Course overview:
The Certified Companion Animal Palliative and End-of-Life Care for Veterinary Technicians course prepares veterinary technicians to effectively support veterinarians providing compassionate hospice care. The lectures highlight the technician’s crucial role, emphasizing integrative care, quality-of-life assessments, comfort care techniques, and emotional support for caregivers and their pets during end-of-life.
Course objectives:
Upon completion, participants will be able to:
- Explain core principles of hospice and palliative care.
- Recognize and fulfill the veterinary technician’s essential role on hospice care teams.
- Utilize integrative care approaches, including TCVM and Tui-Na, to enhance patient comfort.
- Apply effective nursing strategies tailored to common diseases in end-of-life care.
- Identify appropriate medications, assistive devices, and comfort care practices.
- Assist sensitively in euthanasia procedures and caregiver aftercare.
- Acknowledge emotional burdens of caregivers and implement personal self-care practices.
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Admission requirements
Credentialed veterinary technician OR successful completion of a 2-year veterinary technician program OR veterinary assistant with at least 5 years experience in a small animal veterinary clinical setting.
Letter of recommendation from a licensed veterinarian certified in TCVM (Acupuncture, Tui-na, Herbal medicine or Food Therapy) or currently attending courses for certification in TCVM. The letter of recommendation should briefly detail your relationship to the veterinarian writing it, why you would be a good candidate for the class, and how it would benefit you and your clinic. There is no length requirement, but one half to one full page is suggested.
Certified Companion Animal Palliative and End-of -Life Care for Vet Techs
Taught in English
Veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants only
16 RACE-approved CE hours(Pending Approval)
Prerequisites
Prerequisites
Students must:
- Credentialed veterinary technician OR successful completion of a 2-year veterinary technician program OR veterinary assistant with at least 5 years experience in a small animal veterinary clinical setting.
- Letter of recommendation from a licensed veterinarian certified in TCVM (Acupuncture, Tui-na, Herbal medicine or Food Therapy) or currently attending courses for certification in TCVM. The letter of recommendation should briefly detail your relationship to the veterinarian writing it, why you would be a good candidate for the class, and how it would benefit you and your clinic. There is no length requirement, but one half to one full page is suggested.
Curriculum
Companion Animal Palliative and End-of -Life Care for Vet Techs
Introduction to Hospice and Palliative Care
1h
End-of-Life and Palliative Care Teams
1h
Importance of Environmental Enrichment
1h
Quality of Life and Pain Assessments
1h
What is TCVM and How is it Used in Palliative Care?
1h
Nursing Care Tips for Common Diseases Part I (includes Tui-Na techniques)
1h
Nursing Care Tips for Common Diseases Part II
1h
Common Pharmaceuticals & Non-pharmaceuticals Prescribed by Veterinarians
1h
Assistive Devices
1h
Physical Medicine
1h
Factors influence Euthanasia & Overview Euthanasia Techniques used by Veterinarians
1h
Comfort Care During the Dying Process
1h
Patient Aftercare and Client Support
1h
Self Care - Preserving Jing
1h
Case Studies
2h
Certification
CCAPEVT Certification
1. Completion of 16 hours of lectures
2. Textbook reading assignments “Hospice and Palliative Care for Companion Animals”
- Chapter 3, The Interdisciplinary Team, pages 16-25
- Chapter 7, Ethical Decision Making, pages 76-93
- Chapter 25, Caregiver’s Emotional Burden 335-347
- Chapter 26, Caregiver Burden in the Companion Animal Owner 349-357
3. Passing grade of 75% on final exam
4. 3 page essay submission on one of 2 topic choices:
- Case study on a palliative or end-of-life patient (see example provided)
- Comfort care techniques for patients (see outline provided)
- CCAPEVT (Certified Companion Animal Palliative and End-of -Life Care Veterinary Technician): For the student who is a Registered Veterinary Technician, Licensed Veterinary Technician or Certified Veterinary Technician.
- CCAPEVA (Certified Companion Animal Palliative and End-of -Life Care Veterinary Assistant): For the student who is NOT a Registered Veterinary Technician, Licensed Veterinary Technician or Certified Veterinary Technician.
- Note: A CCAPEVA holder can update their certificate to CCAPEVT once they become a Registered Veterinary Technician, Licensed Veterinary Technician or Certified Veterinary Technician.
Textbooks
Instructors
Tamara Shearer
DVM, MSTCVM, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, CHPV, CTPEP
Dr. Tamara Shearer graduated from the Ohio State University with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree in 1986. She is certified in veterinary acupuncture, Chinese veterinary herbal medicine, veterinary tui-na, and veterinary food therapy through Chi. Dr. Shearer is internationally renowned for her work in animal hospice and palliative care. She is one of the leading veterinarians in the world who helped develop and specializes in hospice, palliative care and pain management.
Kathleen Ann Cooney
DVM, MS, CHPV, CPEV, DACAW
Dr. Kathleen Cooney has been practicing advanced end-of-life care since 2006. Dr. Cooney is Senior Director of Medical Education for the Companion Animal Euthanasia Training Academy (CAETA). She is well-known for her work in companion animal euthanasia and has authored three books on the subject, along with numerous articles and book chapters. Dr. Cooney has collaborated in end-of-life education/training for the AVMA, AAHA, NAVC, IAAHPC, the Fear Free Program, and many more. She is a strong advocate for best practices in all aspects of end-of-life care and speaks nationally and internationally on such topics. Dr. Cooney is board certified in Animal Welfare and Adjunct Faculty at Colorado State University, where she teaches end-of-life topics and animal welfare. Her commitment to veterinary education and improving the human-animal bond has made her a significant figure in advocating for responsible and empathetic treatment of animals at the end of their lives. She is also the designer of CAETA’s Peaceful Euthanasia certification program, providing valuable educational opportunities for veterinary professionals.
Jeanette Wilson
DVM, CVA, CVCH, CVTP, CVFT, CTCVMP, CTPET
Dr. Jeanette Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts from SUNY New Paltz and her DVM from Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After veterinary school she completed a rotating small animal & emergency internship at SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists & Emergency Center where she experienced firsthand the benefits of acupuncture & TCVM in a specialty setting. In 2018, she became a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). She currently holds certifications in all Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine branches and is a Certified TCVM Palliative & End-of-Life Care Practitioner. Dr. Jeanette has practiced exclusive hospice & palliative care for the last 10 years and has found that TCVM compliments this patient population beautifully. She is currently pursuing her Master of Science in TCVM through Chi University and plans to focus her thesis project on the benefits of incorporating TCVM into pet hospice & palliative care.
Enrollment Options
Semester
2025
Schedule & Tuition
Companion Animal Palliative and End-of -Life Care for Vet Techs
Online
Jun 16 - Sep 15, 2025
$750.00
Payment Information
A $100.00 non-refundable course deposit is charged upon enrollment to reserve your seat.
Payment is due 30 days before the start date of each session, course, or event.
Add-ons
CCAPEVT Certification
$150.00