There are many levels of veterinary continuing education available, in numerous formats. Free courses, certificate programs, and in-depth specialty certifications all have a place - and a price - in developing interests and skills for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. Considering all the options available, and the veterinary professional’s typically limited free time, it can be difficult to decide which route is the most beneficial.
Read more below for some of the most common questions (and their answers!) about CE certificates and your continuing education certificate journey.
What does RACE approval actually mean?
RACE stands for the Registry of Approved Continuing Education. It is owned and overseen by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). They provide guidelines and standards that veterinary continuing education must meet before they grant approval. While RACE and AAVSB do not dictate content, their rigorous approval process leads to quality programs that meet state requirements as well as assuring accessibility, educational virtue, and practicality for veterinary professionals. Read more about the RACE approval process.
What's the difference between a certificate and a postgraduate certificate?
Many courses provide certificates of attendance, especially if you’ve taken lots of CE on the same subject, but a postgraduate certificate is an academic credential that allows you to use postnominals.
While some certificates can offer in-depth study of a particular subject, and possibly show a basic competency, this competency is not always honored in all jurisdictions. These certificates may be awarded just for attendance, or after a short assessment.
On the other hand, a postgraduate veterinary certificate (like the GPCert/PgC programs offered by Improve) provide an internationally recognized, university-level qualification that ensures an in-depth, competent clinician in the area of certification. Postgraduate veterinary certificates are always assessment based and require exceptional skill, knowledge, and competency before they are awarded.
I’ve seen “certificate programs” at universities in the US—how are those different?
Certificate programs through many US universities are small-scale single aspect courses. They are often comprised of as few as 10 credit hours of coursework, and may be attendance based without a rigorous assessment to ensure aptitude of the certificate holder. An online veterinary certificate, such as the Improve Veterinary Education certificate courses, generally requires over 100 RACE-accredited credit hours of coursework, as well as further self-study and reading to prepare for the assessments. The assessments are organized by an independent awarding body, ensuring they’re well respected and verify the mastery of the subject matter.
Where do PgC/GPCert sit on the education ladder vs US board certification?
Postgraduate Certificate and General Practitioner Certificate do not qualify as board certification, as those specialties take years of postgraduate training via internships, residencies, and a qualifying board examination. However, these postgraduate certificates do offer the opportunity for specialization within the general practitioner role. It can help veterinarians on the path to board certification, explore a specialty interest, or develop a skill-set that is needed. In other countries, vets with these certificates might hold a ‘middle-tier’ status – above that of a general practitioner but below that of a specialist.
What is a “middle-tier” veterinarian?
In Europe and around the world, the status of a “middle-tier” veterinarian is becoming very common. This is a general practitioner who, while not pursuing AAVSB board certification, has pursued an in-depth, university level education within a particular aspect of veterinary medicine. Some wish to pursue a special interest, some are trying to decrease the need for referral to veterinary specialists for their clients, and some just love the learning challenge. Whatever the reason, these veterinarians are recognized world-wide as progressive, focused veterinarians that bring significantly more to their practice than a general practitioner. For example, in the UK, vets with postgraduate certificates and a certain level of education may apply for RCVS Advanced Practitioner Status, showcasing their advanced knowledge and skills to colleagues and clients alike.
If I pass the assessments, can I use post-nominals in the US (e.g., PgC, GPCert)?
Absolutely! In the US, they may not yet be as commonly understood as in other countries, but it can serve as a great way to introduce your advanced training and top-tier education. However, a PgC and GPCert do not qualify a veterinarian to refer to themselves as a specialist, as this is reserved for board certification within a veterinary specialty.
Are postgraduate certificates recognized by employers and insurers?
This is still a work in progress in the US. Some employers may recognize the advanced education, but remember these certificates do not qualify a veterinarian as a specialist. Therefore, many employers and insurers do not recognize anything beyond the continuing education benefit. That said, in the UK, there’s good evidence that vets can take on more advanced tasks and bring in more revenue after undertaking certification, so even if your employer doesn’t recognise the postnominals, they should recognise the increased value you bring to your clinic.
Will taking a certificate like the PgC/GPCert change my day-to-day medicine?
Anytime you invest a portion of your time and energy into education, you should hope it will change how you view medicine, interact with clients, and how you practice your craft. A PgC/GPCert is a honing of your current skills, while introducing up-to-date thinking, diagnostics, and advances in practice from all over the world. It may allow you to decrease referrals for certain cases, have more confidence in your recommendations for others, and update your overall knowledge-base in veterinary medicine.
How do I evaluate certificate providers to make sure I know what I'm getting?
Improve Postgraduate Certificate programs are rigorous, assessment-based courses that are recognized internationally and approved by the AAVSB RACE program. Although other certificates and online CE courses may provide hours to meet your jurisdiction’s CE requirements, they are often attendance-based and do not necessarily ensure a quality, comprehensive education experience. Here’s more info on how to ensure you are getting the most from your online veterinary CE.
I’m a credentialed vet tech—what’s the difference between CE certificates, a VTS, and Improve’s certificates?
Veterinary technician CE may have many variables; from how they are presented, to the quality of education, the resources available, and the assessment standards that qualify veterinary professionals for the credentials. While lots of online CE may provide an attendance based certificate, the vet tech certificate courses offered by Improve result in an internationally recognized qualification - after passing the rigorous assessments, of course. These certificates, while not equal to a board specialty like a Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS), can allow veterinary technicians the education and experience to expand their knowledge, handle more complex clinical cases, and benefit their careers. A technician certificate may allow a technician to explore specific interests prior to determining if they wish to pursue a VTS, or simply allow them to advance within their current role.
