Why the NVAP Is Important

During the past decade, the United States has seen the 

incursion of several foreign animal diseases (FADs). In 

most cases, the FADs have been eliminated successfully 

with the veterinary practitioner as the first line of defense. 

Additionally, there has been an increase in live animal 

exports in recent years, with the number of export document requests growing from roughly 4,000 to 15,000 since 

2005. Most of these requests start with the efforts of an 

accredited veterinarian. Now more than ever, APHIS is 

dependent on accredited veterinarians for carrying out 

many of the programs and services designed to safeguard 

public and animal health.

What You Need To Know

As part of the recent NVAP changes, USDA established 

two accreditation categories in place of the current single 

category, adding requirements for supplemental training 

with renewal of accreditation every 3 years and providing 

for accreditation specialties. Veterinarians accredited as 

of February 1, 2010, must elect to continue participating 

in the NVAP as a Category I or Category II veterinarian. 

Failure to do so will result in the expiration of that veterinarian’s accreditation.

What You Need To Do and When

In order to continue accreditation in the NVAP, veterinarians must select an accreditation category and submit a 

completed National Veterinary Accreditation Program 

Application form (VS Form 1-36A). This form is 

available online at www.aphis.usda.gov/nvap (click on 

“Instructions for Currently Accredited Veterinarians”) or 

through the State Veterinarian or USDA Area VeterinarianIn-Charge for each State. Election to participate can only be 

accomplished by completing this application and submitting 

it by email (NVAP@aphis.usda.gov), fax (301-734-3641), or 

mail. The mailing address is:

USDA/APHIS, Veterinary Services, NVAP Staff

4700 River Road, Unit 64

Riverdale, MD 20737

Win-Win for Veterinarians and APHIS

The National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP) has been enhanced to help meet the demands of a 

global market and threats of emerging diseases. These changes are designed to promote the mutual 

respect and professional partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), accredited veterinarians, and State animal health officials. The 

enhanced program will help strengthen accredited veterinarians’ understanding of the program and 

increase their knowledge on current animal health issues. It will also allow for the administration of a more 

consistent and uniform program.

What To Expect

When you elect to continue participating in the NVAP, the 

supplemental training you’ll need to take covers a variety of 

current animal health issues and APHIS disease programs. 

This information is vital to understanding and performing 

your responsibilities as an accredited veterinarian. The 

scope of responsibility of an accredited veterinarian could 

include the following topics, which are found in the 

National Veterinary Accreditation Reference Guide. 

• Control and Eradication for serious livestock 

diseases—brucellosis, tuberculosis, 

transmissible spongiform encephalopathies 

(scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy,

or chronic wasting disease), and Johne’s 

disease.

Category I animals

All animals except: food and fiber species, horses, birds, farm-raised aquatic animals, all other 

livestock species, and zoo animals that can transmit exotic animal diseases to livestock 

Category II animals

All animals
• Poultry diseases such as avian influenza and 

exotic Newcastle disease.

• Horse diseases and programs such as equine 

infectious anemia, equine viral arteritis, and 

the Slaughter Horse Transport Program.

• Aquaculture programs, including the 

National Aquatic Animal Health Plan and 

National Certification and Inspection Program.

• Animal Health Emergency Management 

information such as the current Emergency 

Response Structure, guidelines for notifiable 

diseases and conditions, and the role of the

OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) 

and international standards.

• Cleaning and Disinfection for situations 

involving a contagious disease (i.e., cleaning 

and disinfecting pens, vehicles, etc.; safety 

standards; cleaning procedures; and 

disinfectant regulations, as well as guidance 

on selection and use).

• Disease Surveillance and the current national

animal health surveillance infrastructure.

• Laboratory Submissions, including diagnostic

sample submission procedures and an 

overview of regulatory requirements.

• Animal Movement information, including 

interstate regulations, the process for issuing 

export certificates, and common problems 

that could affect the international movement 

of animals.

• Animal Identification procedures and 

requirements.

For more information, call 301-851-3400 or visit 

www.aphis.usda.gov/nvap.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits 

discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis 

of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, 

religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political 

beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s 

income is derived from any public assistance program. 

(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons 

with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, 

audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center 

at (202) 720–2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint 

of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil 

Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, 

D.C. 20250–9410, or call (800) 795–3272 (voice) or (202) 

720–6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider 

and employer.

Issued April 2010

Slightly revised April 2011

Why Veterinarians Should 

Continue Their Accreditation 

in the National Veterinary 

Accreditation Program 

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Program Aid No. 2047