A USDA-accredited veterinarian is a licensed vet who has completed training and certification through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP).

This accreditation authorizes them to perform certain federally regulated tasks, like issuing official health certificates required for pets traveling across specific state or international borders.

Only USDA-accredited vets can verify a pet’s health for travel, confirm it meets destination requirements, and complete the necessary government paperwork. That makes them essential to ensuring your pets are ready to fly, no matter how far they’re going.

How Vets Become Accredited

Accreditation is completely voluntary, and you shouldn’t assume your usual vet is USDA-accredited without asking. To earn accreditation, licensed vets must complete specialized training and maintain their status with periodic renewal courses.

Before that, though, they should earn a degree in veterinary medicine and get licensed to practice in at least one state or territory. Let’s take a closer look at the requirements from there:

Enroll in the National Veterinary Accreditation Program (NVAP). Vets apply by contacting an NVAP coordinator for their state. A vet will choose to specialize in Category I (dogs, cats, small companion animals) or Category II (all animals, including livestock).
Complete Initial Accreditation Training (IAT). Modules are web-based, with specialized training around the accreditation process itself and disease prevention and control. A passing score of 80 percent across 14 quizzes is required for a certificate of completion.
Attend an orientation program. These programs cover topics like federal and state animal health regulations, animal disease control programs led by the USDA, and import and export requirements for animals.
Complete extra state-specific requirements. These vary state-by-state. Some states require a state-specific orientation. The NVAP coordinator for that state will share that information with vets pursuing accreditation in their state.
Submit VS Form 1-36A. Applications are submitted to the NVAP coordinator for the target state (or territory). They should be completed within 3 years of completing an orientation program to avoid having to start the process over.

Vets are accredited once they receive authorization letters back from a State Animal Health Official (SAHO) stating they’ve been approved. Vets seeking authorization in multiple states must repeat the process for each state.

To remain active, vets must complete APHIS-Approved Supplemental Training (AAST) within 3 years after their accreditation. Vets with Category I training complete 3 units; Category II vets complete 6 units. These can be done at any time within the 3-year period after accreditation. Renewals are run through the Veterinary Services Process Streamlining (VSPS) system.

What Can a USDA-Accredited Vet Do?

Accreditation authorizes vets to give your traveling dog or cat the stamp of approval when going to certain states or abroad. Here’s a little more detail on their main duties, with a particular focus on the well-being of traveling pets and live animals:

They prepare official travel documents. This includes health certificates needed to cross borders and meet state requirements. The vet completes and signs certificates, confirming pets’ health status and that required tests and treatments have been done.
They administer and record vaccinations. Any vet can give vaccines, but only an accredited vet can record them in your pet’s official travel records. If your pet arrives with a history of vaccinations, you’ll need to bring that paperwork to a USDA-accredited vet.
They arrange any required disease testing. Whether it’s a rabies titer or a parasite check, they can perform and document the official tests certain countries demand. Results are then documented on USDA-compatible forms.
They verify microchip details. Some countries require microchip verification before entry. Accredited vets can officially record this information on USDA health certificates. They can also check that microchip information matches across forms. ISO-compatible microchips are the best option for chips that are easily read by international scanners.
They complete health exams. This final check ensures that your pet is healthy enough to fly and is free of any contagious diseases. Treat them as you would your usual vet. They work with traveling cats and dogs daily, and may have tips you haven’t thought of on preparing your pet for their trip. That includes tips for anxious pets!
They submit completed health certificates to the USDA. While USDA-accredited vets don’t personally endorse certificates, they’re responsible for getting that paperwork to a USDA Veterinary Services (VS) representative. This is often done electronically via the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS).

If done electronically, USDA endorsement is typically completed within 1-2 business days. Digital endorsements reduce the risk of errors on forms and can even guide vets to the right forms or flag any missing information. Only USDA-accredited vets can submit through the VEHCS.

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Benefits

Using a USDA-accredited veterinarian for pet travel isn’t just recommended. For certain trips, especially to and from international destinations, it’s required.

Only accredited vets are authorized to issue official health certificates recognized by both state and federal authorities. This helps prevent delays at customs or outright travel denials. For international trips, they handle complex requirements around vaccinations and treatments to comply with regulations in those countries.

Choosing an accredited vet doesn’t just mean smoother customs clearance and less stress. In many cases, it’s a requirement for pet travel and animal exports, especially if your pets need international health certificates to fly.

Finding a USDA-Accredited Vet

You don’t know whether your pet’s usual vet is USDA-accredited until you ask, so start there! If they’re not, they may be a good resource for you in finding contact information for USDA-accredited veterinary services in your area.

To start the search on your own, the USDA provides an official website and online search tool where you can look up accredited vets by location, accreditation category, and even species.

While not all USDA-accredited vets choose to be listed in the public directory, it is extensive, and you’ll likely be able to find one within a short trip of your home. If you’re having trouble, you can contact your state’s USDA Veterinary Services office for leads in your area.

No matter how you go about choosing an accredited vet, start your search early to avoid last-minute obstacles or delays. If you live in a town with fewer vets, appointments may be booked well in advance. You’ll need to keep important timing rules in mind, too.

Many countries and airlines require that official health certificates be issued within 10 days of your pet’s departure. That means your pet’s final pre-flight exam, any vaccinations, testing, and endorsements must all happen within that window.

Booking early ensures you can schedule your pet’s health exam and any required tests or treatments in that window. It can also give you a buffer in case something arises between now and your appointment, either on your end or at the vet’s office.

FAQs

Form 7001, through the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), is commonly used as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). At Tailwind, we use it as a model health certificate for destinations that don’t provide their own, as it covers what most destinations require to approve entry into a country.

Many countries require specific health certificates or forms tailored to their regulations, though, so it’s essential to confirm that with your USDA-accredited vet. Certain states may have state-specific forms, as well.

If the airline or destination country doesn’t accept a digitally endorsed health certificate, you’ll need to provide a hard copy of the USDA-endorsed health certificate. That’s a physical, printed document with the official USDA signature and stamp or seal.

In that case, your USDA-accredited vet can still submit the health certificate through VEHCS for USDA endorsement. Once endorsed electronically, they can print the endorsed certificate. (You may also be able to do so depending on the intended recipient.)

You’ll have to carry the original printed certificate with you throughout your pet’s journey, especially at check-in and upon arrival for international travel.

Take the Guesswork Out of Pet Travel

At Tailwind, our team of experts is prepared to handle every aspect of your pet’s journey, including getting essential paperwork in order, thanks to our in-house USDA-accredited vet.

From official health certificates to making sure your pet is fit to fly, it’s a level of oversight that allows you to focus on the journey ahead – no need to worry about accreditation status with us. We’re here to make your travel as stress-free as possible.

Ready to get started? Each pet relocation situation is different, so to get an idea of the costs involved, fill out a quote request.

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The Vet You Need for Pet Travel: USDA-Accreditation Explained