VSPN STAF128-0521: Preparatory Review for the CVPM Certification Exam

The real time sessions for this course will be presented via Zoom webinar platform.

Presenter: Julie Singer, LVT, CVPM
Course Open: May 24, 2021-August 5, 2021
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Mondays, June 7, 14, 21, 28 and July 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2021; 9:00-10:30pm ET (USA)    World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 12
RACE Category: 12 hours Non-Medical

Enrollment is closed.

Course Information:
This course is designed to help veterinary practice managers and others review for purposes of successfully completing the Certified Veterinary Practice Managers (CVPM) examination given by the Veterinary Hospital Managers Association (VHMA). For those not yet taking the CVPM examination, the course provides the basics of veterinary practice management. It is also a good introduction to management concepts for new managers, or review for experienced managers who wish to revisit the basics. The course is geared to legalities and resources for the United States of America at this time; however, participation is not limited to the USA only.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, the participant should be able to:
  • Recall the principals and laws of recruiting and hiring
  • Demonstrate knowledge of training and development (including safety training), staff meetings, performance reviews, mediating internal disputes and discipline and/or discharge of employees
  • Show familiarity of veterinary law in areas of prescription drugs, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, and over the counter medications
  • Demonstrate knowledge of OSHA regulations, documenting and reporting accidents, filing appropriate reports
  • Demonstrate knowledge in DEA and FDA regulations
  • Demonstrate knowledge of Fair Labor Standards Act; Civil Rights Act of 1964--Sexual Harassment, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act; Family and Medical Leave; Worker's Compensation; Federal Unemployment Tax Act; Employment Retirement Income Security Act; Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, COBRA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); Mental Health Parity Act; Employee Polygraph Protection Act), and required Department of Labor posters
  • Demonstrate knowledge of AVMA Code of Ethics, VHMA Code of Ethics
  • Recall the principles of contract law and confidentiality
  • Recall principals of internal/external marketing and public relations
  • Demonstrate knowledge of client services (monitoring client retention, setting up/maintaining new client program, handling client complaints, obtaining/reporting client feedback on service, responding to client questions, managing vaccine/check-up reminder routine), and client education
  • Recall principals of inventory (maintaining appropriate inventory system including controlled substance ordering, tracking, security, destruction; placing and tracking purchase orders for drugs, uniforms
  • Demonstrate knowledge of equipment and maintenance (assuring insurance coverage of hospital and equipment; contracting for repair/maintenance of equipment, building, grounds; protocols for daily facility maintenance)
  • Recall medical record standards and compliance, technology systems and policies, liaison to professional services, and hospital policies/procedures/risk management
  • Demonstrate knowledge in analyzing practice and financial reports; managing payroll; A/R and A/P; budgeting and long-range planning
  • Recall principles of establishing and enforcing client credit policies; fee analysis; overseeing daily and monthly banking procedures; maintaining chart of accounts; and maintaining imprest petty cash account
  • Easily recall the basics of veterinary practice management, as outlined on the CVPM Task Analysis handout
  • Be well versed in taking multiple-choice questions similar to those given on the CVPM exam
  • Demonstrate knowledge of how to locate information and utilize study materials
  • Show familiarity of veterinary law in areas of prescription drugs, veterinarian-client-patient relationship, and over the counter medications
  • Demonstrate knowledge of OSHA regulations, documenting and reporting accidents, filing appropriate reports
  • Demonstrate knowledge in DEA and FDA regulations
Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate VSPN CE course is focused toward those veterinary professionals who are actively preparing to sit for the CVPM examination. Veterinarians and all supervisory members of veterinary staff may enroll in this course.

RACE Accreditation: This program has been approved for 12 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize RACE approval (22-41406).
This course is approved for CVPM credits by the VHMA (#09-03).

“Veterinary Information Network, Inc. is not connected with, endorsed by, or licensed by VHMA.”

Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session June 7): Human Resources
This week will cover recruiting, hiring, training and development, staff meetings and handling disputes and employee issues.

Week 2 (Real Time Session June 14): Regulatory Agencies & OSHA
Veterinary laws, OSHA, DEA and FDA regulations will be covered.

Week 3 (Real Time Session June 21): Employment/Labor Law
A broad review of relevant labor laws regarding civil rights, harrassment, discrimination, tax, unemployment, COBRA, HIPPA.

Week 4 (Real Time Session June 28): Ethics and Law
This session will cover both the AVMA and VHMA codes of ethics, as well as contract law.

Week 5 (Real Time Session July 5): Marketing
Internal and external marketing, client services, public relations, will all be discussed.

Week 6 (Real Time Session July 12): Organization of Practice
Discussions of inventory, equipment and maintenance, technology, medical records, policies and risk managment.

Week 7 (Real Time Session July 19): Financial
Analysis of financial reports, payroll, accounts payable and receivables, budgets, credit, chart of accounts and petty cash.

Week 8 (Real Time Session July 26): Review
CVPM Task Analysis, multiple choice question skills, and utilizing study materials.

Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook(s): There is no required textbook for this course.

Enrollment is closed.

Tuition: $252 ($227 early bird special if enrolled by May 10,2021)
Prices are listed in US dollars.

* Students currently enrolled in an AVMA accredited or CVMA approved Veterinary Technician Program may be eligible to receive a 50% discount off the regular rate for this course (upon verification of student status).

*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on June 7, 2021 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.

To Enroll:
  1. Enrollment qualifications: VIN CE courses are open to VIN member and non-member veterinarians. Veterinarians enrolling in a VSPN CE course must be a VIN member. Veterinary support staff must be a VSPN member to enroll in a VSPN CE or a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  3. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext.792 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.

Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 792 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VSPN's upcoming CE courses, check the VSPN Course Catalog.

Lisa Kernaghan, LVT, RVT, CVT, VTS (ECC)
VSPN CE Coordinator

VSPN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 792
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357