Non-Profit

The Institute of Registered Veterinary & Animal Physiotherapists

IRVAP is a dynamic community of qualified professionals working in animal therapy. Our shared belief is every animal deserves the best available treatment and that their owners are fully supported and informed.

 

Become a MemberFind a Therapist
WHO WE ARE

Our Members

Many of our members hold multi professional qualifications and offer an integrated service to the animals in their care, leading to improved lives for animals and owners. IRVAP’s diversity is our community strength, represented by our different membership categories and sub groups.

Our veterinary physiotherapy members use the post nominals MIRVAP (VP). Other categories use specific post nominals, as listed at the bottom of the page. Members who hold multiple qualifications, have the respective bracketed post nominals to clarify their status.

Our membership community includes; veterinary surgeons, veterinary physiotherapists, animal musculoskeletal practitioners, veterinary nurses, equine and canine hydrotherapists, animal massage therapists and TTouch practitioners who hold animal therapy qualifications.

High standards in professionalism and clinical proficiency are assured through our accredited registration process, guided by our specific category and sub group admissions policy. All our members are fully insured and work within the UK legislation.

What we do

Our Ethics & Values

ANIMAL SAFETY

Promote safe and effective practice in animal therapy, linking underpinning scientific knowledge to current clinical practice, leading to improved lives for animals and owners.

Animal Welfare

Support animal health care and welfare initiatives and provide clear and useful information for animal owners, veterinary surgeons, professional colleagues and the public. 

INCLUSIVITY

Provide an inclusive accreditation service in addition to supporting professional development. Qualifications and training are a career journey, not a destination. 

RESEARCH & SCIENCE

Facilitate research collaborations and scientific based approaches in all aspects of animal therapy and health care, across the field of professionals working in animal therapy.

What Drives Us

Our Mission

IRVAP is a caring, interactive community of qualified professionals working in animal therapy. We celebrate our diversity, animal focused ethics and inclusive opportunities. 

We aim to raise standards of practice and provide informed representation for our members and information and resources for all those who work with animals.

What we OFFER

Member Benefits

All of our registered members are entitled to these benefits:

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Representation at local, regional and national level

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Listing on Find a Therapist on this public website

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Access to our IRVAP group insurance plan

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Access to our exclusive member's only website

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IRVAP Conference with high profile industry speakers

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Recognition by major insurance companies

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Research collaborations

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Open office hours with IRVAP Chair and Council

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Access to online journals

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Members mentor and support programme

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Approved IRVAP courses and CPD

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Regular email updates

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Use of branded merchandise

STAY UP TO DATE

Resources 

APPROVED COURSES

IRVAP’s Accreditation Board approves CPD & Courses, raising standards and ensuring quality assurance.

We foster a proactive approach and are at the forefront of clinical skills training in animal therapy – see our CPD & Courses website page.

IRVAP’s robust quality assurance safeguards standards and we actively support our members career long commitment to advancing practice.

friendly faces

Meet the IRVAP Council

Barbara Houlding, IRVAP Chair

GradDipPhys, MScVetPhys, MCSP, FIRVAP(VP)(ICH), MRAMP

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I aim to foster a proactive community of like minded therapists who focus on the health and wellbeing of the animals in their professional care. This involves supporting a diverse membership and nurturing best practice.

Grace Nattrass, vice chair and IEH CHAIR

AdvCertVPhys, CertClinEd, PGCert, FHEA, MIRVAP(VP)(IEH)

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With experience in clinical practice and education, I aim to develop training for both our membership and the industry that raises standards of practice and enhances animal welfare.

TOM WORMAN, treasurer

BSc, PgDip, L3CertHydroSA, MIRVAP(MT)(ICH)

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With a broad experience across a variety of business and charity organisations I am here to our help members through their journey with IRVAP and to develop their own businesses.

Laura Hackett, Membership Secretary

MScVetPhys, PgDipVetPhys, Cert.ClinEd, BA, MIRVAP(VP)(ICH)

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I aim to help ensure our members have a smooth registration and renewal process whilst upholding our accredited registration process.

Council Officers

Kerrie Oakley, Mentoring coordinator

DipVPhys, RVN, CertEd, MRAMP, MIRVAP (VP)(ICH)

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I support new and existing members and offer guidance to assist their professional and personal progress within the industry sector.

Lisa Bartley, cpd and student support

DipVPR, DipESM, MIRVAP(VP)

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I believe it's important for qualified therapists to have ongoing support to advance their practice and clinical skills.

Susanne Pender, insurance coordinator

L3CertHydroSA, BSc(Hons)Phys, PgCertSART, MCSP, MIRVAP(VP)(ICH)

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My experiences as a past IRVAP Chair supports my role to verify insurance policies and organise the Group Insurance Scheme.

Miranda Cosstick, Social Media

MScVetPhys, PgDipVetPhys, Cert.ClinEd, BA, L4DipSAHydro, MIRVAP(VP)(ICH)

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I promote the work of IRVAP and its members throughout the industry, to highlight best practices and our expanding member benefits and opportunities.

Sarah Ward, MemberSpace Coordinator

PgCertSART, L3CertHydroSA, RVN, MBVNA, MIRVAP(VP)(ICH)

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I ensure all our members are listed on our find a therapist website and have access to our unique MemberSpace.

PAULA TEAL, IRVAP ADMINISTRATOR

L3DipHydroSA, BSc(Hons), MIRVAP(ICH)

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My role is to support the IRVAP Council with administration matters, to ensure the council can effectively represent and deliver for you.

Carly Nairn, cpd auditor

RVN, L3CertHydroSA, CertCFVN, MIRVAP(ICH)

ICH Board

Sarah Ward, ICH Chair

PgCertSART, L3CertHydroSA, RVN, MBVNA, MIRVAP(VP)(ICH)

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I ensure all our members are listed on our find a therapist website and have access to our unique MemberSpace.

PAULA TEAL, ICH Board member

L3DipHydroSA, BSc(Hons), MIRVAP(ICH)

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My role is to support the IRVAP Council with administration matters, to ensure the council can effectively represent and deliver for you.

Jess Moreton, Board member

DipVPhys, RVN, CertEd, MRAMP, MIRVAP (VP)(ICH)

Tessa lewis, ich board member

PgCertSART, L3CertHydroSA, MIRVAP(VP)(ICH)

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As the owner of a large canine rehab centre, my role is to support members through our mentoring scheme and the ICH with it's expansion.

Karynne Penfold, International Representative

L3CertSA + L4AdvCertCanHydro, NZACH, MIRVAP (ICH)

maria johnston, ICH board member

L3CertHydroSA, TTouchP3, APDT, CBWA, AdvCertVPhys, FIRVAP(VP)(ICH)

IEH Board

Grace Nattrass, IEH CHAIR

AdvCertVPhys, CertClinEd, PGCert, FHEA, MIRVAP(VP)(IEH)

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With experience in clinical practice and education, I aim to develop training for both our membership and the industry that raises standards of practice and enhances animal welfare.

Gaby Kerfoot, Board member

BSc, AdvCertVPhys, FIRVAP(VP)(IEH)

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With over 30 years in the industry, I aim to share equine physiotherapy, rehab and performance enhancement knowledge and skills with our members.

Lisa Bartley, Board Member

DipVPR, DipESM, MIRVAP(VP)

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I believe it's important for qualified therapists to have ongoing support to advance their practice and clinical skills.

Hannah Simpson, Board Member

MSc, BSc (Hons), RAMP, MIRVAP (VP)

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With a passion for equine hydrotherapy and continued learning, I hope to facilitate the development of new resources for our members.

Co-opted members

Council Co-opted members assist and work closely with the IRVAP Council.

JENNY BEST, co-opted

L3DipHydroSA, BSc(Hons) RVN, PGCE, PgDipVP, MIRVAP (VP)(ICH)

WAYS TO JOIN

Membership Categories

veterinary physiotherapist member: MIRVAP (VP)

Veterinary physiotherapist: Holder of an accredited university qualification at level 6 – 7. 

Evidence required & verified – Qualification certificate, course transcripts, CV, CPD record and insurance certification if not accessing the IRVAP group insurance scheme. Free second listing in another IRVAP category / sub group with appropriate evidence to meet the specific registration requirements. 

Manual Therapist member: MIRVAP (MT)

Animal practitioner: Holder of an accredited animal therapy qualification level 3 – 6

Evidence required & verified- Qualification certificate, course transcripts, CV, CPD record and insurance certification if not accessing the IRVAP group insurance scheme. Free second listing in another IRVAP category / sub group with appropriate evidence to meet the specific registration requirements.

Institute of canine hydrotherapists: MIRVAP (ICH)

Canine hydrotherapist holder of an Ofqual qualification: Level 3 certificate in canine hydrotherapy, as a minimum. The ICH has members with qualification levels ranging from L3 to L7 which meet the ICH day one canine hydrotherapy competencies.

Evidence required & verified – Qualification certificate, course transcripts, CV, CPD record, first aid certificate, water management requirements and insurance certification if not accessing the IRVAP group insurance scheme. 

LEARN MORE

Institute of Equine hydrotherapists: MIRVAP (IEH)

Each application is looked at on an individual basis and you need to submit your equine CPD record and CV, evidencing your equine experience, education level, suitable professional courses, equine hydrotherapy experience and insurance cover (you are entitled to access our Group Insurance plan). Additional evidence includes equine first aid and a water management course or training. 

LEARN MORE

Student member

Learner on any relevant accredited course providing evidence of course place.

Non Practising member

Maternity leave, illness, injury, or sabbatical with appropriate run off insurance.

Hon Fellow / Fellow

Council appointed for outstanding service to IRVAP and the animal care industry.

CONTACTS

For Membership Enquiries - membership@irvap.org.uk
For Professional Development Matters - cpd@irvap.org.uk
For Canine Hydrotherapy Support - ich@irvap.org.uk
For Equine Hydrotherapy Support - ieh@irvap.org.uk
For Receipts and Transactions - treasurer@irvap.org.uk
For Mentoring and Support - mentoring@irvap.org.uk
For Student Support - student-support@irvap.org.uk
For The IRVAP Chair - irvapchair@irvap.org.uk