CVPP FAQ's
Who is eligible?
All licensed veterinary health professionals with a minimum of five years in full time practice and at least two years of clinical experience working with animals in pain may apply for certification. In addition, candidates must be members of IVAPM for at least one year prior to sitting for the exam.
When are applications due?
The deadline for the application and associated documentation and requirements is November 30th at midnight EST the year prior you plan to take the exam. With the exception of the Applicant Reference Forms, all documents should be submitted online at the same time. The online system will not save your work or accept partial application submissions. Note, there is an application fee to be processed at time of application submittal ($250 for veterinarians and $150 for licensed veterinary technicians).
What are the requirements for the CVPP?
Requirements include a completed application and supporting documentation, letter of good standing, two case reports, 90 hours of pain-related CE, verification of pain management skills, and successful completion of the CVPP written exam.
Who should provide a letter of good standing?
Your licensing or governing veterinary board can provide a letter of good standing.
What is IVAPM looking for in the case reports?
Case reports should involve patient care delivered during the five-year period preceding the application deadline. They may pertain to perioperative pain management, major acute or chronic pain management. Case reports are graded pass/fail. In certain cases, applicants may be asked to resubmit a report with revisions or clarifications.
What are the continuing education requirements for certification?
Successful completion of 90 hours of pain management-related CE during the eight years prior to the application deadline is required.
What are the options for meeting the CE requirement?
Examples of approved continuing education (CE) include:
- Pain and analgesia related continuing education (CE) at local, regional, national, international in-person and on-line veterinary and veterinary technician/nurse meetings.
- VIN IVAPM Pain and Analgesia Course
- WSAVA Pain Management Course
- International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care (IAAHPC) Certification Module 4
- Pain and analgesia training in an internship or residency
- Acupuncture, rehabilitation and other physical medicine courses or training
- IVAPM Partners providing in-person and on-line CE include:
- Canine Rehabilitation Institute (CRI)
- CuraCore
- Canine Arthritis Resources and Education (CARE)
- Canine Arthritis Management (CAM)
- Zero Pain Philosophy
- Veterinary Teaching Academy
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Examples of other online CE providers include:
- American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) pain modules
- International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS)
- Veterinary Information Network (VIN)
- VetFolio
- VetMedTeam
What pain management skills must be demonstrated?
New skills document arriving in early June! In the meantime you can continue to use the currently available skills document and IVAPM will accept both the old and the new skill forms for both the 2025 and 2026 applications:
- Pain recognition and diagnosis
- Pain prevention
- Pain treatment using pharmacologic and physical medicine, including rehabilitation techniques
How will I verify my skills competency?
A CVPP, Board Certified Diplomate (eg, ACVAA, ECVAA, ACVSMR), Pain Specific Credentialed Professional (eg, IAAHPC, AARV) or regional equivalent professional depending on your location.
What if there aren’t any credentialed professionals in my area?
Video or Zoom (or other online platform) demonstration is a possible option. The person assessing your skills must be an expert in pain management. Contact info@ivapm.org for more information.
Are the requirements and the exam the same for veterinarians and veterinary technicians?
Yes.
Is there an examination fee?
Yes. The exam fee is $250 for veterinarians and $150 for licensed veterinary technicians. This fee is due 30 days prior to taking the exam. Note, there is also an application fee ($250 for veterinarians and $150 for licensed veterinary technicians).
How will the exam be structured?
The examination is closed book and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions. Time is limited to three hours.
What will the exam questions cover?
The multiple choice exam covers the principles of pain and pain management. Topics include pain pathophysiology, analgesic options/mechanisms of action (including both pharmacologic and physical medicine), recognition/assessment of pain and impact of pain on the patient. The focus is on dogs and cats but questions from other species will be included.
When and where will the examination take place?
The exam is virtual and is scheduled annually for the first Saturday in October at 8am in the candidate's time zone.
Will the IVAPM certification title be bestowed for life?
Yes for all current CVPPs, but proof of maintenance of skills and knowledge may be required at some point for future candidates. This would not be a new exam, just proof of CE and active participation in the practice of pain management.
What happens if I don’t pass the exam?
If you do not pass the exam you will have up to two years to retake it. If you are not successful after a total of three attempts you will be asked to resubmit your application for certification.
Who can answer any questions I have about IVAPM’s certification program?
Contact the IVAPM office at Info@IVAPM.org
