Certificate Programs

New veterinarians entering equine practice must have immediate proficiency in handling horses, providing medical and surgical care and navigating the broader industry landscape. With the large equine population in Texas and the increasing demand for veterinarians who not only provide clinical care but also possess a comprehensive understanding of the equine industry, it is imperative to prepare graduates to meet this challenge.

Texas A&M University’s certificate in Equine Veterinary Medicine will provide a structured pathway for students to develop the advanced competencies and industry knowledge necessary for long-term success in equine practice by:

• Building their confidence in equine medicine and surgery skills;
• Documenting their achievements and commitment to this focus area; and
• Signaling to potential employers the depth of their preparation and dedication to equine practice.

Program Requirements

DVM students participating in the certificate program will:

• Complete equine career track elective coursework and fourth-year equine track clinical rotations;
• Participate in a one-week palpation camp experience in the summer following the second year of vet school;
• Maintain membership in the Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners;
• Present a seminar or submit an abstract for a case competition associated with the national association or regional professional organization (i.e., Southwest Veterinary Symposium or Texas Equine Veterinary
• Association); and
• Receive extra training in equine-specific clinical skills, including rectal palpation.

Coursework Requirements

The certificate in Equine Veterinary Medicine provides students with a clear pathway to acquire, practice, and refine skills essential to equine care. Currently enrolled Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students will build confidence in their abilities and in their understanding of the equine industry by completing the following courses:

Program Year	Course Title	Credit Hours
2VM	Elective:  Equine Rehabilitation	1
3VM	Equine Career Focus Track I	2
	Equine Career Focus Track II	2
	Selective – Large Animal Clinical Application I	2
	Selective – Large Animal Clinical Application II	2
	Selective – Regulatory Medicine	2
4VM	Select three of the following rotations:	6
	Equine Soft Tissue Surgery, Equine Orthopedic Surgery, Equine Sports Medicine & Imaging, Equine Internal Medicine, Equine Primary Care, Equine Theriogenology, VERO Equine Lameness, and VERO Equine Preventive Health.
Total Credit Hours		17

Food animal veterinarians play a critical role in safeguarding the health of livestock, ensuring animal welfare, and protecting the nation’s food supply through high standards of safety and quality, yet Texas has consistently ranked among the top six states in need of food animal veterinarians.

To meet this pressing demand, Texas A&M University offers a structured pathway that allows Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students to develop advanced competencies and demonstrate their commitment to this area. Our certificate program in Food Animal Veterinary Medicine:

• Provides students with a clear pathway to acquire, practice, and refine skills essential to food animal care;
• Builds student confidence in their abilities and understanding of the food animal industry;
• Documents students’ focused efforts and skills development in this critical practice area; and
• Signals to potential employers the depth of each student’s preparation and dedication to working with food animal species.

Program Requirements

DVM students participating in the certificate program will:

• Complete food animal career track elective coursework and fourth-year food animal track clinical rotations;
• Participate in a one-week palpation camp experience in the summer following the second year of vet school;
• Maintain membership in at least one national food animal student association (i.e., American Association of Bovine Practitioners, Society for Theriogenology, American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners, American Association of Swine Veterinarians, or Academy of Veterinary Consultants); and
• Present a seminar or write and submit an abstract for a student case competition associated with the food animal national association or regional professional organization (i.e., Southwest Veterinary Symposium).

Coursework Requirements

The certificate in Food Animal Veterinary Medicine provides students with a clear pathway to acquire, practice, and refine skills essential to food animal care. Currently enrolled Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students will build confidence in their abilities and in their understanding of the food animal industry by completing the following courses:

Program Year	Course Title		Credit Hours
2VM	Elective:  Herd & Population Management		1
3VM	Food Animal Career Focus Track I or II		2
	Select 2 of these 3VM courses	Selective – Large Animal Clinical Application I	4
		Selective – Large Animal Clinical Application II
		Selective – Practical Med for the Rural Practitioner
	Selective – Regulatory Medicine		2
4VM	Select three of the following 4VM rotations:		6
	VERO Feedlot, VERO Dairy, VERO Swine Production, VERO LA Practice Readiness, VERO Calf Ranch, VERO Ruminant Nutrition, VERO Advanced Reproductive Techniques, VERO Advanced Dairy, VERO Practice Management, Food Animal Medicine & Surgery, and Production Animal Medicine.
Total Credit Hours			15