Assessment of Clinical Skills

To apply for CCAB accreditation, please complete this form and send completed applications to us at applications@ccab.uk

Your clinical skills will be assessed in three separate stages:
  1. A review of case reports

  2. A Viva (oral examination), and

  3. A practical assessment with a care-giver and their animal.

The aim of these  assessments, together with assessment of your submitted case documentation, is to give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you are confident, fluent, and skilled in each of the performance criteria specified for the role of CCAB.

Please note, applications for current CCABs applying for their CCAB status for a second species now follow the same process as for an initial first species application.  

The process and timeline for application and assessment are as follows:

1. Complete and submit your application form

With details of two references, Case Log, and payment of the first part of your application fee on request.

2. Agree a 48hr window for your case submissions

We will ask you to confirm a 48hr window during which we will require you to redact and submit four cases that we will choose from your case log.

3. Submit your redacted cases

At the start of the 48hr window, we will email you with the submission template and tell you which 4 cases to redact and submit by the end of the 48hr window.

4. Case report assessment

Two assessors will review your redacted case reports against the case report criteria. The outcome of your report assessment and feedback will be provided a few weeks after submission.

5.  Agree a date for the Viva

If your reports pass assessment, we will contact you to agree a mutually convenient date for your Viva and to pay the next part of your fee. 

6. The Viva

Once your redacted cases are received and accepted, we will send you a zoom invitation for the Viva. For more details, see ‘What happens in the Viva?‘

7. Viva results and feedback

Your result and feedback will be provided a few weeks after your Viva.

8. Agree a date for your practical assessment

On passing the Viva, we will confirm available slots for the Practical Assessment, for schedule in the following weeks and request payment of the final part of the fee.

9. The practical assessment

See ‘What happens in the Practical?‘ for details.

10. Final results and feedback

The result of your full assessment and feedback will be provided within 30 days of completion of your practical assessment.

How are the case reports assessed?

As announced in June 2026, there is now a report assessment stage in the CCAB assessment process. There has not been a change to the performance criteria reports are assessed against, only that they are now assessed in their own stage of the process.  The case reports (only initial reports, not the follow up material – this is submitted for discussion during the viva) are assessed against a set of performance criteria found here.  We would expect all reports (and vet reports if different) reflecting current practice to meet the following requirements:

  • Written evidence of a risk assessment with risk management plan is communicated to the client and vet.
  • The candidate remains within their remit and seeks further guidance or refers on where needed.
  • Where complementary, diet, and alternative or non-prescription therapies or products are mentioned or recommended, the advice provided within the report is safe, ethical and delivered within professional boundaries. Guidance on this for non-MRCVS candidates is available here.
  • An assessment is provided which includes an explanation of the motivation/emotion underpinning the behaviour(s).
  • Behavioural modification plan (BMP) including clear goals and rational for the BMP is described. The BMP should clearly link to the assessment.
  • Plans for follow-up and next steps are included, with clear description of how progress will be monitored, and when.
  • All information is communicated clearly.
  • If there is more than one signatory on a report, candidates should provide a credit statement relating to each section of the report. Having multiple authors is acceptable for assessment, so long as all authors have worked within their remit and the candidate is prepared to discuss all aspects of the report (on a colleague to colleague level) in the viva.

What happens in the Viva?

The Viva is held over Zoom, with two assessors. It typically lasts 1.5 hours or a maximum of 2.5 hours. It is recorded for quality assurance purposes. During this time, you will be asked questions relating to each of the Performance Criteria. Becoming very familiar with each of the Performance Criteria will help you prepare for the Viva. Many of the questions will be posed within the context of your submitted cases, but some will be based on hypothetical scenarios presented to you. Questions are designed to help you defend and justify the decisions you took, or would take, and the considerations you made, or would make, in your performance of the role. Questions are not designed to try to catch you out or test your memory. They are designed to help you highlight your skills. You can refer to your case notes during the Viva.

What happens in the Practical?

The practical session lasts between 45 minutes and an hour, with one or two assessors, and is filmed for quality assurance purposes. During this time you will be observed working with a caregiver and their animal. You will be asked to communicate with the caregiver to arrive at an initial assessment and agree a desired goal for the animal. You may then be asked to provide practical behaviour advice, demonstrate some training, or coach the caregiver in practical aspects of behaviour modification. After this, the assessors will ask you some further questions. The tasks you are given will be appropriate to the situation i.e. you will not be asked to do a full behavioural assessment, to create an entire behaviour modification plan, nor demonstrate any training beyond the scope of the time available.

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