Texas Veterinary Medical Association

Where the Value of Continuing Education is Recognized...

Established in 1970, the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice (TAVP) is an organization within TVMA that promotes high standards of veterinary medicine through continuing education. The TAVP stresses continuing education as a qualification for membership and has developed programs awarding continuing education credits and appropriate certifications for participation in selected educational programs. It also hosts two symposiums a year.

To be a member of the Academy, a veterinarian must obtain a minimum of 50 credit hours of CE annually. Each member receives a plaque recognizing this achievement, with plate attachments for each year of membership. The Academy also offers an associate level of membership, which requires 30-49 hours of CE per year. Associates receive a certificate annually. All TVMA members in good standing who are of high moral and professional character, are engaged or employed in any aspect of the veterinary profession, and are members of their local veterinary medical association may apply for membership to the academy. For more information on the Academy, call the TVMA office at 512/452-4224.

Academy News:
2008 Membership Applications are now available. Current Academy members should send completed application and $50 dues to the TVMA office no later than January 25, 2008 to maintain their current status of membership. Practitioners interested in joining the Academy can do so anytime during the calendar year. Download the 2008 membership application HERE.

CE Guidelines:

The following types of CE are considered acceptable toward membership to the Academy:

Veterinary school postgraduate-produced programs.
Elective scientific veterinary medical sources such as meeting of local, regional, state, national or international veterinary medical associations or scientific medical presentations or meetings produced by medical, dental, and other related scientific associations or other continuing education seminars approved by the American Association of Veterinary Boards.
Teaching students of veterinary medicine as a nonprofessional instructor.
In-residence study: A maximum of fifty (50) hours per year may be awarded for elective in-residence study at veterinary schools or approved scientific associations or organizations. To qualify for this credit, the applicant must not be on the payroll of the sponsoring school or organization.
Online Continuing Education: Credit will be allowed for completion of online continuing education courses approved by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). A course completion certificate showing AAVSB approval and number of hours completed must accompany the application.
Publication of an original article in a scientific journal, maximum of five (5) hours per paper.
Presentation of an original scientific paper to a veterinary medical association or related scientific association meeting. Five (5) hours of credit will be given for the first two (2) hours of the presentation; thereafter, hours for hours credit on the same subject given over a consecutive period. For example: seven hours presented at one meeting on the same subject will be worth ten hours of credit.
Clinic or practitioner visitation credit will be given on an hour-for-hour basis to a maximum of five (5) hours of credit per year.
Autotutorials: Credit of up to ten (10) hours per year will be awarded on an hour-for-hour basis for any form of scientific autotutorial; i.e. audio-visual tapes, cassette tapes, etc.
Grand rounds can earn a maximum of ten (10) hours per year, provided that the rounds have been approved by the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
Up to twenty (20) hours credit per year will be given for independent study courses provided such course is presented by an organization or educational facility that is accredited for continuing education, or provided the course is approved by the TAVP Credentials Committee. Courses such as the Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian and the Waltham Forum Video series, which are university accredited, are acceptable examples. An outline of the course and certificate of completion must accompany the applicant’s request for credit. Credit will be awarded according to the sponsor’s evaluation or the TAVP Credentials Committee evaluation, whichever is applicable.
No credit will be allowed for attendance or presentation whenever it is required by the applicant’s employer or immediate supervisor or when such presentation or attendance falls within the normal duties of the applicant’s field of endeavor; i.e. staff meetings, military TDY, presentations to students or military personnel when applicant is a full-time staff member.
In order to remain in compliance with the Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners Rules of Professional Conduct regarding continuing education a minimum of ten (10) hours of the annual requirement of this Section must be derived from sources other than correspondence courses and a minimum of ten (10) hours must be on subjects other than practice management.

What are acceptable sources for continuing education?

Any local, regional, state, national or international veterinary medical association meetings and/or other continuing education credits outlined as acceptable by the TAVP, TSBVME or the American Association of Veterinary State Boards plus the various outlets and sources listed above.

What if I want to submit CE credits from a course or source that meets the requirements listed under “acceptable CE” but are not from a local, regional, state, national or international veterinary medical association meeting?

You must submit a course completion certificate showing the sponsoring/approval organization and the number of hours completed with your TAVP membership application.

What if I have over 50 hours of continuing education in the renewal year?

Members who complete more than fifty (50) acceptable hours of continuing education in a given year may carryover up to twenty (20) hours (of those in excess of fifty) to the following year’s application.

What if I was unable to get 50 hours of continuing education during the year?

During years when a member cannot obtain the fifty (50) hours needed to renew, Associate membership is available only requiring thirty (30) to forty-nine (49) hours of continuing education. This will allow the member to continue membership until a time when they can increase their CE hours to meet Active membership requirements.

Clinical Referral and Consultation Winners:
The Academy is proud to present the "Clinical Referral and Consultation Award" in recognition of contributions made by outstanding veterinary practitioners as well as staff members of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University, who have provided consultation advice and referral services to veterinarians in the State of Texas. The following is a list of past award winners:

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

Michael Willard, DVM

David Nelson, DVM

James C. Vulgamott, DVM

James M. Jensen, DVM

Douglas Bronstad, DVM

Gary W. Thayer, DVM

Gary Warner, DVM

Robert D. Bronstad, DVM

Gary Norsworthy, DVM

Kent Carter, DVM

Mike Willard, DVM

Stephen Kerpsack, DVM

Sherry K. Theisen, DVM

No award given

Cliff Honnas, DVM

Wendy Blount, DVM

No award given

Your Local VMA:
Find out how your VMA can partner with the TAVP to host a seminar. We’ve also compiled a list of statewide VMAs, with current CE contact information.

Questions concerning the Texas Academy of Veterinary Practice should be directed to Ellen Forsythe, CMP, Director of Education/Meetings at 512/452-4224 or eforsythe@tvma.org.