Becoming
a Member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors
Click here for Membership Application Form
The Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors was founded in 1989 to
promote and develop the profession of pet behaviour counselling and standardise
the service provided.
It aims to provide a network of specialist counsellors throughout the
UK, and internationally, to whom veterinarians can confidently refer
clients.
In order for veterinarians to feel confident about referrals, members
of the APBC have to have the highest professional standards, knowledge
and expertise.
For this reason, a rigorous selection procedure is in place to assess
applicants wishing to join the Association as full members, to ensure
they meet the Association's stringent criteria.
In light of the growing number of academic courses in the field of companion
animal behaviour, and other biological sciences, coupled with the ever-increasing
establishment of pet behaviour counselling as a profession, the Association
offers four tiers of membership:
FULL MEMBERSHIP, STUDENT, PROVISIONAL, ACADEMIC
The APBC is an ever-growing group of professionals which benefits from
new members and an increased group size.
We, therefore, welcome, and actively encourage applications from students
and professionals who meet our criteria.
BENEFITS FOR FULL MEMBERS
The APBC enables the membership to act as a forum for the
exchange of information and ideas in the rapidly growing and exciting
field of animal
behaviour therapy.
- Newsletter: Members receive a twice yearly newsletter to help keep them
informed of new innovations, techniques, research and products which
may assist them with their work. Members are welcome to submit articles.
- Workshops and Educational Days: Run exclusively for members, a number
of workshops and educational days are organised on specialist topics.
- Symposia: These theme based symposia are open meetings
for anyone with an interest in behaviour.
- E-Mail Forum: An exclusive E-mail server for the worldwide membership
ensures a rapid response to requests for information and discussion.
- Resource Library: Access to a forthcoming APBC resource library.
- Promotion of Services: Full members’ clinics and related services
are promoted via the website, the APBC clinic list and in response
to telephone enquiries to the APBC office.
- Pet Insurance Claims: Our collective expertise has generated confidence
in our ability and this has brought further benefits. For example,
some leading pet insurers in the UK now allows their policy holders
to claim
for consultations provided by full members of the APBC.
- Established Professional Credibility: As a result of consistently
maintaining our high standards, the collective reputation of the members
in the Association
is second to none. Consequently, other professionals, particularly
those in the veterinary and legal specialities, are more likely to
call upon
APBC members when they need the services of a pet behaviour counsellor.
This generates further employment in the field of counselling and
in associated areas such as lecturing, writing and court case involvement.
- Use of Logo: Full members are eligible to utilise the APBC logo and
state affiliation with the APBC on letterheads, footnotes and other
promotional material.
FULL MEMBERSHIP
The APBC reserves the right to require any applicant for membership
to provide assurances or otherwise demonstrate their willingness to abide
by the APBC's Code of Practice.
REQUIREMENTS:
Certification as a Clinical Animal Behaviourist (CCAB) as granted by
the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB).
All other applications for full membership will be assessed by a selection
panel which is comprised of eight full members of the APBC.
Applications should take the following form:
All applicants must show that they have attained a sufficiently high
quality and quantity of relevant work, plus either 1 or 2.
1. Provide evidence of a viable, professional, insured and accountable
behaviour therapy practice of at least two years standing, either independently
or as an assistant in an existing APBC member practice. The applicant
should possess at least a degree in one of the biological disciplines
(e.g. biology, psychology),
OR
2. Provide evidence of a viable, professional, insured and accountable
behavioural therapy practice of at least one years standing, either
independently or an as assistant in an existing APBC member practice.
The applicant
must possess a higher degree in a relevant topic.
- All behaviour problem cases must be seen only on referral from veterinary
surgeons for the applicant to be considered for membership (unless the
applicant is a veterinarian).
- The application must be in English and sponsored by at least one
veterinary surgeon in practice. Where the applicant is working in a
behavioural
therapy capacity in an organisation, the application must be supported
by the Director or relevant Department Head. Where the applicant
is a veterinary surgeon, the partners or heads of the applicant's practice
must sponsor the application.
- Eight copies of a formal letter of application to the APBC should
be submitted on headed practice paper to the Honorary Secretary. This
must
be accompanied by eight copies of:
- Your CV (to include details
of any publications or articles you have written)
- Four case reports (each to be a different type of problem) *
*Fully explain the aetiology, diagnostic and treatment rationales for
each case, with reference to the literature where applicable.
Click here for further guidelines
If the applicant is successful, the annual subscription will be due.
On receipt, the Honorary Secretary will request full details of the applicant
and his/her practice for incorporation into APBC publicity material and
for inclusion in published clinic lists.
FEES: Annual UK Membership fee of £220
New members, and those paying their fee within one calendar month
of date of membership renewal, will receive a discount, reducing the
fee
to £160
Annual Overseas Membership fee of £165/€245/$325
New members, and those paying their fee within one calendar month
of date of membership renewal, will receive a discount, reducing the
fee
to £110/€165/$215
In addition to all other benefits, members have the satisfaction of knowing
that the Association to which they belong will continue to strive to
maintain a professional, ethical and welfare-orientated approach to
the treatment of companion animal behaviour problems.
Click here for Membership Application Form
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
REQUIREMENTS:
Student membership is available for those who are in the process of achieving
academic qualifications in companion animal behaviour counselling.
Students must have a minimum of 120 higher educational Level 1 credit
points in one of the biological sciences.
BENEFITS:
- Contact with experts in the field.
- Reduced admission fees to APBC seminars.
- Educational events especially provided for student membership.
- Membership of the APBC e-mail forum.
- Personal notification of seminars.
- Receive the APBC Newsletter.
- Access to the forthcoming APBC resource library.
- Student Membership can be held for up to a period of eight years
as part of progression to full membership.
Annual fee of £60.
New members, and those paying their fee within one calendar month of
date of membership renewal, will receive a discount, reducing the fee
to £40.
NB: Student Membership applications must be signed by Head of Department
and stamped.
Click here for Membership Application Form
PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP
REQUIREMENTS:
Provisional membership is available for those who have achieved relevant
academic qualifications to degree level or higher and are conducting
behaviour consultations, but have not yet achieved the requisite experience.
BENEFITS:
- Contact with experts in the field.
- Reduced admission fees to APBC seminars.
- Membership of the APBC e-mail forum.
- Personal notification of seminars
- Receive the APBC Newsletter.
- Access to the forthcoming APBC resource library.
- Educational events especially provided for provisional membership.
- Have the opportunity to sit in on consultations with APBC members
(subject to availability and confirmation of personal insurance).
- Be involved in case studies and follow up. Reports produced can subsequently
be submitted as part of the application for full membership.
- Attend specially organised APBC animal training and handling courses.
- Opportuntiy to join the annual APBC getaway social weekend.
- Opportunity to assist at APBC promotional activities such as BSAVA
Congress, Crufts etc.
Provisional Membership can be held for up to a period of three years
as part of progression to full membership.
Annual fee of £110
New members, and those paying their fee within one calendar month of
date of membership renewal, will receive a discount, reducing the fee
to £80.
Click here for Membership Application Form
ACADEMIC MEMBERSHIP
REQUIREMENTS:
Academic Membership is open for those not in practice, but who are involved
in research in Companion Animal Behaviour. Entry level is a minimum
of MSc. Individuals are required to submit a research paper they have
published in a peer-reviewed journal or provide confirmation of their
position in a research department with their application.
BENEFITS:
- Contact with experts in the field.
- Reduced admission fees to APBC seminars.
- Membership of the APBC e-mail forum.
- Personal notification of seminars
- Receive the APBC Newsletter.
- Access to the forthcoming APBC resource library
- Attend educational events.
- Opportuntiy to join the annual APBC getaway social weekend.
- Opportunity to assist at APBC promotional activities such as BSAVA
Congress, Crufts etc.
Annual fee of £60.
New members, and those paying their fee within one calendar month of
date of membership renewal, will receive a discount, reducing the fee
to £40.
Click here for Membership Application Form
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