Certified Canine Rehabilitation Assistant (CCRA) Certification

The CCRA certification is for veterinary assistants who want to add rehabilitation knowledge and skills to their expertise, in order to assist in the care of rehabilitative patients and work effectively with the CCRT and CCRVT/CCRVN as part of a rehabilitation team.

The CCRA certification is for non-credentialed veterinary assistants with one year of clinical experience. This includes licensed professionals with other credentials, such as Physical Therapy Assistants, Athletic Trainers, Occupational Therapists, and Occupational Therapist Assistants working in a veterinary hospital or rehabilitation practice under the guidance of a Certified Rehabilitation Veterinarian. A Letter of Recommendation (LOR) from the Certified Rehabilitation Veterinarian and verification of one year of veterinary experience is required. A current LOR must be in place through each phase of the certification process including the internship. If your employment status changes, you must pause your progress through our program until you have a current LOR.

The 2024 pricing for the CCRA modules are:

• Introduction to Canine Rehabilitation: $3349
• Concepts for the Rehabilitation Team $2939
• Canine Therapeutic Exercise: $1989

Total for in-person coursework: $8277

We understand that leaving home to improve education and skills is a commitment. To reduce the number of required trips, we have scheduled the second and third modules back to back, saving time and travel expenses. If you would prefer to space your courses out further, you are welcome to do that too.

Note: The last day of class ends early to allow students the opportunity to return home that evening. Students who do not attend a full day of class will not receive any CE credit hours for that day and may have to return to make up the missing hours. Do not make airline reservations that require you to depart class before 3:00 P.M.

The certification path is the same. Same courses, same requirements, same expectations.

However, the CCRVT/CCRVN certification is for credentialed veterinary technicians and nurses, and the CCRA is for non-credentialed veterinary assistants.

We understand some veterinary practices call veterinary assistants veterinary technicians. Still, if you have not graduated from a formal, two-year veterinary technician training program that bestowed you with the RVT, LVT, CVT, or AHT credentials, you will receive the CCRA certification. This is true for other allied health professionals working within a veterinary practice (Physical Therapy Assistants, Occupational Therapists, and Athletic Trainers).

CCRAs will work under their local state's Veterinary Medical Practice Act. This will dictate the level of supervision required and what you can and cannot do in practice.

CRI feels that the evaluation and formulation of the treatment plan must be completed by the Rehabilitation Certified Veterinarian or Rehabilitation Certified Physical Therapist, and the CCRA assists with executing this plan by completing therapeutic exercises, physical modalities, and client education. It is never appropriate for a veterinary assistant (even if certified in rehabilitation) to evaluate a patient and formulate a treatment plan. This places the rehabilitation professional at risk of malpractice and reduces patient health safety.