The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is proposing to amend the regulations regarding the National Veterinary Accreditation Program to establish two accreditation categories in place of the current category, add requirements for supplemental training and renewal of accreditation, and offer accreditation specializations.

Under the proposed rule, Category I would authorize veterinarians to perform accredited duties on companion animals only. Veterinarians would be authorized to perform accredited duties on all species to include poultry, equines, and livestock under Category II. The new two-tiered system would replace the current structure under which an accredited veterinarian is authorized to perform accredited duties on all species.

APHIS is proposing these changes in order to support its animal health safeguarding initiatives, to involve accredited veterinarians in integrated surveillance activities and to make the provisions governing the National Veterinary Accreditation Program more uniform and consistent.

These proposed changes would increase the level of training and skill of accredited veterinarians in the areas of disease prevention and preparedness for animal health emergencies in the United States