Why CCAB Certification is not an ABTC Assessment Organisation

CCAB Certification (formerly ASAB Accreditation) is disappointed that incorrect information continues to be communicated regarding our departure from the Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC).

ASAB Accreditation negotiated with the ABTC for a period of 6 months to try and agree terms that would enable us to uphold the standards originally set by ASAB Accreditation and remain an ABTC Assessing Organisation (AO). ASAB Accreditation made the decision not to proceed with its ABTC AO renewal application because the ABTC refused to allow us to maintain the standards that we had previously operated under, which exceeded those required by the ABTC. The ABTC cited their UKAS application as the reason for this change.

Clinical animal behaviour is a relatively new and rapidly developing field, and CCAB Certification believe that practitioners should be clinically competent and have the cognitive, analytical and evaluation skills required to critically assess both research and practice. For these reasons Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) applicants must have:

• The equivalent of a 2:1 classification in a level 6 qualification, or higher, for attainment of most of the theoretical knowledge required to practice as a CCAB (Pre-Certification). The 2:1 requirement does not apply to veterinary degrees as these do not have classifications.
• A proven high level of research literacy, demonstrated by completion of a research project, and critical evaluation skills.
• Extensive practical experience, gained since attaining the theoretical knowledge, evidenced by leading on a minimum of 20 cases in the candidate’s chosen species.
• Evidence that those cases cover the behavioural presentations deemed essential to demonstrating clinical competence in the candidate’s chosen species.
• A clinical skills assessment (viva and practical assessment) for each species for which they wish to be listed on the CCAB register.

While ASAB Accreditation recognised that it was important for many prospective candidates to achieve their CCAB through ASAB Accreditation and be on the ABTC register, retaining the above requirements was essential to protecting the high standards expected of CCABs.

Changes introduced by the ABTC would also have meant that ASAB Accreditation would have had to automatically accept Pre-Certification applications from applicants who had completed courses recognised by the ABTC, but not by ASAB Accreditation. This would have made it impossible to ensure the applicant had met ASAB Accreditation’s academic requirements. Furthermore, ASAB Accreditation would have been forced to automatically accept applications from candidates who had met the ATBC’s theoretical knowledge requirements through experience alone, rather than through academic qualifications.

While negotiations were ongoing, ASAB Accreditation’s AO renewal application was being processed by an ABTC sub-committee. ASAB Accreditation submitted the same information that the ABTC had previously accepted (e.g. relating to assessor training and standardisation). At the time ASAB Accreditation decided to withdraw as an ABTC AO, the renewal application with the ABTC sub-committee was unfinished.

Accurate and up-to-date information regarding CCAB Certification, its requirements and processes can be found here on our website.. The Applicants tab of the website also includes a useful FAQ section. Additional questions, or questions relating to an individual’s application, can be sent via email to info@ccab.uk.