AMTRA assessments are now being done solely online for the time being. See below for the provisions relating to the written exams, and for viva (oral) exams.
We now confirm that the first online written exams will be available to sit from Monday 18 January.
The primary driver relates to the impact of Covid-19, but there are other major benefits for candidates and employers, including avoiding time away from home and work, avoiding travelling costs, and more flexibility about the way in which you sit your exams, splitting modules to suit you and your work needs.
Full details of the process are in the “Candidate & Employer Guide to the Online AMTRA Assessments“, but what follows summarises the key elements – but please read the full document.
While the purpose and academic effort will be the same as a conventional exam, the way you prepare for and “sit” online assessments may be different to what you have experienced previously.
Each module assessment (Base, Companion Animal, Farm, Equine, Avian, Veterinary Nurse) will be made available on a specific date, at 10.30am. You will have to log in at that time and open the assessment. You will have a pre-defined time period during which to complete and upload your answer document.
When you take these open-book assessment, you should be sat alone in a room – at your home, or perhaps at work if it is a quiet environment. You will need to use an Internet-connected computer with Microsoft Word, and log in to the Harper Adams “Learning Hub”, where you can view and upload your answers to the assessment. There will be a mix of multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, essay-style questions, and problem-solving scenarios.
Each written module will take place on a particular day of the week, within each of the assessment weeks. See the full document “Candidate & Employer Guide to the Online AMTRA Assessments” if in any doubt.
Don’t forget that everyone needs to pass the viva (oral) exam as well as the written exams relevant to their enrolment with AMTRA. See further down this page for more on the viva exams.
| Day of week | Exam on this day |
| Monday | Base |
| Tuesday | Companion Animal and Veterinary Nurse |
| Wednesday | Equine |
| Thursday | Farm Animal |
| Friday | Avian |
| Assessment week | Booking deadline |
| 18-22 January 2021 | deadline now passed |
| 1-5 March 2021 | 8 February 2021 |
| 12-16 April 2021 | 22 March 2021 |
| 24-28 May 2021 | 4 May 2021 |
| 5-9 July 2021 | 14 June 2021 |
Dates for the online vivas are given further down this page.
Please return the exam booking form to us.
On the form, make sure you include the date for each module you wish to book (the individual date, not the week) – don’t forget to include the Base module as well as species module(s) if that’s appropriate for you. And do include the viva (oral) exam if you’re ready to book that too.
If you wish to spread out your modules over multiple assessment periods, that’s fine, and there’s no additional charge.
If you already know what you want to do when, you can book them all in one go even for different months, or you can book them individually as and when you’re ready – it’s up to you. Also, there’s no requirement to do them in a particular order – whatever works best for you.
A series of trials of online vivas have successfully taken place. These are now fully available to all, being undertaken via Zoom, and can be booked now. There is no need to wait until the written exams – you can take the viva before the written exams and get it out of the way (or do it afterwards if you wish). Subject to certain conditions, the viva exam can be taken from home or work or any suitable location of your choosing.
To book your viva, please return the exam booking form (A03) indicating the date chosen for the viva.
Further dates will follow.
If you’re looking for information about the “CPD exam” for those without enough CPD points, please see the CPD exam page.
Note that AMTRA cannot offer any assurances as to the quality or appropriateness of the training offered by any of the providers listed on this page: candidates should make their own checks. AMTRA welcomes feedback on the training providers, and reserves the right to remove a training provider from this page. Organisations wishing to be listed here should contact the AMTRA Secretary General.
Please also read our guidance on the qualification process for more information on exams.
In general exam bookings must be received by AMTRA an absolute minimum of 3 weeks prior to the exam date, but online vivas may be booked up to 6 business days before the exam (see booking deadlines, above), and the 18-22 January 2021 exams must be booked by noon on 5 January 2021.
Candidates with additional support needs who are seeking adjustments must notify Harper Adams at least 6 weeks in advance of the exam date.
The exam booking form can be found inside the front cover of your training manual, or on the forms page.
Please note: exam centres are suitable for access by wheelchair or by others with mobility difficulties, but if this is likely to be relevant to you, please contact Harper Adams University before your exam.
Online teaching available – contact BETA for more details:
Contact: Tina Hustler, BETA, Stockeld Park, Wetherby, LS22 4AW
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01937 587062
Individuals or businesses interested in training courses supporting AMTRA qualification may also wish to contact Sally Harmer, who is able to provide bespoke training courses throughout the country.
Sally Harmer Animal Health Consultancy
Tel. 07850 355971 or email [email protected]
www.animal-health-excellence.co.uk
Offering individuals and businesses pre-exam training supporting the companion-animal qualification. Gill is available to provide courses throughout the UK at a location of your choice to fit in with existing AMTRA examination dates.
Also available companion-animal training via online webinars from the comfort of your own home at a time to suit you (both live and pre-recorded webinars available).
Gill Williams, Centre of Canine Excellence
Call or email for more information : 07397 899381 or [email protected]
DAWN PRIME
Dawn is offering one-to-one training or group sessions prior to the AMTRA examinations. She can provide training for all modules: Base, Farm, Equine and Companion animals.
Covers East of England and London areas.
For further details contact Dawn on 07833506639 or email: [email protected]