Veterinary Certification in Pet Hospice and Palliative Care

If you’re passionate about providing compassionate end-of-life care to animals and their families, becoming a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV®) or Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Technician (CHPT®) is a great way to elevate your expertise and make a meaningful impact in your field.

IAAHPC Members: Log in and enroll!

The International Animal Hospice and Palliative Care Certification Programs Pave the Way

Our certification program is the first of its kind, beginning in 2016, to certify veterinary professionals in the field of animal hospice and palliative care around the world. Veterinarians can become a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV®) and veterinary technicians can earn the title of Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Technician (CHPT®). This program stands out not only for its unique focus on hospice and palliative care but also for its caliber of instructors who are experts in specialties such as neurology, cardiology, end-of-life care, and pain management.

This comprehensive continuing education curriculum is approved by the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE). It includes approximately 100 hours of coursework designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and nurses in the field of animal hospice and palliative care.

closeup of cat paw being held by human hand

closeup of brown dog looking up at owner while being pet

Join Our Pioneering Certification Program

By completing the IAAHPC Certification Program, you’ll join the ranks of hundreds of certified professionals around the globe who are transforming the field of veterinary hospice and palliative care. Our graduates include specialists, professors, and thriving business owners who are making a meaningful impact on animals and their families every day. This program isn’t just a certification—it’s your gateway to becoming a leader in compassionate end-of-life care.

Why Choose Us?

At the IAAHPC, we pride ourselves on providing top-tier education led by expert instructors who bring a wealth of real-world knowledge and experience to the classroom. Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to equip veterinary professionals with the expertise and confidence needed to navigate the complexities of end-of-life care. Whether you’re looking to deepen your skills or expand your career opportunities, this program offers an unparalleled educational experience tailored to support you in delivering compassionate and comprehensive care to animals and their families during life’s most challenging moments.

How to Get Certified

There are five elements for program completion. By fulfilling these requirements, participants gain a holistic understanding of animal hospice and palliative care to be better equipped to provide compassionate and effective care to animals and their loved ones.

1

On-demand course modules

The CHPV/CHPT program consists of five modules, each covering specific aspects of animal hospice and palliative care.

Module 1: Intro to Animal Hospice & Palliative Care
Module 2: Communication
Module 3: Advanced Animal Hospice & Palliative Care
Module 4: Advanced Pain Management
Module 5: Advanced Euthanasia Techniques

Students will earn over 50 hours of RACE-Approved medical topic CE and more than 20 hours of non-medical topic CE.

2

Continuing Education

Participants are required to submit an additional 20 hours of continuing education hours in addition to completing the on-demand IAAHPC courses. Attending the (IAAHPC) conference is the easiest (and most fun!) way to achieve these hours. Participants may also elect to submit previously obtained hours, certifications, or purchase and view the previous year’s conference recordings.

Advanced euthanasia techniques workshop (optional):

At the biennial IAAHPC conference, an advanced euthanasia techniques workshop is offered. This workshop provides participants with advanced training and techniques related to euthanasia.

3

Live communication workshop

Participants must also take part in the live communication workshop. This workshop may be offered either virtually or in person at the biennial IAAHPC conference. It focuses on enhancing participants’ communication skills in the context of animal hospice and palliative care which is essential for effectively supporting clients and their animals during difficult times.

4

Case report

This case report will be assigned to an independent grader anonymously. The report should be of the caliber that it could be considered for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. For case report specifications, please email certification@iaahpc.org.

5

Final examination

The certification final exam is designed to test a well-defined body of knowledge representative of the current professional practice in animal hospice and palliative care. The online exam consists of a mix of multiple-choice and true/false questions.

Meet our wonderful faculty.

Find your instructor

Commit to Certification

Graduates of the Certification program are awarded the credentials of Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Veterinarian (CHPV®) or Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Technician (CHPT®). These credentials signify the successful completion of the program and demonstrate a commitment to providing exceptional end-of-life care and support to pets and their families. To maintain these credentials, graduates are required to recertify every five years, ensuring their knowledge and skills remain current in this evolving field.

For more information about the program, including recertification requirements, please contact our Program Administrator at certification@iaahpc.org



“It’s so nice as a technician to have a new sense of purpose, and know I can help people and animals in a more meaningful way.”

-Leah Bornhorst, RVT



“It’s a great course. I have recommended it to many people. I love the effort that everyone puts into it and the variety of topics. I honestly didn’t know what to expect so it’s been a pleasant surprise.”

-Lori Themel, DVM, CHPV

To date the IAAHPC has graduated nearly
400 professionals in
over 15 countries!

What graduates are saying

Ready to Enroll?

Set yourself up for success in your certification journey by reviewing the curriculum, tuition and application process below:

View curriculum

Tuition, Application Process and FAQs

I'm all set!