AAVSB RACE Approved for 200+ hours of Continuing Education

History and Mission	Course Curriculum
Educational Program	Topic Outline
Continuing Education	Certification Program
Scholarship

Course Schedule 2010/2011 San Antonio, TX Click to download brochure	Course Schedule 2011/2012 Portland, OR Click to download brochure
Session 1: Oct. 20 - 24, 2010	Session 1: Oct. 19 - 23, 2011
Session 2: Nov. 17 - 21, 2010	Session 2: Nov. 16 - 20, 2011
Session 3: Jan. 19 - 23, 2011	Session 3: Jan. 18 - 22, 2012
Session 4: Feb. 23 - 27, 2011	Session 4: Feb. 15 - 19, 2012
Exams: April 2 - 3, 2011	Exams: Mar. 31 - Apr. 1, 2012

Click here to Request a Mailing

Location: Hilton San Antonio Airport   Visa, MasterCard and American Express will be accepted Register with a $500 Registration Fee Payment Plans are Available Payment in Full Due By September 1, 2010

History and Mission(Back to top)
The basic veterinary acupuncture course taught by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) in the United States has the longest history of a comprehensive study of veterinary acupuncture in the Western World. The curricula of the course integrates a balanced background of fundamentals of the scientific basis and application of acupuncture as well as a background in the fundamentals and applications of traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. The educational program provides acupuncture study and its clinical application for small animal as well as large animal, avian and exotic species. Graduates of the IVAS United States basic acupuncture course are prepared for more advanced study of veterinary acupuncture from either a scientific or traditional Chinese medicine perspective and they can pursue the study of traditional Chinese veterinary herbology as well.

Educational Program (Back to top)
The curriculum of the course is not limited to the study of traditional Chinese medicine theory, but incorporates current scientific acupuncture theory and biomedical science in its application and approach to patient assessment and treatment. A variety of methods of patient examination and treatment are taught and demonstrated. The program prepares the participant for integration of acupuncture into clinical practice.

Classroom lectures begin with the anatomic, physiologic and historical aspects of acupuncture. As the course progresses patient assessment and diagnosis from a clinically scientific perspective and traditional Chinese medical theory approach are introduced. With a solid background in the varied integration of acupuncture theory, assessment, and treatment methods, the curriculum provides clinically useful ways to integrate the different approaches of acupuncture into veterinary practice. The laboratories teach hands-on palpatory skills and acupoint location as well as exposure to different methods of patient assessment and treatment by experienced clinicians with live patients.

This course prepares the student for both the written and practical examinations that are required for IVAS Certification in veterinary acupuncture for both small and large animals. The IVAS Certification has been internationally recognized for over 20 years. The student is also prepared to integrate acupuncture into practice and has the opportunity to personally arrange for observation of acupuncture in clinical practice with a network of IVAS certified practitioners.

The IVAS US Course is a Superior Course
The first comprehensive veterinary acupuncture course in the Western World. Most of the Western World's foremost veterinary acupuncturists, including researchers, teachers, course coordinators and authors, have been certified by IVAS. Come take the course and get the certification they received!

The IVAS educational program continually integrates current, clinically useful information in the art and science of acupuncture.

The lecturing faculty have a wide variety of professional backgrounds and clinical acupuncture experience including boarded veterinary specialists, veterinary college faculty, veterinarians who also have completed training and licensing in human acupuncture, licensed human acupuncturists and veterinarians who use acupuncture in the majority of their daily practice.

IVAS encourages clinical research for greater understanding of this ancient healing art.

The IVAS certified teaching associate staff keeps the student to teaching associate ratio low and allows more attention to each student in the hands-on laboratories.

The US IVAS course provides a consistent, comprehensive veterinary acupuncture training program that, unlike other courses, rotates to different regions of the country to allow more accessibility so that busy veterinarians may remain closer to home. It also is located closer to major airports so that long ground transportation can be avoided.

The 2010 - 2011 Basic Course in San Antonio

• Clinically relevant lectures that provide a foundation of referenced scientific and traditional Chinese medical information and incorporation of that information into patient assessment and treatment.
• Hands-on palpation of acupoint locations in labs develop tactile point location accuracy for effective treatment.
• Live demonstrations of patient assessment and acupuncture technique by experienced clinicians provides examples of how acupuncture is used in practice
• Demonstration of acupuncture equipment such as needles, moxa, aquapuncture, electroacupuncture and cold lasers. Optional lectures about Chinese herbs, exotic animal acupuncture, bovine acupuncture and acupuncture equipment.

The US IVAS Course, rather than limiting student access to vendors, encourages multiple vendors to attend in order to expose the student to a vast network of acupuncture supplies, equipment and books.

The course is divided into four sessions that include approximately 96 hours of required didactic lectures, 45 hours of supervised acupoint location laboratories, live examinations and demonstrations, and 10-12 hours of optional lectures. Integration of acupuncture into practice is discussed throughout lectures laboratory and demonstrations.

Who Should Attend

• Veterinarians who want to incorporate acupuncture into their practice and are looking for sound, comprehensive and practical acupuncture training.
• Veterinarians interested in learning the basics of acupuncture from a scientific as well as a traditional Chinese medicine approach.
• Veterinarians who want a foundation of traditional Chinese medicine study and are interested in pursuing the additional study traditional Chinese veterinary herbology.

Prerequisites
Veterinarians attending the IVAS United States Basic Veterinary Acupuncture Course must be licensed veterinarians or final year veterinary students. Documentation must be provided.

Current IVAS Certification Process
The current IVAS certification process in the United States requires successful completion of the IVAS course, passage of all written and practical examinations, forty-hour internship spent with a current IVAS certified practitioner doing clinical cases, and a peer-reviewed written case report. Participants are encouraged to pursue the certification process and additional study of acupuncture.

Certification will not be awarded until a minimum of one year following graduation from a veterinary college. (Please note that this time period may be extended in some countries.)

Course Materials
The IVAS United States course provides the following, which are included in the tuition:

• Course notebook with lecture material, appendix of articles and required acupoint lists
• USB Flash Drive of Canine Acupoints Flashcards
• USB Flash Drive of Equine Acupoints Flashcards
• All Examination Fees
• Full Membership in IVAS until June 30, 2011

The course provides continental breakfast with hot food items and snacks in the morning and afternoon during lecture or lab intermissions. There are also a Cocktail/Relaxation/Networking evening each session and Completion Party during the final session!

Continuing Education Credits(Back to top)
This course qualifies for 200+ hours of continuing education credits through AAVSB RACE.

Scholarship Information(Back to top)
At the discretion of IVAS, an annual scholarship, consisting of a waiver of the course tuition fee, may be awarded to one veterinarian from a developing country or to a faculty member of a veterinary school or college (residents do not qualify).

The Course is limited to the first 100 veterinarians who submit completed IVAS registration requirements along with payment of the tuition. The scholarship recipient does not count toward this number. Certification requirements are outlined in the Course brochure. Download Scholarship Application HERE.

IVAS Certification Program (Back to top)
The purpose of the Course is to provide postdoctoral education in the basic veterinary acupuncture theory and practical skills. Upon completion of the Course, participants are eligible to take the certification examination and complete other requirements for certification. Successful candidates will be awarded a certificate in veterinary acupuncture. Currently, this certification is not recognized as a Board 'specialty by the AVMA.

Requirements for Certification

• Must be a licensed veterinarian in good standing or a final year veterinary student. Veterinary students must pass all board exams and be licensed prior to being granted certification.
• Full attendance at all four sessions of the IVAS Course in Basic Veterinary Acupuncture, unless qualify for exemption.
• Payment of the examination fee.
• Passing scores on each of the written and practical examinations.
• Submission and approval of required case reports, and/or a period of internship.

Course Curriculum(Back to top)
The course consists of four 5 day sessions, 4-8 weeks apart, which are updated each year. The scheduled dates and location vary from year to year. The Course is open only to licensed veterinarians.

The course is currently held annually in the United States and is administered by IVAS. It is also available periodically in other countries, for example, in Western Europe and Australia, offered by IVAS affiliate organizations.

Applicants for the US Basic Course must complete a registration process with the IVAS Office. All of the registration details must be completed before a Course student is considered enrolled. Enrollment is limited and acceptance into the Course is on a first come, first accepted basis. For international course registration information, please contact the IVAS Office.

Further details and necessary information for interested applicants about upcoming courses may be obtained from the IVAS office by contacting the address below:

The International Veterinary Acupuncture Society
1730 S College Ave, Ste 301
Ft. Collins, CO 80525
Phone: (970) 266-0666
Fax: (970) 266-0777
e-mail: office@ivas.org

Instructional Topic Outline of the Course (Back to top)

Traditional Chinese Medicine

• The Meridian Pathways • Fundamental Substances • Zang-fu Organs • Causes of Disease • Special Action Points • Acupuncture Points and Meridians • The Circadian Clock

• Empirical Point Use and TCM Applications • The Five Phases (Elements) • The Eight Principles • Zang-fu Pathology • Bi Syndrome • TCM, Points, and Clinical Applications

Western Acupuncture

• Small Animal • Applications for: Musculo-skeletal, Neurological, Dermatological, Gastrointestinal Immunological, and Cardiovascular • Inter vertebral disc Disease • Small animal Urinary Problems • Avian Acupuncture • Large Animal - Equine Acupuncture

• General Neurophysiology • Applied Neurology • Incorporating Acupuncture into your Practice • Legal Aspects • Dealing with Failures • Electro-acupuncture