This section outlines the minimum experience requirements that we require for application for assessment.
The performance criteria against which we assess an applicant are very specific – they are documented here.
To apply for assessment for any species, your case log book (see details below) must demonstrate that you have led on at least one of each of the essential case requirements. These cases can be seen in person or virtually.
Each stage of the typical consultation must have been led on by the candidate, for at least one of each essential case type. This may involve the candidate leading on all stages from beginning to end. However, each stage for a particular case type may have been led on over a series of different patients/individual animals for the species the candidate is applying for. The stages which the candidate has led on should be clearly marked in their case log.
These cases need to have taken place after pre-certification and within the 24 months prior to your application for your viva assessment.
Obtain veterinary referral, clinical history, and take a detailed behavioural history
Make a behavioural assessment, assess risk, and advise on short-term management
Develop and communicate an appropriate behavioural modification plan (BMP) for the animal and care-givers
Support the client through implementation of the BMP, with appropriate demonstration and coaching e.g. of handling / training skills
Monitor progress against goals and provide follow-up advice accordingly
Pre-certified applicants should maintain CPD similar to that required for CCABs whilst undergoing supervised experience or developing their clinical skills. If you apply for the Clinical Skills assessment more than three years after Pre-certification, we ask that you provide evidence of at least 60 hours CPD in the two years prior to application for the Clinical Skills Assessment.
As you work towards assessment following pre-certification, you should record all your cases in a ‘Case Log’ and record all the behavioural presentations you personally addressed in a ‘Presentations Summary’.
The Case Log is a document in which you record all the cases you have been involved in, for all the species you have seen. Please download and use this template if you are applying to be certificated in dogs or this one for all other species. An example of how to complete the templates is given here. You can include cases in which you observed another practitioner lead, and cases in which you were mentored by a more experienced practitioner. Your role and level of involvement must be noted for each case. When you submit your application for assessment, your submitted Case Log should include all the cases you have seen in the 24-month period (no more) prior to your date of application.
Whereas all the cases you have seen, for all species, in the last 24 months, should be listed in your Case Log, in the Presentation Summary, we are interested in the behaviours presented in:
the cases that you personally led
the species for which you are applying
the last 12 months only
The Presentations Summary demonstrates the breadth of behaviours that you have worked on in the last 12 months. You can download an example here. You need to have led on all the essential behaviour presentations listed below, for the species for which you are applying. You also need knowledge of, even if you have not led on, all the non-essential behaviour presentations. During your assessment you could be asked about any of the behaviour presentations listed for the species for which you are applying, i.e. both essential and non-essential.
If an individual case presented with more than one behaviour problem e.g. aggression towards people and house soiling, and you actively addressed both problems in your behaviour modification plan, then that case can be counted for both those problems and therefore counted twice in your Presentations Summary.
All case documentation that you submit to us must be fully redacted, to comply with UK GDPR. This means that all personally identifiable information has been removed. Personally identifiable information includes, but may not be limited to, for both clients, vets, and any other professionals involved: names, addresses, logos, email addresses, telephone numbers, identifiable photographs, identifiable geographical locations (e.g. parks), and pet microchip numbers. For more information about your responsibilities under the UK GDPR, please review the Information Commisioner’s Office (ICO) website.
