Alternate and Graduate Degree Route Training

The Alternate Route  

The Alternate training route is designed to assist veterinary practitioners seeking Diplomate status in the American College of Theriogenologists. These individuals have not completed a formal residency or graduate-training program and so have not had the benefit of a structured approach to a comprehensive review of the discipline of theriogenology, Individuals interested in qualifying as Diplomates through this route need to have a minimum of six years of practice experience with an emphasis in Theriogenology. 

 Each person seeking to become eligible to take the ACT Certifying Examination by the alternative route should have a single designated mentor of record who will be responsible for guiding him/her through the course of study. The role of the mentor will be to help the potential candidate define a proposed course of study to be conducted over the two-year period preceding the applicant taking the qualifying examination. The course of study must be pre-approved by the Executive Board of the ACT. Once the Board has approved the program, the mentor will direct the potential candidate toward information sources and materials to be studied. The mentor will monitor the progress of each individual under his / her supervision. The mentor will be available to answer questions and help the potential candidate assimilate the more difficult material. The mentor’s encouragement and practical experience will help keep the potential candidate motivated to achieve his / her goal. In addition, 8 weeks of direct mentorship (working in person with a mentor) must be completed prior to taking the examination. The mentor can help guide the applicant in arranging appropriate, helpful training experiences. This is a demanding route to certification by the ACT, because interested individuals have additional responsibilities to their practices or industry. Mentors must meet with those under their supervision frequently to ensure that they are progressing in their outlined course of study. Finally, the mentor provides one of the written recommendations to the Executive Board for the potential candidate when he / she applies to take the Certifying Examination. In this final recommendation, the mentor evaluates the progress the individual has made in preparing for the Certifying Examination.

The Graduate Degree Route  

Veterinarians who have completed a graduate degree may be considered as candidates for ACT Diplomate status by the graduate training route. Graduate programs shall include thesis-based (i.e., “Plan A”) Master of Science (MSc or equivalent) and/or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD or equivalent) programs that involve research focused on vertebrate reproduction. A minimum 30% of graduate degree course credits must be in disciplines related to reproduction. The graduate degree may be obtained prior to or after graduating from a college or school of veterinary medicine and obtaining DVM (or equivalent).

Candidates must have a minimum of three (3) years post-DVM experience in addition to MSc degree, or a minimum of one (1) year post-DVM experience in addition to PhD degree. Post- DVM experience may include clinical practice, teaching or research but shall not include any activities performed while enrolled in the graduate program. Post-DVM experience requirements may be completed prior 3 to or after obtaining graduate degree. Trainees must complete a minimum of 52 weeks in an ACT-approved mentored training program, under the mentorship of at least one (1) ACT diplomate or Diplomate of the European College of Animal Reproduction (ECAR) or Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS, Animal Reproduction). The mentored training program may be initiated at any time after obtaining DVM and can overlap with the post-DVM experience requirement. During or after the mentored training program, at least eight (8) weeks must be spent under the direct supervision of Diplomates of the ACT or ECAR or Fellows of the ANZCVS (Animal Reproduction) providing theriogenology clinical service; of these eight (8) weeks, a maximum of six (6) weeks may be spent under any one mentor.

Qualities of a Mentor

The mentor must have a general comprehensive understanding of theriogenology in order for the Mentorship Program to function successfully. The mentor of record can and should direct the potential candidate to other Diplomates of the College for assistance in areas in which the mentor may be less knowledgeable. It is imperative that mentors have access to full-service libraries to supply the necessary references and information to candidates. A mentor must allot time to meet with a potential candidate on a regular basis, to keep attention focused on the study material and to provide the necessary stimulation and encouragement. The ACT wants individuals preparing for the Certifying Examination to understand the information being reviewed, not just to memorize it. The mentor must be honest and forthright with the potential candidate. If time commitment factors or job obligations disrupt the mentor’s responsibilities to this individual, then he / she must be informed immediately and another mentor selected.

Application Requirements

1. A cover letter from the candidate
   • Outlining their interest in becoming an ACT Diplomate and
   • The name and credentials of the proposed mentor
     
     
2. An up-to-date curriculum vita including the applicant's experience in clinical practice with the discipline of theriogenology.
   
   
3.  Proposed study plan (102 weeks for Alternate Route applicants; 52 weeks for Graduate Degree Route applicants)
   
   
4. Alternate Route applicants -  letters from the proposed primary and secondary mentors confirming their willingness to serve in that capacity. Graduate Degree Route applicants - a letter from the proposed primary mentor confirming their willingness to serve in that capacity. 
   
   
5.  Payment of registration fee 

Application packages may be emailed to info@theriogenology.org.  Application deadline is January 31.

Alternate/Graduate Degree Route application fee remittance form - $250

Alternate and Graduate Degree Route Trainees must register with the ACT office prior to beginning a study program. 

Alternate/Graduate Degree Route Progress Report Template

Suggestions from Previous Alternate Route Candidates

The following comments have been provided by previously successful alternate route candidates. They are not requirements nor will all of them apply to every situation. They are provided simply as ideas for the development of a Mentorship program.

1. Don’t necessarily choose a mentor based on similar species or sub-specialty interest. A mentor who can provide assistance in areas of deficiency may be more beneficial.
   
   
2. Begin survey reading prior to making application for the Mentorship Program. This will help to provide a means for estimating the time commitment needed to cover the material.
   
   
3. Identify another individual preparing to take the Certifying Examination. Share material, prepare questions for each other and, if possible, meet for study sessions. This has the potential for being the most rewarding aspect of the program. Individuals with different species interests are typically more helpful to each other.
   
   
4. Select a mentor who can assist you with designing a realistic plan of study and facilitating the procurement of technical material that you do not have at your disposal.
   
   Communication with the same mentor should begin early and be ongoing.
   
   
5. The most suitable mentor may be a Diplomate who has passed the Certifying Examination recently or who is currently closely involved with a theriogenology residency program.
   
   
6. The mentor must make a significant time commitment to meet the needs of the prospective candidate. Therefore, it is important for the mentor to accurately assess the ability and interest of the candidate at the onset prior to accepting this role.
   
   
7. The primary goal of the program should be to assist the potential candidate in attaining a higher level of proficiency in theriogenology regardless of the outcome of the Certifying Examination.
   
   
8. Setting a specific number of times the mentor and candidate will meet, even setting the dates for those meetings at the beginning of the program, may help ensure that they occur. These would be good opportunities to reestablish goals and help the potential candidate stay on track. If the mentor were at a university, these would also serve as good times to review materials not easily available to the candidate, such as slides or journal articles.

Sample Mentorship Program

The following is an example, with some minor modifications, of a mentorship program that was devised by a successful alternate route candidate who, in turn, became a mentor for another potential candidate. This should in no way be construed to be superior to other programs that might be devised, nor is it being endorsed by the ACT as an all-inclusive list of topics that should be covered. The mentor should remember that the program must fit his / her own work schedule.

Consequently, topics might be pursued in different orders for individual mentors to accommodate their teaching / clinical schedules. In addition, an outline of a course of study is only the beginning of a successful program. Ongoing dialogue, whether in person or by phone or e-mail, between the mentor and the potential candidate about current topics, journal articles, continuing education opportunities and other theriogenology-related issues will be important for the success of the program.

Quarter 1

Normal female reproductive anatomy
Normal male reproductive anatomy
Reproductive physiology of the female
Spermatogenesis Bovine theriogenology topics

Quarter 2

Andrology
Reproductive pathology
Cytogenetics
Fertilization
Equine theriogenology topics

Quarter 3

Pregnancy wastage
Female infertility
Urogenital surgery
Equine uterine biopsy
Small ruminant theriogenology topics

Quarter 4

Reproductive anomalies
Reproductive management techniques
Reproductive pharmacology
Nutrition as it pertains to reproduction
Canine and feline theriogenology topics

Quarter 5

Obstetrics
Pregnancy diagnosis and maternal recognition of pregnancy
Embryology and teratology
Parturition
Dystocia
Swine theriogenology topics

Quarter 6

Artificial insemination
Embryo transfer
Other assisted reproductive technologies (IVF, nuclear transfer, etc.)
Review of current literature
Physiology of gestation
Exotic and lab animal theriogenology topics

Quarter 7

Review of current literature
Estrus synchronization
Abortion
Avian and aquatic animal theriogenology topics
Reproductive toxicology

Quarter 8

Review of topics
Review of current literature
For Additional Information

Contact:

Phone: 334-395-4666     
E-mail: info@theriogenology.org