Vet Physios - IRVAP or NAVP membership?

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MissMoo

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(Also posted in Vet & Hoof care)

Trying to change my career to something I enjoy as opposed to my present situation and am keen to re-train as a Vet Physio. The two courses I am looking to possibly apply to are held at Writtle (NAVP) or CEPT held at NTU (IRVAP) which of these would you recommend/advise to avoid? Or are there other courses I haven't discovered yet?

Many thanks in advance
 
I would only use an ACPAT!

They are human physios first and then do animals afterwards. There are no uni fees for the human physio course as NHS pays, then only paying for the ACPAT course :)
There is a huge debate on vet physios but the majority of people I talk to would only use an ACPAT as well. I am a Physio and I would only use a ACPAT physio on my horses :)
 
only_me said:
I would only use an ACPAT!

They are human physios first and then do animals afterwards. There are no uni fees for the human physio course as NHS pays, then only paying for the ACPAT course :)
There is a huge debate on vet physios but the majority of people I talk to would only use an ACPAT as well. I am a Physio and I would only use a ACPAT physio on my horses :)
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In the ideal world that is what I would do but many years ago when I did my A levels etc, I hadn't even heard of vet physios, think realistically I am too old to be going back and doing human and then equine :(
 
only_me said:
oldest was 38 :)
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That'd be me! :)

And I'm guessing I would need to do some sort of access course first, plus I'm not in a position to relocate due to OH's business and local hospital has a terrible reputation.................. think I'm destined to stay where I am. :)
 
I'm an IRVAP registered physio - look back through my posts and you'll find a fair amount of info.

I've never yet had a client question my qualifications, or any vet I've spoken to ever ask.

Has NAVP moved, used to be based at Harper Adams?

I have limited experience with NAVP, but I can recommend CEPT and IRVAP.
 
I'm another who would only use ACPAT. I found my physio through word of mouth but only phoned once I'd checked qualifications. Can never be too careful after having someone previously miss something big as they didn't have the knowledge.
 
Personally, I'd use ACPAT as well (and have). I looked into doing the NAVP Masters course, having done preclinical vet med as a first degree myself, but feedback from horsy people was ACPAT physios, degree qualified chiros or osteos, or else a 'bodyworker' for more massage type treatments.
 
Hello Miss Moo!

I am in the 2nd year of CEPT course and I must say that I think it is the best course out there.

I was in a similar position to yourself.. late thirties, wanting to change career and a couple of years ago I did some research into becomming qualified.

I looked around and wondered about becomming a human physio to then become a vet one and realised that my heart wasn't in the human side of things - I just had no interest in human physio - I wanted to be only animal - well only horse actually! - So I was left with a choice - do human first and then convert to animal - or just do pure animal!! Well the writing was on the wall - yes the vets said that they would only consider referring to an ACPAT but guess what - I have since spent days with them and actually done work under them and now even before I am qualified they are recommending people to me!

There are people out there who have been brain washed into only using an ACPAT which is beyond me. I will soon have a MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy at level 7. which is as good if not better than an ACPAT grading. and to anybody who has worked to that level will know it is very highly respected.

My advice to you is to just go for it. If your heart is in it you will be good at it and your clients will come. I highly recommend CEPT and IRVAP the same as a previous forum user.

At the end of the day... when it comes down to it, it is not what qualifications you have or whether you worked on humans first, but whether you can help fix that horse!!

I am confident that I know how to fix it. I have attended what I believe to be the best course there is for me.

Good luck with your decision.
 
only_me said:
I would only use an ACPAT!

They are human physios first and then do animals afterwards. There are no uni fees for the human physio course as NHS pays, then only paying for the ACPAT course :)
There is a huge debate on vet physios but the majority of people I talk to would only use an ACPAT as well. I am a Physio and I would only use a ACPAT physio on my horses :)
Click to expand...

Anyone that chooses their Veterinary Physiotherapist over ACPAT, NAVP, IRVAP are really not making a wise decision at all. I started my MSc in Veterinary Physiotherapy course and it was very equine bias and the small animal side was shocking. My interest Was with small animals. Firstly I had been an experienced Physiotherapist for 15 years and there were students on the MSc course that had come straight from graduating as a physio with NO CLINICAL EXPERIENCE. You learn how to be a physio from your rotations, ongoing CPD with specialised clinical reasoning skills. These physios are now ACPAT physios. I completed my first year and decided I wanted to specialise in small animals and why I decided to leave the Msc course and focus on my PgCert in small animal rehab. Because I chose not to work with horses I couldn't join ACPAT. Ridiculous. I agree, choosing an experienced human Physiotherapist is key to good clinical reasoning but being an ACPAT member does not mean they are any better than IRVAP or NAVP. All you need to do is look at their credentials prior to graduating as a Vet Physio.
IRVAP are an amazing organisation, actually they are all very good organisations and are my top 3...so look at the therapist first. I have seen an ACPAT physio with my GSP and she used the same approach on my dog as she did with my horses! They're not horses! And my dog spent most of it time with her ears back and did not relax.
 
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