Academy of Veterinary
Clinical Pathology Technicians


Promoting Excellence in Veterinary Clinical Pathology


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COVID-19 UPDATE



Online CE percentage limitations are waived for the 2020-2021 year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All forms of online CE will be accepted.



CANDIDATE PACKET FOR 2022



NEXT APPLICATION DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15, 2022. THE COMPLETE APPLICATION INCLUDING PART 1 AND PART 2 ARE DUE BY THIS DATE



Scroll down for checklists, instructions, and forms.



candidate packet checklist



Part 1:





  • Statement of Purpose
  • Scanned documentation of graduation from an AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology Program and/or documentation of being credentialed to practice as a Veterinary Technician in a State or Province of the United States, Canada, or other country OR in states that do not credential, documentation of passing score on VTNE.
  • Scanned documentation of NAVTA Membership Professional Work History Experience Form indicating at least 3 years and 4,000 hours in Clinical Pathology
  • Continuing Education Form documenting 40 CE clock hours in Clinical Pathology
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation (sent separately by the letter writers)
  • Signed Waiver, Release and Indemnity Agreement Form
  • Enclosed Application Fee in the form of a money order or cashier's check made payable to AVCPT


Part 2:





  • Completed Skills Form
  • Completed Case Logs (using the forms provided): 50 (no more than 75) CBCs 25 (no more than 40)
  • Chemistries 25 (no more than 40)
  • Urinalysis 25 (no more than 40)
  • Group A Cases 25 (no more than 40)
  • Group B Cases 20 (no more than 30)
  • Group C Cases
  • 3 Completed Case Reports (using the forms provided)
    • Case 1: Hematology
    • Case 2: Serum Clinical Chemistry
    • Case 3: Urinalysis
  • Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's)
  • Quality Control Procedures



Printable Checklist



All forms on this page can be downloaded for printing and typing.

Click on the upper right hand corner to view in another window and download.



CANDIDATE STATEMENT OF PURPOSE





Briefly discuss the development of your interest in veterinary clinical pathology and why you desire to become a veterinary technician specialist in clinical pathology. Provide examples of activities and unique experiences that have contributed to your preparation for becoming a veterinary technician specialist. Include your aspirations and goals after obtaining specialty status and what contributions you hope to make to the AVCPT. Please limit your response to a maximum of 500 words, using single spaced 12 point Arial font and one inch margins.​




Instructions for Letters of Recommendation



COVID-19 UPDATE



Online CE percentage limitations are waived for the 2020-2021 year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All forms of online CE will be accepted.




CE Documentation



Scroll from left to right for other forms for Part 1.




Professional Work History Form




Waiver, Release & Indemnity Agreement




Skills List



Scroll left and right to view and download instructions & form



AVCPT requires that a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician specialist (VTS) attest to your ability to perform the task. Each skill should be verified and signed by the licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician specialist who is most qualified to verify the skill. The person verifying your skills must sign at the bottom of the skills list form to validate their initials or signature throughout the form.


AVCPT defines mastery as the candidate must be able to perform the task safely, consistently with a high degree of success and without being coached or prompted. Mastery requires having performed the task in a wide variety of patients, situations and a multitude of times. AVCPT candidates must demonstrate mastery of 100% of the listed core skills and 25 individual skills of the candidate’s choice from the supplemental skills list. The supplemental skills list includes an “Other Testing” category which may be used for tests/skills that have not been included in either the current core or supplemental sections of the skills list. Any tests/skills submitted under the “Other Testing” section of the supplemental list are subject to approval by AVCPT. This section was included to allow for new methods, modalities or specialized testing that a candidate may perform.


All verified skills must be cross-referenced to the case log. The skills you have mastered must be demonstrated in your case logs and case reports. You must include a case log number in the allocated space on the skills list. The case log number should be from the single case on the date at which the skill was considered mastered.




Skills Form




Case Logs



Candidates will use the fillable and save-able case log form provided in the candidate application packet. Cases in the case logs must be performed by the applicant. Individual patients may be used for multiple case log entries if several tests are requested. AVCPT recommends all candidates submit more than the minimum required number of case log entries. If any entries are not accepted, the applicant may not meet the minimum number needed for the application. 


SPECIES REQUIREMENTS:

If the candidate is employed in a multi-species facility, case log entries must be submitted from at least two species categories. If the candidate is employed in a single-species facility, 90% of all case log entries specific to that single species may be submitted. The remaining 10% of case log entries must be from one or more additional species categories.


Example: Employer – Sunnyville Cat Hospital It would be permissible to submit 90% of case log entries from cats, but the candidate must also include 10% of case log entries from at least one additional species.



Your Title Here




CBC Log Form
50 (no more than 75)



Download forms to your computer to fill out with Adobe Acrobat Reader.




Chemistry Log Form
25 (no more than 40)




Urinalysis Log Form
25 (no more than 40)




Group A Log Form
25 (no more than 40)



Includes cases from the following testing categories

  • Coagulation
  • Cytology
  • Additional Hematology
  • Immuno-Hematology



Group B Log Form
25 (no more than 40)



Includes cases from the following testing categories

  • Microbiology
  • Parastology
  • Coprology



Group C Log Form
20 (no more than 30)



Includes cases from the following testing categories

  • Acid-base evaluations
  • Serology
  • Immunology
  • Toxicology
  • Other tests








case reports



The candidate will submit a total of three case reports, any species, from three different clinically abnormal patients.

  • Case One will have a major emphasis on hematology.
  • Case Two will have a major emphasis on serum clinical chemistry.
  • Case Three a major emphasis on urinalysis.

EACH CASE REPORT WILL BE COMPOSED OF TWO SECTIONS


Section 1 - Forms:

1) Completed pre analytic, analytic and post analytic forms. Cases lacking significant portions of data will not be accepted.


2) Other forms completed as needed from the following list: Microscope Information Form

Blood Sample Case Report Form

Hematology Sample Case Report Form

Chemistry Sample Case Report Form

Urinalysis Sample Case Report Form

Parasitology, Internal/External, Coprology Case Report Form


Note: Not all forms will be utilized for each case report. If the information on the form fits what you have used or are testing, you need to complete and include that form.


3) Copies of the printed test results. Remember to black out all patient/client identifying information and to place the corresponding case log number and case report number on each page of submitted test results. Sequential test results that have been run on different days only need to have printed results submitted for those dates in which the results have a significant impact on the course of a case.


Section 2 - An original written report (limited to 1250 words, single spaced 12 pt Arial font with 1 inch margins) including a:


1) Case summary, start to finish from the standpoint of the patient clinically, related test results and the veterinarian’s differential diagnosis. Include any issues or problems that arose during the course of the case.


2) Description of the importance of the data and sample handling as it influences the patient, specimen and test results in this case.


3) Describe the laboratory QA / QC and procedures recommended for the instruments used in the case, your actual QA / QC procedures if different, and how QA / QC relates to the accuracy of the laboratory results.


4) Discussion of the quality control (QC) and quality assurance (QA) procedures used to ensure the diagnostic quality of the results.


At a minimum, the following items must be included in each detailed case report:

  • A discussion of the significance of elevations or decreases in specific results in relation to the case. Even results within normal reference intervals can be significant.
  • A similar discussion of the results of any other laboratory tests performed.
  • The significance of pre-analytical sample collection/processing, patient variables (Ex: gender, age, behavioral state, hydration status, medications, etc.) and their impact on any laboratory results.
  • Provide details on how the laboratory testing relates to the overall case with discussion of pathophysiology and how this ties in with the disease process.
  • How did the laboratory results contribute to the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment plan, etc?
  • Other relevant clinical pathology information and influences.

The candidate will personally perform all the processes for the case (including: sample collection, laboratory analyses of samples, QA / QC procedures and reporting of results, and development of the report) in-house with minimal assistance. Acceptable assistance includes: a member of the veterinary health care team restraining the patient for sample collection and interpretation of clinical data and differential diagnosis from the attending veterinarian. Case reports may have a few outside tests performed to verify the in-house results. Case reports are to be cross-referenced with the case log. The majority of the testing must be done in-house with only specialized tests being sent out.If the candidate is unable or unauthorized to perform any aspects or procedures with the case a written explanation must be given as to why it was not possible.


Note: Only AVCPT official abbreviations are to be used in the Case Report write up, please refer to the AVCPT Veterinary Abbreviations & Acronyms Guide. 




Section 1 - Case Report Forms
PREANALYTIC/ANALYTIC/POSTANALYTIC FORM



SCROLL LEFT AND RIGHT TO VIEW THESE ADDITIONAL FORMS:

  • Microscope Information Form
  • Blood Sample Case Report Form
  • Hematology Sample Case Report Form
  • Chemistry Sample Case Report Form
  • Urinalysis Sample Case Report Form
  • Parasitology, Internal/External, Coprology Case Report Form





SCROLL LEFT AND RIGHT TO VIEW THESE ADDITIONAL FORMS:

  • Microscope Information Form
  • Blood Sample Case Report Form
  • Hematology Sample Case Report Form
  • Chemistry Sample Case Report Form
  • Urinalysis Sample Case Report Form
  • Parasitology, Internal/External, Coprology Case Report Form






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Hematology Sample Case Report Form




Blood Sample Case Report Form




Chemistry Sample Case Report Form




Urinalysis Sample Case Report Form




Parasitology, Internal/External, Coprology Case Report Form




Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)



Include a word processed document of in-house Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) following the template and examples to the right. (Scroll to see template)

Scanned manufacturer's instructions may be used for the "Procedures" portion of the template.

All SOPs should be included in one folder.

SOPs must include detailed information on quality control methods. 

An SOP must be included for each skill verified on the skills list.

Refer to the quality assurance / control documents on the resources page.



Include a word processed document of in-house Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) following the template and examples to the right. (Scroll to see template)

Scanned manufacturer's instructions may be used for the "Procedures" portion of the template.

All SOPs should be included in one folder.

SOPs must include detailed information on quality control methods. 

An SOP must be included for each skill verified on the skills list.

Refer to the quality assurance / control documents on the resources page.




SOP Template



This template can be downloaded and edited in word.



ABOUT US



The Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians (AVCPT) thanks you for your interest in becoming a Veterinary Technician Specialist in Clinical Pathology – VTS (Clinical Pathology). AVCPT‘s purpose is to advance the area of and promote excellence in the discipline of veterinary clinical pathology. The veterinary technician specialist (VTS) in Clinical Pathology will demonstrate superior knowledge and performance of clinical pathology techniques, which will promote improved client service and confidence, as well as enhanced patient care.


email us at avcpt.vts@gmail.com