The deadline to submit Part 1 applications for the 2023 AIMVT examination is 11:59p Pacific Time March 15, 2022.

It is imperative that applicants carefully read and fully understand these requirements and the application instructions (linked above).  Submitted applications will be reviewed for completeness and if any deficiencies are noted, the application will be denied without review of Case Logs or Case Reports.

Intent to Apply
Proof of Credentialing
  • ​An electronic scan of your certificate, registration, or license from your state’s credentialing agency must be submitted with your application
  • An electronic (PDF, JPEG, etc.) copy of proof of credentialing covering every year / hour of work must also be submitted as part of your application.
  • AUSTRALIAN APPLICANTS:  While most Australian states do not require registration in order to work as a veterinary nurse, AIMVT requires that all applicants be registered by an appropriate regulatory authority.  Unless you are in Western Australia, voluntary registration with the VNCA will meet this requirement.  You must be a registered veterinary nurse or technician in Australia for all of the years of work you submit as part of your professional history for AIMVT (a minimum of three [3] years).

Work Experience
  • The minimum work experience required to apply for VTS certification is at least 3 years and 6,000 hours as a credentialed veterinary technician in the field of Internal Medicine. This experience must be completed within five years prior to application.
  • A minimum of 4,500 contact hours in your subspecialty is required. Verification may be requested in the form of pay stubs or a letter from your employer(s) at the discretion of the Credentialing Committee.
  • Depending on your work experience, you have different requirements for whom may sign off on MASTERY of the advanced skills in your subspecialty:
    • Option 1 – For technicians who work 75% or more in their specialty, any VTS or DVM from the list may sign off on the skills list.
    • Option 2 – For  technicians who work 55-75% in their specialty, only a VTS or Diplomate in that specialty may sign off on the skills list.

​Continuing Education
  • You must have a minimum of 40 hours of continuing education taken/attended within five (5) years of your application date. Over-submission of hours is encouraged in cases of disqualification of any CE submitted deemed as unacceptable or not relevant by the Credentialing Committee.​
  • The content of qualifying continuing education must meet the definition of Internal Medicine (see the application instructions for definitions of each subspecialty). A minimum of 70% of the continuing education must be in the subspecialty of application; up to 30% of the continuing education may be in general internal medicine topics.
  • Proof of attendance is required. Scanned copies of attendance certificates must be uploaded to the online form. Further verification of CE attendance such as receipts or proceedings may be required.
  • A detailed listing of individual lectures attended is required; CE may not be listed by conference. (i.e. can not list ACVIM 20 hours on the form, actual lecture titles must be included).
  • CE attended before credentialing by a state will NOT qualify.
  • Your own lectures or presentations may NOT be submitted as part of your required CE hours.
  • All CE must be completed within the last five (5) years immediately prior to the application submission deadline.
  • CE must meet RACE (Registry of Approved Continuing Education) certification requirements or its equivalent (as determined by the AIMVT Credentialing Committee). Please go to www.aavsb.org for more information on RACE certification.
  • Online CE is acceptable, as long as it is provided by a VTS or Diplomate and meets the other above-listed criteria.

Exam Questions
  • Submit three potential examination questions specific to the area of specialty you are seeking VTS certification in (e.g., Small Animal Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, Oncology). Examination questions should represent a thoughtful representation of your advanced skills or knowledge. You are encouraged to submit questions from different domains to demonstrate your knowledge base.
  • Click here to download the Guidelines for Exam Questions

Letters of Recommendation
  • Two letters of recommendation from a VTS member of AIMVT, or a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (DACVIM). Until there are sufficient numbers of the aforementioned, letters of recommendation will be accepted from the following: VTS members of AVTAA, AVTCP, or AVECCT; Diplomates in Anesthesia/Analgesia (DACVAA), Emergency & Critical Care (DACVECC), Surgery (DACVS), Clinical Practice (DABVP), or Radiation Oncology (DACVR-O). In the event the applicant does not have access to TWO of the above-listed VTS-es or Diplomates, the Academy will accept ONE of the two required letters of recommendation from a licensed DVM with an additional letter from said DVM stating that no Diplomate or VTS is easily available for the applicant to utilize. Letters of recommendation are due September 1st and must be sent directly from the recommending party using this link:  https://www.cognitoforms.com/AcademyOfInternalMedicineForVeterinaryTechnicians/aimvtletterofrecommendation