We represent nearly 5,900 members and about 80% of Florida veterinary practices. We’re here to ensure that the best resources are in your hands and that your teams have everything they need for a positive, healthy, productive and profitable environment. Through our FVMA affiliate membership programs, we work to strengthen the voice of veterinary team members—who are so intimately involved in the well-being of your patients.
Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs) are the crucial teammates needed to make a practice run smoothly. Their responsibilities range from interfacing with clients to assisting anesthesia and surgery. They perform lab tests, take radiographs and administer medications.
Membership Criteria: Open to any graduate of an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited veterinary technology program who has successfully passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam. Certification through the FVMA provides automatic membership in the Florida Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (FACVT) for the duration of your certification period.
We want to see you take the next step and become certified, but first you must:
Once you’re certified, start benefiting from all your hard work with:
How to Become Certified:
Become certified by completing and submitting an “Application for FVMA Certification” form along with an initial certification and membership fee of $55.00 (subject to change). Submit online to info@fvma.org or mail to the FVMA headquarters at 7207 Monetary Drive, Orlando, FL 32809.
How to Recertify:
Recertify by submitting a “Record of Continuing Education Credits” form documenting at least 15 hours of approved continuing education obtained in the previous two years and a renewal fee of $55.00 (subject to change). Copies of certificates of completion should accompany your CE log form. All 15 CE hours must be RACE-approved courses and may be taken in person or online. CVTs in a BAS/VT program may count college course hours for CE with a maximum of three (3) hours in management courses.
Certification Cycle:
CVT certification is renewable every two year, and the next renewal cycle begins January 1, 2022. Renewal notices for the January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023, renewal cycle will be mailed in November and December of 2021.
Approved Veterinary Technician CE Providers
This is your chance to make a career out of your passion. Start your journey to become a CVT with one of these accredited Florida Veterinary Technology Programs.
City College-Gainesville
Veterinary Technology Program
7001 NW 4th Blvd
Gainesville, FL 32607
866-314-5681
Gordon Smok, DVM Director
Associate of Science
Initial Accreditation: May 24, 2017; Next Evaluation 2022
INITIAL ACCREDITATION
City College-Hollywood
Veterinary Technology Program
6565 Taft Street
Hollywood, FL 33027
866-922-2178
Kimberly Augustin, CVT
Associate of Science
Initial Accreditation: February 12, 2016; Next Evaluation: 2021
INITIAL ACCREDITATION
Eastern Florida State College (formerly Brevard Community College)
Veterinary Technology Program
1519 Clearlake Rd.
Cocoa, FL 32922
321-433-7594
Marianne D’Altilio, RVT Director
Associate in Science
Bachelor of Applied Science-Online
Initial Accreditation-November, 1999; Next Evaluation: 2021
FULL ACCREDITATION
Florida A&M University
Veterinary Technology Program
4259 Bainbridge Highway
Quincy, FL
850-599-3000
Glen Wright, DVM Director
Bachelor of Science
Initial Accreditation: October 30, 2013; Next Evaluation: 2023
FULL ACCREDITATION
Hillsborough Community College
Veterinary Technology Program
PO Box 31127
Plant City, FL 33631-3127
813-757-2157
Vincent Centonze, DVM Director
Associate in Science
Initial Accreditation-August 1, 2008; Next Evaluation: 2024
FULL ACCREDITATION
Miami-Dade College
Veterinary Technology Program
Medical Center Campus
950 NW 20th Street
Miami, FL 33127
305-237-4473
Karen Moss, RVT Director
Associate in Science
Initial Accreditation-February 21, 2003: Next Evaluation: 2024
FULL ACCREDITATION
Pensacola State College
Veterinary Technology Program
5555 West Highway 98
Pensacola, FL 32507
850-484-1000
Sarah Meyer-Paterson, CVT Director
Associate of Science
Initial Accreditation: February 8, 2013; Next Evaluation: 2023
FULL ACCREDITATION
St. Petersburg College
Veterinary Nursing Program
12376 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33774
727-341-3652
Tricia Gorham, CVT Director
On-Campus Program
Associate in Science
Distance Learning Program
Associate in Science
Bachelor of Applied Science
Initial Accreditation-April 1978; November 1995; Next Evaluation 2023
FULL ACCREDITATION
Benefits of Becoming an FVMA CVA
To recognize your outstanding achievements and boost you in your career, certification through the FVMA also grants you membership in its affiliated entity, the Florida Association of Certified Veterinary Assistants (FACVA). Through the FACVA and under the umbrella of the FVMA you will be provided with the following exclusive benefits:
CVA High School and Adult Learning Program & Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics Program
There are four requirements for CVA certification under an ACT program:
Complete at least nine months of an ACT approved high school or adult learning program designed to prepare students for employment in the animal care industry.
Complete the “Skills Competency Validation List” under the supervision of a licensed DVM, CVT and/or approved veterinary assistant instructor (VAI) where applicable (indicated on skills list with an asterisk).
Complete a minimum of 500 hours of practical veterinary assisting experience. At least 250 hours of the total must be in a veterinary hospital setting working with live animals. The student must be directly supervised by a licensed DVM or a CVT. Up to 250 hours of the total can be school lab time, defined as non-lecture time, wherein the student applicant performs and appropriately utilizes related veterinary assisting skills under the supervision of the VAI.
Score 70% or higher on the Certified Veterinary Assistant Final Examination.
Student CVA applicants who have fully completed requirements 1 and 2 but have not completed the 500 hours of practical experience, may sit the CVA Final Examination and apply for CVA PPE (pending practical experience). On passing the test, students receive their certification contingent on completion of the remainder of the practical experience hours within one year of the CVA exam date. The CVA PPE must return a completed and signed “Practical Experience Completion Form” postmarked no later than the one-year anniversary of the final exam date.
The CVA course under this program comprises three elements:
1. 192 skills/competencies to be verified by the DVM or CVT
2. 500 hours or more of practical experience
3. Comprehensive final examination
To Sign Up Your Clinic: Click Here
You’re the people who keep the lights on and keep your team going. Veterinary Practice Managers (VPMs) wear many hats as they work as financial managers, human resources directors, office administrators and many other roles that ensure the long-term success of their clinic or hospital.
Membership Criteria: Open to any on-the-job trained individual who is or has been employed as a veterinary hospital/practice/clinic manager, or any graduate of a veterinary practice management program.
The FVMA launched the Florida Association of Animal Care Technicians (FAACT) to recognize the outstanding contributions ACTs make to the veterinary profession and to ensure that these integral members of the veterinary team are given the resources they need to excel in their field and provide the best possible outcomes for their patients.
Membership Criteria: Open to any on-the-job trained veterinary team member who has worked in the capacity of a technician for at least three years, or any graduate of an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited veterinary technology program who does not qualify for technician certification.
