Options for Animals offers a Certificate in Advanced Animal Chiropractic. Like other advanced certifications and specialty designations in the chiropractic and veterinary professions, our Advanced Animal Chiropractic Certification is a challenging program that requires years of dedicated work and education in animal chiropractic.
Most candidates take at least three years to complete the requirements for this prestigious title. Animal chiropractors can begin to work toward their advanced certification immediately after completing their basic courses, even if the number of their animal chiropractic patients may be limited. By the time the requirements are completed, however, candidates should be able to demonstrate a clear and concise knowledge of the theories and principles of animal chiropractic; and they should also be treating animals with chiropractic care on a regular (at least weekly) basis. There is no time limit for the completion of the certification process.
Requirements for Certification in Advanced Animal Chiropractic
1. Candidates must be doctors of chiropractic or doctors of veterinary medicine. They must supply documents confirming that they have completed a Basic Animal Chiropractic Course that was approved by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA) or the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA). A copy of the applicant’s certificate of completion is required at the time of registration.
2. Candidates for Advanced Certification must complete 8 continuing education courses. These courses are offered on a regular basis at Options for Animals (See Previous Schedule of CE Courses).
Six (6) courses are mandatory, and the remaining two (2) are chosen by the candidate from a group of elective courses *. Following is a chart outlining the courses:
| Mandatory | Elective | Course Name | Credit Hours |
| xx | The Sacropelvic Region’s Influence on Engagement, Lameness, Micturition and Reproduction (Formerly Advanced Sacropelvic) | 20 | |
| xx | The Thoracolumbar Region’s Influence on Biomechanics, Degenerative Spine and Disc Diseases, Respiratory Conditions and the ‘Sympathetic Reflex’ (Formerly Advanced Thoracolumbar) | 20 | |
| xx | The Cervical Spine’s Influence on Engagement, Chronic Cervical Degenerative Processes (CVI), Adverse Training Techniques (Rollkur), the ‘Tonic Neck Reflexes’, Dural Torque and Tension (Formerly Advanced Cervical) | 20 | |
| xx | The Extremities Influence on Engagement, Bow and String, Central Pattern Generators, Compensatory Patterning and Negative Plasticity as well asVisceral Disease (Formerly Advanced Extremity) | 20 | |
| xx | Developing Treatment Protocols and Plans; and Dog and Horse Behavior (Formerly Advanced Integrated One) | 20 | |
| xx | How to Assemble, Work With, And Maintain an Integrative Health Care Team (Formerly Advanced Integrated Two) | 20 | |
| xx | Simply Small Animals 1 | 20 | |
| xx | Simply Small Animals 2 | 20 | |
| xx | Simply Small Animals 3 | 20 | |
| xx | Quadruped Basic Technique | 12 | |
| xx | Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Techniques (CMRT); Sacro Occipital Technic (SOT) and the Viscera | 16 | |
| xx | A complete Review of Basic and Advanced Animal Chiropractic Techniques; Including Pubic Symphysis, Ventral and 1st Ribs, Sternum, Anterior Cervicals | 12 | |
| xx | The Equine Foot and Ankle; Biomechanics, Balancing, Radiology, Trimming and Shoeing | 16 | |
| xx | Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy Techniques | 12 |
* CE from other Schools Approved by the AVCA and/or IVCA will be considered for Elective Courses on a course by course basis; to be approved by Options for Animals.
3. Candidates must complete three (3) days of Mentorship in traditional chiropractic or veterinary clinics. The mentor must be a chiropractor for veterinary candidates and a veterinarian for chiropractic candidates. Mentors are not necessarily required to be animal chiropractors. Applicants for the Advanced Certification are encouraged to visit traditional practices so that veterinarians see chiropractors at work with humans; and chiropractors experience traditional animal health care in a veterinary clinic.
4. Candidates must complete an original animal chiropractic research project. Candidates will get guidance from the Options for Animals staff, but ultimately it is their own responsibility to complete the project. Projects can range from extensive case studies, to clinical trials, to double-blind complete research projects.
5. Candidates must present two (2) Complete and Integrative Case Studies to the students at any of the Mandatory Courses and/or the Simply Small Animal Courses. These are to be formal presentations, 30 minutes to 1 hour long; and each case must be on a patient with a unique condition in which integrative care had an influence (positive or negative) on the outcome.
Completion of Advanced Certification
Once a candidate feels they have completed all of the above requirements, they must then contact Options for Animals and ask for a Review of their records. A committee of three (3) Advanced Animal Chiropractors will: one, review the candidates records for completion; two, contact the candidate and complete an interview in which their animal chiropractic practice will be discussed; and three, make a final decision as to the merit of the candidate. The Committee will then: one, pass the candidate and recommend that they become an Advanced Certified Animal Chiropractor; or two, make recommendations to the candidate for further work or education that must be completedby the candidate before their requirements are met.
After successful completion of the requirements, the candidate will receive a certificate stating Options for Animals Recognition of Their Advanced Achievement in Animal Chiropractic. This exceptional designation will also be prominently displayed in the Doctor’s Referral Page on our web site and at the College.
Policy Changes
The provisions of this Catalog should not be construed by the applicants or students as an irrevocable contract. The College reserves the right to effect policy and regulatory changes at any time. Moreover, the College does not assume a responsibility for giving advance notice made in policies, criteria or rule.
Code of Ethics (Honor Code)
Honesty is an essential part of professionalism. The Code of Ethics places the responsibility for honor and honesty on the student.
Written examinations are not strictly proctored by faculty members. Teaching aides and equipment used in the classroom and laboratories are made available for instruction with the understanding that the doctors in the class will treat them with respect and only use them for their intended purposes without being policed by the faculty members.
The code applies to all students and instructors of the College and helps to promote ethical standards of personal and professional conduct. Reports of violations of this code will be investigated promptly and thoroughly, and every precaution is taken to arrive at a just decision. Anyone found guilty of violating the code may be dismissed from the College. Anyone unwilling to accept the code should not apply to the College.
Rules of Conduct
Options for Animals College of Animal Chiropractic strives to make the learning and work environment as safe as possible. To that end, the College does not tolerate actual or threatened violence on its premises or directed to a College staff member, faculty member, student, guest or visitor, on or off the premises. Verbal or written threats of any kind, even in jest, will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination, expulsion, or removal from the premises pending investigation.
Drug Free College Campus
The possession, use, distribution or sale of narcotics or drugs, other than those medically prescribed, properly used and in the original container, by students, faculty, staff or visitors on College property or while on College business is prohibited.
The College’s policy regarding use of alcohol is consistent with local, state, and federal laws and regulations. The alcohol use policy focuses on the responsible use of alcohol at all Options for Animals events.
Concealed Weapons Policy
Firearms, concealed weapons and/or explosives are not allowed at any time on property owned by the College.