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.
Please use the Cognito Form to recertify.
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.
Please use the Cognito Form to recertify.
- 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 3 years or if you have rated the examination within the last 3 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, unless you are a charter member. Charter members first recertified in 2013 and will not need to recertify until 2023 and every ten (10) years thereafter.
- In either case for recertification, 10 exam questions, as per these instructions must be submitted with your application and other documents unless you have held office or Chair a committee of AIMVT. One question 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 waived. If an exam question is not accepted, a rewrite or new question will be requested.
- Click the button for a link to each subspecialty's domains:
- 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.
- Questions regarding recertification may be directed to the Recertification Committee Chair at CherylB@aimvt.com and copied to the Executive Director LindaM@aimvt.com
- The recertification form must be received 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 (unless you are a Charter Member). 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).
CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS AND GUIDELINES
All required points must be accrued within the five (5) years preceding your recertification application, from June to December (see the table, below). Continuing education (CE) may be received or presented at a national, regional, state or local veterinary meeting. At least 70% of the CE hours must be in the subspecialty for which you are applying. Keep track of accumulated points using the continuing education section of the Recertification form. These must be submitted with all of the other documentation.
If you choose to meet the recertification requirements by CE, you must accumulate 60 POINTS in a combination of any of the following ways:
20 points minimum – Attending lectures or labs on subjects related to your Internal Medicine subspecialty.
10 points maximum – Attending lectures or labs on subjects related to general veterinary medicine or well-being*.
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.
All required points must be accrued within the five (5) years preceding your recertification application, from June to December (see the table, below). Continuing education (CE) may be received or presented at a national, regional, state or local veterinary meeting. At least 70% of the CE hours must be in the subspecialty for which you are applying. Keep track of accumulated points using the continuing education section of the Recertification form. These must be submitted with all of the other documentation.
If you choose to meet the recertification requirements by CE, you must accumulate 60 POINTS in a combination of any of the following ways:
20 points minimum – Attending lectures or labs on subjects related to your Internal Medicine subspecialty.
- 1 point per hour for attending a lecture
- 2 points per hour for attending a lab
- For those members recertifying in 2020 AND 2021: lectures or labs may be in ANY area of Internal Medicine, and may be completed either in person or on-line. This includes in-house training in veterinary Internal Medicine.
10 points maximum – Attending lectures or labs on subjects related to general veterinary medicine or well-being*.
- 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.
- AIMVT supports and acknowledges the importance of mental health care for all veterinary professionals. A total of five (5) RACE-approved (or equivalent) well-being continuing education CE* lectures may be submitted for recertification.
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.
- 30 points for a book chapter/section published. A clear demonstration of your contribution must be demonstrated. If subsequent editions of the same chapter/section are published, credit for points will be considered based upon applicants demonstration of revisions.
- 20 points for a journal article published
- 10 points for primary author on a research paper or editor of a book, chapter or section of a book
- 10 points per year for holding office or serving as a committee chair of AIMVT
- 5 points per hour for lecturing at a meeting, or per class hour at a college of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology program. If subsequent lectures or classes are given, credit for points will be considered based upon applicants demonstration of revisions.
- 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.
- 5 points for secondary author on a research paper
- 5 points per year for serving on a veterinary technician program advisory board
- 5 points per year for serving on a committee of AIMVT. This includes serving as an application reviewer, which makes you part of the Credentialing Committee. A letter from the Chair or the Committee Certificate is required as proof you actively participated in the duties of the committee.
- 5 points per year for chairing or 3 points per year for serving on a committee to provide RACE certified continuing education at local, regional or state conferences
- 3 points per hour for writing or being a judge for ACVIM case reports, or a lab assistant at a meeting, or per class hour at a college of veterinary medicine or veterinary technology program.
- 2 points per newsletter article published
- 2 points per year for rating the examination beginning in 2017
- 4 points per mentee per year, with a maximum of 12 points. This point allocation begins with mentoring starting in 2017 and beyond
Frequently Asked Questions about Recertification
1. When do I recertify?
Year of Exam |
Recertification due by 12/31 of |
Include CE from: |
2015 / 2010 / 2005 |
2020 |
June 1, 2015 - December 30, 2020 |
2016 / 2011 / 2006 |
2021 |
June 1, 2016 - December 30, 2021 |
2017 / 2012 / 2007 |
2022 |
June 1, 2017 - December 30, 2022 |
2018 / 2013 / 2008 |
2023 |
June 1, 2018 - December 30, 2023 |
2019 / 2014 / 2009 |
2024 |
June 1, 2019 - December 30, 2024 |
2020 / 2015 / 2010 |
2025 |
June 1, 2020 - December 30, 2025 |
2021 / 2016 / 2011 |
2026 |
June 1, 2021 - December 30, 2026 |
2022 / 2017 / 2012 |
2027 |
June 1, 2022 - December 30, 2027 |
2023 / 2018 / 2013 |
2028 |
June 1, 2023 - December 30, 2028 |
NEW IN 2017! CE from the ACVIM Forum attended in conjunction with your examination will count towards your recertification CE hours.
2. Can you give me an example of how the points listed above are calculated?
If someone submits:
30 pts CE for specialty internal medicine lectures attended (MIN of 20 points allowed) = 30 pts
+ 17 pts CE for general veterinary medicine lectures attended (MAX of 10 points allowed) = 10 pts
+ 5 years of DAL = 50 pts (max of 40 allowed) = 40 pts
+ 30 for book chapter (max of 40 allowed) = 30 pts
+ 15 points for reading Journals (max of 40 allowed) = 15 pts
Since the total number of points required is 60, the Recertification Committee will count the 30 points for specialty IM lectures, the 10 points (maximum allowed) for general vet med CE, and 20/40 of the points for serving as DAL:
30 + 10 + 20 = 60 Recertification requirements met for the CE portion
If you have other questions, please contact the Recertification Chair (email listed above)
2. Can you give me an example of how the points listed above are calculated?
If someone submits:
30 pts CE for specialty internal medicine lectures attended (MIN of 20 points allowed) = 30 pts
+ 17 pts CE for general veterinary medicine lectures attended (MAX of 10 points allowed) = 10 pts
+ 5 years of DAL = 50 pts (max of 40 allowed) = 40 pts
+ 30 for book chapter (max of 40 allowed) = 30 pts
+ 15 points for reading Journals (max of 40 allowed) = 15 pts
Since the total number of points required is 60, the Recertification Committee will count the 30 points for specialty IM lectures, the 10 points (maximum allowed) for general vet med CE, and 20/40 of the points for serving as DAL:
30 + 10 + 20 = 60 Recertification requirements met for the CE portion
If you have other questions, please contact the Recertification Chair (email listed above)