AVA Program Guidelines
To better define the veterinary health care team and the role of the credentialed technician, NAVTA created a veterinary assistant approval program in 2010. Schools with a Veterinary Assistant Program are encouraged to review the NAVTA Veterinary Assistant Programs Policy, Program Document Submission Guidelines, AND the NAVTA Veterinary Assistant Skills List when creating their curriculum and submitting their program for NAVTA approval. Please note, effective July 1, 2023 updates to the Veterinary Assistant Essential Skills List will take effect; please see below. Once approved, graduates of these programs will be given the opportunity to take the national test. With successful completion of the exam, individuals will become an Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) and be recognized for their accomplishment with the AVA designation
Application Fees
Submission guidelines should be submitted quarterly (January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1) of the calendar year. The AVA committee will review the submitted documents within 90-120 days after the submission deadline, and a letter of approval or denial (with deficiencies) will be mailed to the Program Director.
The initial application and review fee is $350, due at the time of submission. Denied programs which re-apply within six months of the receipt of the letter of denial will not be assessed an additional fee. Programs re-applying after six months of receipt of the letter of denial will be required to submit an additional $350 fee.
Renewal fees for current programs is $250.
Corporate programs with multiple campuses must submit a fee for each campus program and understand that while the curriculum may be similar in content, separate information as to instructors, facilities, and separate advisory boards is required for each campus.
Programs should become very familiar with the NAVTA Veterinary Assistant Essential Skills List in assembling their submission documents.
*Please note, effective July 1, 2023 updates to the Veterinary Assistant Essential Skills List will take effect. Click HERE to review.
For further information on the NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant Program, please contact the NAVTA office at ava@navta.net.