SQP Number / Userid Password
Login

AMTRA CPD Events

All AMTRA SQPs are required to undertake Continuing Professional Development. The amount of CPD required depends on the type of SQP and on when the SQP qualified. With the exception of small amounts of personal study, all CPD must be accredited by AMTRA in advance. AMTRA will keep a record of CPD points accumulated by SQPs, and those not achieving the required minimum will not be able to renew their SQP registration unless they pass a fresh exam.

CPD seminars open to SQPs

Where asked to do so by the CPD organiser, AMTRA will publish on its website information on accredited CPD seminars available to SQPs. Most seminars are publicised by other means.

AMTRA and AHDA Regional CPD events, February-April 2012

At each of the 15 venues there will be something rather different which we hope you will find useful: a two-hour afternoon session on customers and the "language of value and reassurance". That's followed by an hour on companion animal health. That afternoon session will be at all 15 venues; an evening session on farm livestock will be at the first 10 venues and the Northern Ireland event only. SQPs may attend either or both. The afternoon session is worth 16 CPD points and the evening session 20 points.

AFTERNOON: language of value and reassurance

Part of your role is to present the very best solutions for customers. Sometimes this is straightforward and the customer leaves with what they asked for.

Sometimes what the customer asks for is NOT the best option or maybe they haven't thought about the longer term solutions. Either way, it's up to you to present the solutions in the right way using 'language of value and reassurance'.

Words are powerful. The use of a single word can provoke a positive or negative emotional response so your choice of words is key.

We'll look at the role YOU play in the 'buying decision' process and share ideas on best practice customer interaction skills.

We'll focus on:

  • The 'buying decision' and how to help customers to consider different options.
  • Identifying opportunities to help customers to solve problems now and in the future.
  • Educating customers and helping them to stay open and interested.
  • How to say 'no': avoiding words that don't work and using words that do.
  • Presenting benefits, helping customers to understand value and reassuring them.

By developing these skills, the customer interactions you have will be even more productive, customer relationships will be stronger and business will grow.

AFTERNOON: companion animal health

Bayer Animal Health will bring a session on internal and external parasites in companion animals including rabbits, plus information about Advantage, their product new to the NFA-VPS sector in 2011.

EVENING: farm animal parasite control

The evening session will start with an update from a local vet on the latest SCOPS guidance on anthelmintic resistance. SCOPS is something we all hear about regularly, but are you sure you fully understand the latest advice and are using it in advising your farmers?

That will be followed by a Pfizer presentation on the use of multi-active wormers which are widely used in the southern hemisphere. Combinations of anthelmintics with a similar spectrum of activity and different mechanism of action and resistance can (1) enable the effective control of nematodes in the presence of resistance, and (2) slow the development of resistance to the component anthelmintic classes. The presentation will look at their potential for use in the UK.

LOCATIONS AND BOOKING

Afternoon & evening sessions:

Mon 13 February - Lifton, Devon (FULL for the afternoon, ALMOST FULL for the evening)
Tue 14 February - Midsomer Norton, Somerset
Wed 15 February - Ludlow, Shropshire (FULL)
Thu 16 February - Kegworth, Derbyshire
Mon 27 February - Carmarthen
Tue 28 February - Marchweil, Wrexham
Wed 29 February - Redworth, Co Durham (FULL for the afternoon, still some evening spaces)
Thu 1 March - Penrith, Cumbria (FULL for the evening, still some afternoon spaces)
Tue 13 March - Stirling
Wed 14 March - Aberdeen
Wed 18 April - Cookstown, Co Tyrone

Afternoon sessions only:

Mon 26 March - Maidstone, Kent (FULL)
Tue 27 March - Newbury, Berkshire
Wed 28 March - Cambridge (FULL)
Thu 29 March - Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

To book, please return a booking form for each person. AMTRA is managing the administration, so all payments and booking forms should be sent to AMTRA, not AHDA.

If you work for an AHDA member, you may attend any of the first 10 events or the Northern Ireland free of charge, otherwise it is £18 (£15+VAT) per person: the same fee regardless of whether you attend one session or both sessions. The other four events (26-29 March) are £18 (£15+VAT) per person regardless of AHDA membership.

Confirmation of your place and details of the venue and how to get there will be sent on receipt of your application form and payment (where appropriate). Entry will only be for those who have booked in advance.

We advise you to book early as demand for places will be high. Application forms can be photocopied - one per person, with the SQP number essential for all SQPs.

BETA International trade fair seminars bring CPD points for SQPs, 19-21 February

BETA International 2012 is presenting visiting SQPs with the opportunity to gain a maximum 14 CPD points at AMTRA-accredited seminars hosted by the show’s main sponsor, Virbac Animal Health.

Callum Blair, BVMS, MRCVS, from the company, will present "Equine Worming at a Crossroads - Which Direction Now?", a 75-minute session worth 10 points, on both Sunday 19 and Tuesday 21 February. The same seminar takes place on each of these days, so points can be awarded only for attending one of them.

Further points can be gained at a second seminar, also lasting 75 minutes, on Monday 20 February. "An Educational, Informative, Entertaining and Invaluable Look at Marketing and Motivational Ideas and Techniques to Support Your Business and Your Staff" will bring a maximum four points.

SQPs wishing to take part in the seminars do not need to book beforehand but should bring their AMTRA number so that they can register at the show.

BSAVA Dispensing Course, 21 February

AMTRA has now accredited the British Small Animal Veterinary Association's course for veterinary staff on small animal dispensing - "Medicines Regulations - How do you measure up?".

The course would be very valuable for veterinary nurse SQPs or other SQPs working in veterinary practice, and has been accredited with 41 AMTRA CPD points.

  • Nottingham Belfry, 21 February 2012, 0900 to 1730.

For further information see the BSAVA website.

Worm Egg Count MasterClass, 1 March

Following this year’s highly successful Worm Egg Count MasterClass at the Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh, Merial Animal Health is pleased to announce that it is running the event again in 2012.

The use of Worm Egg Counts (WECs) are now a vital part of any advice regarding anthelmintics given to clients so this expert masterclass is designed to equip SQPs and vet nurses with the expertise they need to undertake WECs at their practice or store. This training will add significant value to anthelmintic usage advice and sales, and enable veterinary nurses and SQPs to develop individual worming programmes for their clients based on best practice. Additionally, this training will qualify for 52 AMTRA CPD points.

The 2012 event will take place on Thursday 1st March from 9.30am until 5.00pm at the Moredun Research Institute just outside Edinburgh. The event will be lead by expert parasitologists Professor Jacqui Matthews, BVMS PhD MRCVS, and Dr Dave Bartley, BSc PhD and will include seminars on equine parasites and drug resistance, problem solving tutorials and a hands-on WEC practical learning and practicing techniques in the state-of-the-art lab.

We expect this event to be extremely popular and places are limited so please book as soon as possible. Cost: £200 per delegate.

To book your place download the booking form, or to find out more contact Merial Equine Health 01279 775851 or email Merial

Common Pet Parasites, York, 15 May

This session run by Minster Veterinary Practice at Askham Bryan College in York consists of three presentations, one hour each in duration, given by Joy Howell DipAVN (Surgical) RVN MBVNA from Bayer Animal Health, together running from 9am to 12.30pm, with registration and coffee from 8.30am.

  • Lecture 1: The Ins and Outs of Worms
  • Lecture 2: Worms in Dogs
  • Lecture 3: Fleas and Advantage

The content of these lectures is directly relevant to the SQP role as they cover internal and external parasites, their lifecycles, how the animal's lifestyle can affect parasite control, parasites' impact on animal health, and their implications for humans.

Although it is expected that most attendees will come for the full morning and gain 24 CPD points, those attending for only part of the morning will gain 8 points for each lecture.

The cost is £12 per person (£10 plus VAT) and includes tea/coffee.

For more details or to book a place, contact Liz Yung: liz.yung@mvptraining.co.uk or telephone: 01904 709007

This page last updated 11/02/2012