The Association of Veterinary Animal Care Assistants (AVACA) is a not-for-profit membership organisation launched January 2022 and is the first professional body for Veterinary Care Assistants (VCA’s).
Brian Faulkner, the association’s co-founder commented: “AVACA’s mission is to define the role and contribution of VCA’s in veterinary practice and to standardise the training and education for those already in the role, or those aspiring to become a VCA, as a pathway into veterinary nursing”.
Brian went on to say that an internet search for veterinary care assistant courses reveals a plethora of confusing terms (such as animal care assistants, veterinary nursing assistants and animal nursing assistants) and courses for anyone wishing to do this role. AVACA aims to address this confusion by offering relevant training and education alongside a membership organisation which will act as a community for VCA’s.
AVACA also aims to encourage professional standards for VCA’s by integrating education with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)’s key principles of competence, honesty, confidentiality, and accountability.
AVACA’s training is provided through Colourful CPD, a well-established organisation offering training and CPD for all roles within practice.
Brian went on to say: “AVACA will act as a professional body that aims to evolve the role of the VCA within the wider practice team, as well as offering a pathway towards veterinary nursing by providing affordable CPD and training. “AVACA was established due to the repeated demand for VCA training”.
The VCA Award is delivered over three levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Bronze level covers the basic information that VCA’s need to understand veterinary practice, the various roles within the profession, basic veterinary medical terminology, animal husbandry, animal handling, species identification and the key biological systems. The student’s knowledge is tested at the end of each webinar by answering a series of multiple-choice questions. The Silver and Gold levels will go into much more detail with final course assignments to complete.
Membership of AVACA operates at an individual level and includes the Bronze level of the Veterinary Care Assistant Award. Registration is simple to complete, and individuals can sign up for only £40 plus VAT.
Full details about membership to the Association of Veterinary Animal Care Assistants and training can be found on their website.
