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USDA revises the National Veterinary Accreditation Program
On December 9, 2009 the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) published a final ruling that revises the veterinary accreditation program. Established in 1921, the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) is designed to allow private practice veterinarians to assist federal veterinarians in controlling animal diseases. According to the USDA-APHIS, the revisions will "strengthen animal health safeguarding activities and increase the training and skills of accredited veterinarians in disease prevention and preparedness for animal health emergencies." The revised program takes effect February 1, 2010. The changes include the following:
- Two species-based accreditation categories instead of one
- Requirements for supplemental online training
- Renewal of accreditation every three (3) years
- Veterinarians accredited before February 1, 2010 must apply to continue their accreditation in the NVAP
For more information, click HERE for the APHIS Veterinary Services Fact Sheet.
ACCREDITED VETERINARIANS MUST ELECT TO PARTICIPATE AND SELECT AN ACCREDITATION CATEGORY OR HIS/HER ACCREDITATION WILL EXPIRE
· Complete the new accreditation form VS Form 1-36A and submit by mail, FAX or email to:
USDA, APHIS, VS, NVAP Staff
4700 River Road, Unit 64
Riverdale, MD 20737
Telephone: 301-734-6827 or FAX: 301-734-3641 or
The accreditation form must be received by APHIS on or before August 2, 2010 or you will lose you accreditation status.
· Special Instructions for filling out the VS Form 1-36A:
Check Box 3 and choose Category 1 (Box 15) – All animals except: food and fiber species, horses, birds, farm-raised aquatic animals, all other livestock species, and zoo animals that can transmit exotic animal diseases to livestock or Category II (Box 16) - All animals.
Box 35: If you don’t know your State License Number, contact the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine at 515-281-8617.
Boxes 36, 37 and 38: The Category (I or II) you indicated in Box 15 or Box 16 determines which animals you can issue certificates for.
Box 36: See Explanation of Codes and Key Numbers accompanying the Application Form. You may choose up to 2 categories.
Box 37 does not limit the animals you can issue certificates for. Choose the four that most closely reflect your category choice in Box 15 or Box 16.
Eventually this information will be published on a web site (with the veterinarian's permission) where the public can look for a veterinarian to issue a certificate for a certain species. Box 37 will determine the outcome of the search.
Box 39: Pick the one that best describes your practice. It doesn't limit what you can issue certificates for.
Upon approval of your application, APHIS will send an approval letter that
iiiincludes your renewal date and your six-digit National Accreditation Number.
· Your accreditation must be renewed every three years for as long as you wish to perform accredited duties.
You must complete the APHIS-approved supplemental training that is required for your accreditation category.
· Veterinarians who do not apply will lose their accreditation status on August 2, 2010.
· Any forms that are not legible or completely filled out will be returned. National Veterinary Accreditation Program website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/nvap/
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