1. Options for Animals (USA)
2. Options for Animals (UK)
3. Backbone Academy (Germany)
4. Backbone Academy (Australia)

1. Licensed veterinarian (DVM) or chiropractor (DC)
2. Complete an IVCA-approved postgraduate animal chiropractic program
3. Successfully pass the IVCA certification exam
4. Complete IVCA CPD requirements
5. Maintain membership through annual renewal

€125 per year

IVCA membership follows a calendar year (January 1–December 31).
All memberships renew at the beginning of each calendar year on January 1st, regardless of your join date.

Online payment only:

1. Credit card
2. Apple Pay
3. PayPal
4. Giropay

1. IVCA Certification Development and exam administration
2. Continued Professional Development CE approval and provider
3. Maintaining certified provider’s renewal records and IVCA certified public database.
4. Development and maintain high professional standards of communication through our online platforms
5. Inspection, maintenance and accreditation of approved animal chiropractic education programs
6. Member communication and global network information provider
7. Professional education material and resources 
8. IVCA funded research and development initiatives
9. IVCA funded member workshop and lecture opportunities
10. Support legislative advocacy, provide official documents and statements to support our members

IVCA certification is an ongoing professional credential requiring continued education and renewal every three years to be considered an IVCA-certified provider.

Completion of an IVCA-approved program provides a “certificate of completion” and is not a practitioner who should claim they are IVCA-certified.

Only those who qualify and pass the IVCA-certification exam and maintain its requirements through continuing education renewals are recognized as “IVCA-certified practitioners.”

No.
Your IVCA certification needs to be active to be considered IVCA-certified.

IVCA HQ maintains the registry of all IVCA certified providers.

IVCA consistently responds to inquiries from the public, professionals, and regulatory authorities to verify certification status and address questions about our professional standards.

30 CPD hours every three years:

1. Minimum 10 hours animal chiropractic-specific
2. Up to 20 hours from relevant DVM or DC education

Yes.
Up to 20 hours may be accepted from relevant veterinary or chiropractic continuing education.

Yes.
Online and home study courses may be submitted for review by the IVCA Continuing Education Committee.

Yes.

Relevant veterinary or chiropractic education may be submitted for review.
A portion of these hours may include home study, independent learning, or internship-related experience, subject to committee approval.

No.
Only 10 of the 30 required hours must be IVCA-approved animal chiropractic education.
The remaining 20 hours may be “relevant professional courses” either DVM or DC continuing education hours you may have achieved through DVM or DC license renewal within your jurisdiction, “relevant to animal chiropractic” hours will be approved. 

Yes.
Examples include lectures, workshops, and instructional roles.
Documentation must be submitted for review.

Yes.
Relevant animal chiropractic coursework may be submitted for review. 

No.
Membership requires maintaining your certification by submitting your continuing education hours every three years.

1.  Membership is no longer active

Certification is no longer considered active

Yes.
Reinstatement applicants are reviewed case-by-case by the IVCA Board in order to determine required documentation and fees that may apply.

Certification cannot be renewed without completing CPD requirements.
The practitioner will not be listed as actively IVCA-certified.

Written notice must be submitted to contact@ivca.de before January 1st, the new calendar year. If your written (email) notice is not received by January 1st, your yearly membership dues for the next year will be payable due to IVCA until written (email) termination is submitted.

1. A certificate confirms completion of a training program, e.g. Certificate of completion of your IVCA approved animal chiropractic education program. 
2. Certification confirms a professional standard, long-term competency in both skill and knowledge and requires ongoing renewal to maintain active certification status in a specialized field.

The International Certification Commission for Animal Chiropractic, (ICCAC) is completely separate commission yet affiliated organization to the IVCA. 

1. Reviews applications, approves, accredits and renews animal chiropractic education programs
2. Develops and administers the IVCA certification examinations
3. Establishes and maintains the animal chiropractic education standards on a global scale

ICCAC:

1. Education standards
2. Examination development

IVCA:

1. Membership administration
2. Certification renewal maintenance
3. Continuing education oversight
4. Maintains practitioner registry
5. Member communication and advocacy
6. Research and Development 

Terminology in animal care varies globally, and certain titles such as “veterinary,” “doctor,” and “chiropractor” are legally protected licenses in some jurisdictions. As a result, not all practitioners are permitted to use these terms in practice, depending on their licensure and local regulations.

No.
Course completion provides a certificate. IVCA certification requires passing the IVCA examination and ongoing CPD for certification renewals to remain current and actively certified.

Animal chiropractic originated out of human chiropractic philosophy and methodology and is not available within a formal veterinary education.

IVCA certification confirms formal training and competency, without this distinction, care is more accurately described as manual therapy, osteopathy and physiotherapy

“IVCA-certified animal chiropractic” carries a defined professional responsibility, regardless of your rights to treat animals.

IVCA is not a regulatory body and does not enforce scope-of-practice laws.
If an individual incorrectly claims IVCA certification, IVCA may reach out to the provider in question and request clarification or correction.

IVCA is a standard of education and certification organization.
Its role is to establish standards, support education, and maintain certification, not to act as a legal or lobbying body.

IVCA is not a lobbying or regulatory body and does not directly engage or fund legislative or legal activities.

IVCA provides documentation and responds to inquiries related to IVCA’s professional standards. IVCA collaborates with organizations involved in advocacy efforts.

IVCA will connect members with relevant contacts and resources to support advocacy within their local regions and encourage active member involvement in advancing animal chiropractic recognition and legislation.