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AMERICAN COLLEGE OF THERIOGENOLOGISTS (ACT) 4 5 6

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General Information Guide (GIG)

Effective January 1, 2021

The information contained in this General Information Guideline (GIG) reflects current procedures and guidelines for individuals interested in certification by the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT or the “College”).

Information contained within the GIG is subservient to the Constitution and Bylaws (CBL) of the

American College of Theriogenologists. ACT policies and procedures are subject to periodic review and changes to the C&BL will automatically be reflected in annual updates to the GIG.

While every reasonable effort has been made to ensure accuracy, Supervising Diplomates and/or candidates should contact the ACT office if questions arise. Supervising Diplomates and/or candidates with concerns about proposed or actual changes that could impact the certification process should contact the ACT office: 17

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American College of Theriogenologists 761 Tiger Oak Drive Pike Road, AL 36064

Phone: (334) 395-4666 Fax: (334) 270-3399 Website: www.theriogenology.org E-mail: charles@franzmgt.com 26

27 TABLE OF CONTENTS 28

A. ABOUT ACT29 A.1. HISTORY OF ACT30

B. GENERAL INFORMATION31 B.1. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS32 B.2. REGISTRATION33 B.3. CREDENTIALING34 B.4. FEES AND DEADLINES35 B.5. NOTIFICATION36

B.6. APPEALS37 B.7. RE-APPLICATION38 B.8. ACT DIPLOMATE CERTIFICATES39

C. TRAINING40 C.1 PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS41 C.2. ACT TRAINING ROUTES42 C.3. SUPERVISION AND MENTORING43 C.4 DEFINITIONS44 C.5. TRAINING REQUIREMENTS45

D. APPLICATION PROCEDURES46 D.1. FORMS, FORMATS AND INSTRUCTIONS47 D.2. CREDENTIALS CHECKLIST48 D.3. PETITION TO CANDIDACY49 D.4. Clinical Skills Self-Assessment50 D.5. Publication51 D.6. Teaching52 D.7. Continuing Education53 D.8. CURRICULUM VITA54 D.9. DIPLOMA, CERTIFICATE OR LICENSE55 D.10. TRANSCRIPT OF GRADUATE STUDIES56 D.11. PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY57 D.12. CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT58 D.13. REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS59 D.14. SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OR PROGRESS LETTER60 D.15. LETTER OF INSTRUCTION FOR REFERENCES61 D.16. SUBMIT CREDENTIALS PACKETS TO ACT OFFICE62

E. EXAMINATION63 E.1. EXAMINATION FORMAT64 E.2. EXAMINATION ADMINISTRATION65 E.3. CANDIDATE ANONYMITY66 E.4. EXAMINATION RESULTS67

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A. ABOUT ACT73 74

HISTORY OF ACT 75 76

The American College of Theriogenologists was created in 1971 to advance 77 knowledge and competence in undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate 78 education, research and clinical service in Theriogenology and: 79

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a. establish a certifying organization to recognize veterinarians as specialists in the discipline of Theriogenology,

b. establish requirements for postgraduate education and experience ` prerequisites to certification as specialists in Theriogenology,

c. examine and certify veterinarians seeking Diplomate status as specialists in Theriogenology,

d. encourage scientific investigation and research. 86 87 88 89 90 91

B. GENERAL INFORMATION GUIDELINES FOR DIPLOMATE CANDIDATES92 93

B.1. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 94 95

ACT Diplomate candidates must fulfill the following general requirements: 96 97

B.1.a. Be a graduate of a college or school of veterinary medicine98 accredited by the AVMA, or possess a certificate issued by either the99 Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or the100 Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Educational Equivalence (PAVE)101 or otherwise be legally qualified to practice veterinary medicine in some102 state, province, territory, or possession of the United States, Canada or103 another country.104 B.1.b. Demonstrate unquestionable moral character and impeccable105 professional behavior.106 B.1.c. Complete the education, training and experience107 requirements of one of the following approved training routes108 after graduating from a college or school of veterinary109 medicine110

B.1.c.1 Residency Training Route – candidates must111 have completed minimum of one (1) year of clinical112 practice or a one year internship followed by113 satisfactory completion of a minimum of two (2)114 additional years training in an American College of115 Theriogenologists -approved residency program.116

117 B.1.c.2 Alternate Training Route – Veterinarians from118 private practice, academic programs, graduate study119 programs, industry, and other areas may be120 considered as candidates for ACT Diplomate status by121 the alternate route.122

Alternate route candidates must have completed a 123 minimum of six (6) years post-graduate (DVM or 124 equivalent) experience with a major emphasis in 125 Theriogenology including completion of a minimum of 126 104 weeks in a mentorship program approved by the 127 American College of Theriogenologists. (see 128 additional specific requirements for each training route 129 in other sections of this document). 130

131 B.1.d. Submit acceptable credentials as described in this General132 information Guideline to the College.133 B.1.e. Successfully pass the Certifying Examination of the College of134 Theriogenologists135

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B.2 REGISTRATION140 141

B.2.a Trainee Registration142 143

Candidates intending to apply for certification with the College must register with 144 the ACT office within 90 days of the initiation of an approved training route and pay 145 a one-time registration fee. Registration in an approved program is required to 146 ensure a trainee’s program conforms to the training requirements. Failure to 147 register or a delay in registration can jeopardize a trainee’s certification process. 148

149 The requirements specified in the GIG at the time of registration will apply for the 150 duration of the trainee’s certification process.151

152 B.2.a.1 Residency (“Standard” or “Traditional”) Training Route –153 Residency Route Trainees must register with the ACT office within154 ninety (90) days after starting their training program.155

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B.2.a.2 Alternate Route Training Route157

B.2.a.2.i. Alternate Route Trainees must submit a plan of study158 for review with the ACT office at least 90 days prior to159 beginning the 104-week mentored study program. Proposed160 study programs should be turned in to the ACT office by the161 deadline established annually by the Theriogenology162 Credentialing Committee (TCC) and ACT Executive Board and163 posted annually on the website (see Theriogenology.org).164

B.2.a.2.ii. Proposed study programs will be reviewed and165 feedback provided to candidates within 4 weeks following the166 posted deadlines.167 B.2.a.2.iii. The proposed plan of study must include a cover168 letter in which the candidate specifically describes how they169 propose to fulfill requirements outlined in GIG section C. The170 personalized proposed study program must contain adequate171 details describing how the mentor will be involved in guiding172 preparation and study.173

B.2.a.2.iv. Two letters of support/recommendation must 174 accompany the plan of study. One must be from an active 175 Diplomate of the ACT willing to serve as the primary mentor for 176 the candidate’s alternate route training program; The second 177 letter may be from an ACT Diplomate, a Diplomate of the 178 European College of Animal Reproduction (ECAR), or Fellow of 179 the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists 180 (ANZCVS, Animal Reproduction, willing to serve as the secondary 181 mentor overseeing the candidate’s alternate route training 182 program. 183

184 B.2.b Training Program Registration 185 186

B.2.b.i The ACT Program Director (see section C.4.a.) for trainees in the 187 Residency Training Route, or the primary mentor for trainees in the 188 Alternate Route, must submit one program registration form per 189 institution to the ACT office for review and written approval at least ninety 190 (90) days prior to a trainee beginning training program. ). Review of new 191 program applications may take up to 3 months following submission. 192

193 B.2.b.ii Residency programs previously approved, currently active, or 194 having had an actively enrolled resident within the past two years, are not 195 required to re-register with enrollment of each new resident, unless there 196 are significant changes within the program or within the GIG that would 197 disqualify that program from approval for future residents. 198

199 The Theriogenology Credentialing Committee (TCC) will review 200 program registration submissions and present recommendations 201 to the ACT Executive Board for acceptance or rejection of 202 programs based on compliance with program requirements 203

204 B.2.b.iii Registration forms for each of the respective routes (Residency 205 Training or Alternate routes) are available on the ACT website 206 (www.Theriogenology.org). 207 Trainees and Program Directors and Primary Mentors are responsible for 208 obtaining all forms from the ACT website (www.theriogenology.org) and 209 submission of completed forms to the Executive Director of the College. 210 Candidates, Program Directors, or Primary Mentors will be notified of 211 deficiencies by the office of the Executive Director, the TCC, or the ACT 212 Executive Board. 213

214 B.3 CREDENTIALING 215

216 B.3.a Credentials Packet Submission 217

B.3.a.1 In order to be considered for the next Certifying Examination, a 218 credentials packet, including a Petition to Candidacy and all supporting 219 materials described herein, and the appropriate application fee must be 220 submitted to the ACT office, no later than the deadline for the annual exam 221 cycle posted on the website (www.theriogenology.org) The TCC may choose to 222 reject applications received after the posted deadline. The TCC may choose to 223 reject incomplete credentials packets. 224

B.3.a.2 Credentials materials may be submitted electronically or as a printed 225 copy. 226 B.3.a.3 Candidates should review the Application Procedures in this GIG for 227 specific requirements and contact the ACT office with questions. 228

229 B.3.b Credentials Review 230 The TCC will review application packets and present recommendations to the 231 ACT Executive Board for acceptance or rejection based on compliance with 232 candidacy requirements. 233

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B.4 FEES AND DEADLINES 236 B4.a. Payment of the credentialing fee must accompany the credentials packet 237 and be accompanied by an Applicants Fees Remittance Form. Credentials packets 238 received without proper payment in U.S. funds drawn on U.S. banks will not be 239 processed. 240 B4.b The Executive board periodically reviews and revises the fee schedule. A 241 current fee schedule can be found on the ACT website (www.theriogenology.org). 242 Fees are non-refundable. 243

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B.5 NOTIFICATION 248 B.5.a Receipt of Credentials Packet249

The ACT office will acknowledge receipt of an applicant’s credentials packet via a 250 message sent to the email address provided within 14 days of arrival. The email 251 message only confirms receipt of the credentials packet and does not imply 252 acceptance. 253 B.5.b Candidacy 254 Applicants submitting packets will be notified of their credentialing status by March 255 15. Applicants whose credentials are accepted become candidates to take the next 256 Certifying Examination. Candidates planning to take the next scheduled examination 257 must submit the examination fee to the ACT office by the posted deadline (see ACT 258 website: www.theriogenology.org). 259

B.5.b.1 Applicants failing to meet all credentialing requirements may 260 re-apply the following year by submitting an updated credentials 261 packet and appropriate re-application fee. Re-application fee is due in 262 the ACT office by the posted deadline (see ACT website: 263 www.theriogenology.org). 264

B.5.c Examination Results 265 Candidates will be notified of their examination results no later than ninety (90) 266 days following the examination. 267

268 B.6 APPEALS 269

D.6.a. Appeals Committee 270 An affected party has the right to appeal adverse decisions by the College. As 271 described in the Bylaws, the Executive Board annually appoint an Appeals 272 Committee charged with review of any Petition for Reconsideration filed by an 273 affected party parties. The process for appeals is described in the Constitution and 274 Bylaws of the ACT. 275

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B.7 RE-APPLICATION277 B.7.a Procedure for Re-Application after Credentialing Failure278 Applicants failing to meet credentialing requirements may re-apply the279 following year by submitting an updated credentials packet and the280 appropriate re- application fee. The re-application fee is required and due in281 the ACT office by the posted deadline (see ACT website).282 B.7.b Procedure for Re-Application following Examination Failure283

Candidates failing to successfully complete the Certifying Examination are284 entitled to sit a future examination(s) with the following stipulations.285

B.7.b.i Candidates may retake the examination up to two times (i.e., a286 total of three (3) attempts to pass the Certifying Examination) within the287 two years following their first unsuccessful attempt without repetitioning288 the Executive Board,289 B.7.b.ii Unsuccessful candidates not retaking the exam within two (2)290

years following their first unsuccessful attempt must repetition the291 Executive Board to again be accepted to take the Certifying Examination.292 The reapplication packet must be complete, following requirements293 outlined in section C. To be approved to take the exam, the candidate294 must complete all requirements of the GIG in place at the time of their295 re-petition.296

B.7.iii. Candidates re-sitting the exam must submit the appropriate297 examination fee in order to retake the Certifying Examination. The298 examination fee must be received by ACT office by the posted deadline299 (see ACT website: www.theriogenology.org).300

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B.7.c Procedures for Re-Application after failing to take the CertifyingExaminationCandidates whose credentials are accepted but who fail to take the CertifyingExamination within two (2) years of acceptance will be required to reapply totake the examination (see section D) and submit an appropriate reapplicationfee. Reapplication fee must be received by ACT office by the posted deadline(see ACT website).308

309 B.8. ACT DIPLOMATE CERTIFICATES310

D.8.a Issuance of ACT Diplomate Certificates311 A candidate only becomes a Diplomate upon completion of all requirements in the312 GIG and will be so notified by the ACT office. ACT Diplomate Certificates may not be313 awarded until all requirements are met. Certificates shall be awarded at a time and314 place, and in a manner determined appropriate by the ACT Executive Board.315

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C. TRAINING317 318

C.1. Training Program Requirements 319 C.1.a Facilities Requirements320

C.1.a.i Medical library: Access to a library containing recent textbooks and321 current journals relating to theriogenology and its supporting disciplines must be322 accessible. Online access or use of a “virtual library” is acceptable.323

C.1.a.ii Medical records: A complete and retrievable medical records324 system must be maintained.325 C.1.a.iii Imaging services: Appropriate diagnostic imaging equipment326 must be available.327

C.1.a.iv Clinical pathology: Clinical pathology services must be available on 328 site or otherwise readily accessible.329 C.1.a.v Anatomic pathology: Gross pathologic examination and330 histopathologic examination of surgical and necropsy tissues must be331 available either on site or otherwise readily accessible.332 C.1.a.vi Surgical facilities: The operative suite must be consistent with current333 concepts of aseptic surgery and standard of care* for services provided.*334 Access to a referral facility meeting these specifications is acceptable.335 C.1.a.vii Anesthesia and anesthesia monitoring: The ability to provide336 anesthesia appropriate to meet the standard of care* for the cases managed337 at the facility must be available. Access to a referral facility providing these338 services is acceptable.339

340 *NOTE: Standard of care is defined as the degree of care and skill of the average health care341 provider who practices in the provider’s specialty, taking into account the medical knowledge342 that is available in the field.343

C.2 ACT Training Routes344 345

C.2.a Residency route training346

C.2.a.i A Residency Training Program shall consist of a minimum of (104347 weeks)* of supervised training and clinical experience in the science and348 practice of theriogenology and supporting disciplines under the direction349 of at least one (1) ACT Diplomate, or a Diplomate of the European350 College of Animal Reproduction (ECAR), or a Fellow of the Australian and351 New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS, Animal352 Reproduction), who participates actively in the residency training353 program;354

C.2.a.ii At least 8 weeks of the training program must include co-355 supervision by a second Diplomate of the ACT, ECAR, or Fellow of the356 ANZCVS (Animal Reproduction).357 C.2.a.iii During the 104-week program at least 60 weeks must358 be spent providing theriogenology clinical service under the359 direction of a Diplomate of the ACT or ECAR or Fellow of the360 ANZCVS (Animal Reproduction).361 C.2.a.iv During the 104-week program, adequate time, up to 12 weeks,362 should be provided for activities outside of clinical duty, which may363 include research, manuscript preparation, teaching, graduate studies,364 continuing education, special rotations, or board study preparation.365

366 *NOTE: A week is generally defined as equivalent to 5 working days.367

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C.2.b. Alternate route training370 C.2.b.i Candidates for the Alternate Route Training Program must have371 completed minimum of six (6) years of post-graduate (DVM or372 equivalent) experience with a major emphasis in Theriogenology prior to373 sitting the exam, and must have successfully completed an ACT-approved374 alternate route mentored training program.375

C.2.b.ii The mentored training program shall consist of a minimum of376 104 weeks (2 years) of mentored training in the science and practice of377 theriogenology and supporting disciplines under the mentorship of at378 least two (2) ACT Diplomates, or Diplomates of the European College of379

Animal Reproduction (ECAR), or Fellows of the Australian and New 380 Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS, Animal Reproduction), 381 who participate actively in the training program. One of these mentors 382 shall serve as the primary mentor and the other as a secondary mentor. 383 C.2.b.ii Prior to or during the mentored training program, the candidate384 shall spend at least eight (8) weeks* receiving training in clinically385 relevant techniques under the supervision** of Diplomates of the ACT,386 or ECAR, or Fellows of the ANZCVS (Animal Reproduction). The eight (8)387 weeks of clinical training experiences must be verified by a letter from388 the mentoring Diplomate or Fellow, and submitted with the application389 packet390

391 *NOTE: The 8 weeks of training may be supervised by the primary or392 secondary mentors, or other qualified supervisor.393 **Supervision means that the mentor should be closely involved and394 working with the trainee.395 **The eight (8) weeks of supervision may be gained prior to or after396 registration of the Alternate Route Training Program with the ACT but397 must occur following graduation from veterinary school.398

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C.2.c Trainee Responsibilities401 The degree of responsibility assumed by the Trainee shall be appropriate 402 to the nature of the theriogenology procedure and training experience. A 403 Trainee in a residency or alternate route program should have 404 experience with: 405

Receiving appointments and obtaining history and pertinent406 information from clients.407

Supervising daily case management in clinic or on farm.408

Performance of clinical procedures.409

Clinical teaching when/if veterinary students are present.410

Providing prompt professional communications with411 clients and colleagues.412

413 C.2.d Supervisor Responsibilities414 The Supervisor of a trainee shall be responsible for providing the trainee415 with the tools, experience, and knowledge base appropriate for an ACT416 Diplomate candidate.417

418 C.3 SUPERVISION AND MENTORING419

420 C.3.a Residency (“Standard” or “Traditional”) Training Program421 An ACT approved residency training route program shall include two (2) Diplomates422 of either the American College of Theriogenologists, OR European College of Animal423 Reproduction, OR a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary424 Scientists (Animal Reproduction).425

426 C.3.b Alternate Route Training Program427 An ACT approved alternate route study and mentorship program shall include two428 (2) Diplomates of either the American College of Theriogenologists OR European429 College of Animal Reproduction OR a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand430

College of Veterinary Scientists (Animal Reproduction). One of these mentors will 431 designated as the primary mentor and the other as the secondary mentor. 432

433 C.4 DEFINITIONS RELATING TO ACT TRAINING ROUTES434

C.4.a ACT Training Program Director*435

An ACT Training Program Director for ACT approved residency programs shall436 be a Diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists, OR the437 European College of Animal Reproduction, OR a Fellow of the Australia New438 Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (Animal Reproduction), and is439 responsible for overseeing an ACT Residency program at a given site.*440

C.4.a.i There shall be only one ACT Training Program Director at any site.441 C.4.a.ii The ACT office will direct all correspondence concerning the training442 program at a site to the ACT Training Program Director. The ACT Training443 Program Director is responsible for disseminating information to the appropriate444 individuals (e.g. trainees and training advisers).445 C.4.a.iii It is the Program Director’s responsibility to notify ACT of relevant446 changes in a program related to the requirements for training programs included447 in the GIG. Failure to notify ACT will place the residency training program in448 jeopardy of loss of approval.449 * An ACT Training Program Director may serve as both the Program Director and450 the Training Adviser if necessary.451

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C.4.b ACT Training Advisor*454

A Training Advisor supervises a trainee’s ACT training program and signs all455 documentation submitted by their trainee verifying completion of approved456 program requirements. A Training Advisor shall be a Diplomate of either the457 American College of Theriogenologists, OR the European College of Animal458 Reproduction, OR a Fellow of the Australia New Zealand College of Veterinary459 Scientists (Animal Reproduction). *460

*An ACT Training Program Director may serve as both the Program461

Director and the Training Adviser if necessary. 462

463 C.5 TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL TRAINEES464

Documentation must be submitted before training requirements will be considered 465 completed. (See Application Procedures) 466 C.5.a Clinical Skills467 Each Trainee must submit a self-assessment of relevant clinical activities in which468 he/she participated during the training program. (See appendix for example of469 clinical skills self-assessment)470 NOTE: Clinical skills self-assessment is not equivalent to a case log requirement)471 C.5.b Publication472 Each trainee must publish one (1) peer reviewed or otherwise referred manuscript473 related to the discipline of Theriogenology. The trainee must be the first author of474 the manuscript. Publications may be original research, a clinical case report, or an475 in depth review article. Abstracts are not acceptable to fulfill this requirement.476 (See appendix for additional publication specifics)477

C.5.b.i Trainees may be allowed to sit the certifying examination prior478 to proof of publication, but Diplomate certificates shall not be issued479 until proof of publication or acceptance for publication is provided to the480 ACT.481

C.5.b.ii Manuscripts must have been published or accepted for482 publication prior to November 1 of the fifth year following successful483 completion of the Certifying Examination to fulfill the publication484 requirement and allow the candidate to become an ACT diplomate.485 C.5.b.iii Proof of publication must be submitted to the ACT office by486 November 1 in the fifth year following successful completion of the487 Certifying Examination in order for a candidate to fulfill the publication488 requirement and become an ACT diplomate.489

C.5.c Teaching490 During the training program, at least one presentation/lecture in the field of491 Theriogenology must be given to a veterinary or veterinary student group.492 Examples of acceptable presentations/lectures include veterinary undergraduate or493 graduate courses or local, regional/ national/international continuing education494 meetings.495 C.5.d Continuing Education496 A minimum of 30 hours Continuing Education pertaining to the field of497 Theriogenology must be completed during the training program and within498 the two years immediately prior to taking the certifying examination. A499 “unit” of CE shall be defined as at least 45 minutes of instruction from one500 of the following sources:501

a. National or international scientific meetings502 b. Meetings or webinars approved for CE credit by a regulatory503

licensing board with jurisdiction in that area504 c. Other formal continuing education activities pre-approved by505

the Training and Credentialing Committee506 507

D. APPLICATION PROCEDURES508 D.1. FORMS, FORMATS AND INSTRUCTIONS509 Applicants are responsible for following all application instructions and procedures as well as510 using all required forms and formats to prepare their credentials packet. All items submitted511 as part of an applicant’s credentials packet must be in the English language. See the512 appendix for examples and templates.513 D.2. CREDENTIALS CHECKLIST514 Applicants shall use this checklist to ensure all required items are submitted in their515 credentials packet. Incomplete packets will not be approved. The checklist must be516 completed, signed and submitted in the credentials packet according to posted517 instructions on the ACT website. Receipt of materials should be confirmed with the ACT518 office.519 D.3 PETITION TO CANDIDACY520

Applicants will complete and sign the Petition to Candidacy and include it with their521 credentials packet. Receipt of materials should be confirmed with the ACT office.522 D.4 Clinical Skills Self-Assessment523

Applicants will complete a clinical skills self-assessment form for each species and524 include it with the credentials packet. Receipt of materials should be confirmed with525 the ACT office.526

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D.5 PublicationApplicants will submit a completed Publication/Teaching form and a copy of one (1) first author, peer reviewed, manuscript or a copy of a first author manuscript and a letter of acceptance for print from the editorial office. No Diplomate certificate shall be issued prior to receiving acceptable proof of publication. When available, proof of publication should be included in the credentials packet.D.6 Teaching 533

Applicants will submit a completed Publication/Teaching form providing evidence of 534 presentation/lecture and include a course or meeting schedule indicating date of 535 presentation and name of presenter. Receipt of materials should be confirmed with the 536 ACT office. 537 D.7 Continuing Education538 Applicant are required to submit a completed Continuing Education form in their539 credentials packet with evidence of attendance in accordance with the instructions in540 the appendix and on the ACT website (Theriogenonlogy.org) Receipt of materials541 should be confirmed with the ACT office.542 D.8 CURRICULUM VITA543 Applicants required to submit a current curriculum vita in their credentials packet. Vita544 must adhere to the example format provided in the appendix and posted on the ACT545 website (Theriogenology.org). Receipt of materials should be confirmed with the ACT546 office.547

548 D.9 DIPLOMA, CERTIFICATE OR LICENSE549 Applicants shall submit a copy of one of the following:550

a. A Diploma or certificate verifying graduation from a college or school551

of veterinary medicine accredited by the AVMA552

b. A copy of a certificate issued by the Educational Commission for553

Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG)554

c. A copy of a certificate issued by the Program for the Assessment of555

Veterinary Educational Equivalence (PAVE)556

d. A copy of a license to practice veterinary medicine in a state, province,557

territory, or possession of the United States, Canada or another558

country.559 The copy of the diploma, certificate or license must be included in the applicant’s 560

credentials packet. The copy may be submitted as a hard copy or electronically in a PDF file. 561 Receipt of materials should be confirmed with the ACT office. 562

563 D.10 TRANSCRIPT OF GRADUATE STUDIES564 Applicants will submit as a part of their credentials packet a transcript of all graduate studies565 completed as a part of their approved training route program. Supporting documents (see566 Petition for Candidacy form) will be submitted according to posted instructions in the567 appendix or on the ACT website. Receipt of materials should be confirmed with the ACT568 office.569 D.11 PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY570 Applicants will submit a one-half page personal biography in their credentials packet. The571 biography will be submitted according to posted instructions in the appendix or on the ACT572 website. Receipt of materials should be confirmed with the ACT office.573 D.12 CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT574 Applicants will complete, sign and submit a Confidentiality Agreement in their credentials575 packet. Agreement will be submitted according to posted instructions in the appendix or on576 the ACT website. Receipt of materials should be confirmed with the ACT office.577 D.13 REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS578 The ACT complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). To ensure equal579 opportunities for all qualified persons, the ACT will make reasonable accommodations for580 candidates when appropriate.581

D.13.a I f an applicant requires special accommodations related to a disability in582 order to take the Certifying Examination, he/she must complete the request form and583 submit it with his/her credentials packet. The form should be submitted according to584

posted instructions in the appendix and on the ACT website. Receipt of materials 585 should be confirmed with the ACT office. 586 D.13.b The ACT reserves the right to require appropriate documentation, as allowed 587 by the ADA, of the candidate’s need for accommodations. 588

D.14 SATISFACTORY COMPLETION OR PROGRESS LETTER 589 Applicants will obtain a letter from their Training Advisor attesting to the applicant’s 590 satisfactory completion of or progress to date in their approved training program. The 591 Training Advisor will provide a synopsis of the applicant’s activities in preparing for the 592 examination, paying particular attention to how the applicant satisfactorily completed, or 593 failed to satisfactorily complete, the proposed study program. 594

The applicant will provide their training advisor a copy of the Letter to Training Advisors 595 and request a letter be prepared in the format indicated. The training advisor may place the 596 letter in a sealed envelope, sign over the sealed flap and give it to the applicant, or submit 597 letter directly to the ACT office electronically. Receipt of the email should be verified by the 598 ACT office. The letter should be included in the applicant’s credentials packet when submitted 599 as a printed copy. 600 D.15 LETTER OF INSTRUCTION FOR REFERENCES 601 Applicants will obtain a Letter of Reference from two (2) ACT Diplomates other than their 602 Training Advisor. Applicants will provide those Diplomates with the Letter of Instruction for 603 References and ask them to prepare a letter of reference in the format requested. Each 604 Diplomate may place his/her letter in a sealed envelope, sign over the sealed flap and give it 605 to the applicant. The letters of reference must be included in their credentials packet when 606 submitted as a printed copy. Alternatively, the Diplomates may send the letters 607 electronically to the ACT office. Receipt of the email should be verified by the ACT office. 608

609 D.16 SUBMISSION OF CREDENTIALS PACKETS TO ACT OFFICE 610 Completed credentials packets will be submitted to the ACT office at the following address, 611

612 American College of Theriogenologists 613 761 Tiger Oak Drive 614 Pike Road, AL 36064 615

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E. EXAMINATION 617 All candidates seeking certification as an ACT Diplomate must take and pass a 618 comprehensive examination in Theriogenology. The certifying examination is prepared by 619 the ACT Certifying Examination Committee appointed by the ACT Executive Board. 620

621 E.1. EXAMINATION FORMAT 622

The Certifying Examination consists of multiple choice questions, essay/short answer 623 questions and questions based on images 624

E.2. EXAMINATION ADMINISTRATION 625 The Certifying Examination is administered no more than once each year, but is 626 administered at least once during each two (2) year period in accordance with the 627 constitution and by-laws of the ACT. 628 E.3. CANDIDATE ANONYMITY 629 Candidate anonymity will be strictly maintained throughout the examination and 630 grading period. 631 E.4. EXAMINATION RESULTS 632 Results are reported in accordance with the constitution and by-laws of the ACT. 633

634 635 636 637