Practical Training for ATTs

Once you have passed the OCQ(AHP) - ATT online exam, you will need to nominate your Approved Veterinary Supervisor and complete your Sam declaration form. You will then be granted conditional ATT status by APHA. This can take up to ten working days. You must not start TB testing until you have official confirmation from APHA. 

Testing under supervision

You must nominate your AVS through your Personal Training Dashboard. This will trigger an email to your AVS, asking them to confirm that they are prepared to undertake the AVS role. Your AVS may nominate a deputy AVS who will provide cover when required. When your AVS has completed this process and APHA have received your completed Sam declaration form, they will process your authorisation for conditional AHP status. Once you have received an email confirmation from APHA that your conditional authorisation has been granted, you may start TB testing.

Your AVS will teach you the practical skills required to TB test cattle correctly. They must provide direct and continuous supervision at every test you undertake until you pass your Practical Assessment and have been granted full ATT authorisation by APHA. When you are granted full authorisation you will be allowed to TB test alone but must always be under the direction of your AVS who must always be available to join you on a farm if needed and must confirm the results of every TB test that you undertake.

Your AVS must audit your testing after six months for you to maintain your authorisation. 

TB testing as a conditional ATT

When you are under the direct supervision of your AVS and are learning to TB test you must fulfil the following requirements:

• TB test at least 500 cattle (maximum to be submitted from one farm is 100)
• TB test on at least ten different farms
• see at least 80 reactions to the TB test (this must include a minimum of 20 circumscribed reactions and 20 reactions with some oedema). You may count reactions which you have seen, felt and measured even if they are from a test being undertaken by another ATT or OV
• enter your test results through your own Sam log in. These are then countersigned by your AVS before the results are submitted to APHA
• upload case logs that evidence the TB tests you have completed

When you have completed all the above requirements your AVS must sign you off on the database. You are then eligible for a Practical Assessment, which will be the final part of your training.

Practical Assessment

The Practical Assessment will take place over both days of a TB test and will follow a set format. A copy of the report form will be sent to you and your AVS before the Assessment so that you understand the format of the Assessment and the marking scheme.

Booking the Practical Assessment

It is your responsibility to contact Improve International to book the Practical Assessment. An Improve International Assessor will carry out your Practical Assessment at a TB test on a farm of one of your practice's clients. You must provide us with the dates of a number of tests (each with at least 30 cattle) scheduled in your locality. Please contact Improve International in good time to ensure that we have an Assessor available on a date that suits you and the farm. The Practical Assessment must be completed within six months of receiving your conditional ATT authorisation. 

Improve International will notify APHA once you have passed your Practical Assessment. APHA will then award you full ATT authorisation for TB testing. You will receive an email notification when your authorisation status is changed and can check that this has been done on your Personal Training Dashboard. Please allow five working days for APHA to complete this process.

Retakes

If you fail the Practical Assessment you will be required to undertake further training under the direct and continuous supervision of your AVS before you apply to retake it. There is a retake fee of £900 plus VAT. This must be paid at the time of booking. 

If you fail a second Practical Assessment you will be required to retake the full OCQ(AHP) - ATT course. In such cases, the full enrolment fee of £199 plus VAT must be paid again in addition to a further Practical Assessment retake fee.

Right of appeal

You have the right to appeal to ISVPS if you consider that your Practical Assessment has not been conducted in a fair manner.