERENCE ESSENTIAL SKILL SUBMISSIONS IN YOUR CASE REPORTS!
Because PARR can be performed on many types of tissues and fluids, there is no 1 set procedure for collection. The recommended information for this specific procedure that differs from the general instructions is in bold. Due to the extensive list of sample collection procedures, these can be bulleted lists.
- Indications and contraindications
- Applicants must list indications for each of the sampling procedures listed above.
- Indications and contraindications for the test itself, not the collection procedure.
- Potential complications
- Applicants must list potential complications that may arise either immediately (i.e., during the procedure) or in recovery of patients undergoing each of the sampling procedures listed above.
- The procedures during which samples can be collected for PARR in an oncology patient should be listed with the potential complications for each. This can be a bulleted list.
- Patient preparation
- Applicants must provide a description of how patients are prepared for each sampling procedure listed above. This may be provided as a bulleted list, or in paragraph/narrative form. Begin your description with preparation required prior to arrival at the veterinary facility (if any), and end with anesthetic induction or sedative administration, if indicated.
- For the collection procedures listed, describe the general preparation for each (biopsy, FNA, blood draw, etc).
- Equipment/materials needed for procedures
- Applicants must submit equipment/materials lists for each sampling procedure listed above.
- Same as preparation, and can general surgical equipment for biopsy samples if completed in a sterile operating room.
- Monitoring and anesthesia or sedation
- Applicants must provide information about the anesthetic and/or sedative protocols and monitoring equipment required for each sampling procedure listed above. This information must include any nursing care considerations specific to each procedure and how complications are being monitored and ameliorated. Applicants must also include specific anesthetic/sedation/analgesia concerns for each procedure. If neither anesthesia or sedation are required for the procedure, applicants must note that it is not required and why.
- Include general sedation and/or anesthetic protocols for the previously stated procedures if anesthesia or sedation is used for them.
- Explanation of procedure
- Applicants must provide a detailed step-by-step explanation of each sampling procedure listed above. The explanation should begin immediately after anesthetic induction or sedative administration and end when the procedure is completed.
- Instead of the entire procedure, please only detail those procedures that are used to collect a sample for PARR only or state that it is an add on to another procedure.
- Sample handling, storage, and preparation for submission
- Applicants must provide a description of how samples collected via each sampling procedure listed above must be handled, stored, and submitted for analysis. This may be provided as a bulleted list, or in paragraph/narrative form. The description should begin with the retrieval of the sample(s), and end with submission of the sample(s) for analysis, or analyzed in-house.
- This may also include how it is added on to a previously submitted sample.
- Post procedure recovery
- Applicants must provide a discussion of nursing care considerations in recovery for each sampling procedure listed above. This discussion should include all considerations starting from the end of the procedure until discharge.
- Include general recovery discussions from the possible procedures used for a PARR sample.
- Client education
- Applicants must provide client education materials for each sampling procedure listed above. This section should be written in layman’s terminology, understandable by an average IM/oncology client.
- Include general client education discussions from the possible procedures used for a PARR sample.
- Discharge instructions
- Applicants must provide an example of discharge instructions for a client, including at-home monitoring, nursing care, and indications of when a client should be concerned, for each of the sampling procedures listed above.
- Include general discharge instructions from the possible procedures used for a PARR sample.
September, 2024 essential skills clarification:
As you work to finalize your submissions, we want to be sure to clarify expectations around the write ups, especially around anesthesia and sedation protocols.
For anesthesia we are looking for general protocols. Remember you are pursuing an IM VTS, not an anesthesia VTS! For the essential skills, we expect to see the generic drug name, dose range, why this drug is being used, and common complications/concerns to monitor for when using the drug. For the essential skills write ups, it is not required to include detail on MOA or discuss drugs you are not using. We know you want to explain all potential choices but that is not necessary for the essential skills submissions. Also, we are not looking for a defense of your protocols, we are looking for your understanding of what is needed for general anesthesia for the named procedure.
For essential skills that include "potential complications", those are related to the procedure itself, not the anesthesia.
Additionally, It is acceptable to reference another essential skill submission if necessary, to avoid excess repetition. This applies ONLY to the essential skills submissions!! YOU MAY NOT REFERENCE ESSENTIAL SKILL SUBMISSIONS IN YOUR CASE REPORTS!
DEADLINES and DUE DATES
- Part 1: Due no later than March 15, 2024:
- Professional history
- Proof of licensure covering all hours of professional history submitted
- Continuing education documentation
- NEW in 2024! Completed AIMVT universal advanced skills list
- The Part 1 application fee ($25)
- The links to the Part 1 application forms can be found in the application instructions.
- Part 2: Due no later than September 30, 2024:
- Completed Fundamental Advanced Skills list
- Completed Essential Advanced Skills list, including all pull lists, protocols, and other requirements
- A minimum of 50 Case Logs, covering patients seen between October 1, 2023 and September 30, 2024
- Three (3) examination questions
- Four (4) in-depth Case Reports
- The Part 2 application fee ($50)
- Letters of recommendation due no later than September 1, 2024 (link to form is below).
Links to forms:
Links to advanced skills lists can be found below. Links for exam question, Case Log, and Case Report submission can be found in the Part 2 Application Instructions packet (see link above)
AIMVT universal advanced skills
This list is provided as a quick reference for the universal advanced skills. This is NOT the form you will use to submit proof of mastery of your universal advanced skills for consideration by the Credentialing Committee. Links to the submission forms are found in the Application Instructions, linked above.
| 2024 AIMVT universal advanced skills reference list |
Fundamental advanced skills lists
These lists are provided as a quick reference for the fundamental advanced skills. This is NOT the form you will use to submit proof of mastery of your fundamental advanced skills for consideration by the Credentialing Committee. Links to the submission forms are found in the Application Instructions, linked above.
| 2024 Cardiology fundamental skills reference list |
| 2024 Equine / Large Animal / Production fundamental advanced skills reference list |
| 2024 Neurology fundamental advanced skills reference list |
| 2024 Oncology fundamental advanced skills reference list |
| 2024 Small Animal IM fundamental advanced skills reference list |
Essential advanced skills lists
These lists are provided as a reference for the essential advanced skills, including the submission requirements for each skill. This is NOT the form you will use to submit proof of mastery of these advanced skills or the required documents for consideration by the Credentialing Committee. Links to the submission forms are found in the Application Instructions, linked above.
| 2024 Cardiology essential skills reference list (with links to submission requirements) |
| 2024 LAIM essential skills reference list (with links to submission requirements) |
| 2024 Neurology essential skills reference list (with links to submission requirements) |
| 2024 Oncology essential skills reference list (with links to submission requirements) |
| 2024 Small Animal IM essential skills reference list (with links to submission requirements) |