Several presenters told the committee that certification programs and veterinary specialty training are the primary quality controls if allied practitioners treat animals. Representatives of the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (ABCA/AVCA) and the Canine Rehabilitation Institute described multistep curricula, practical testing and continuing education requirements meant to distinguish trained providers from short weekend‑course practitioners.

Drs. John Ziegler and David Johnson described the AVCA/ABCA model: basic approved programs require a minimum of 210 hours of instruction and hands‑on work, followed by a written and a practical certification examination developed through a professional practice analysis and third‑party psychometric review. Certified status is time‑limited; recertification requires continuing education (AVCA requires 30 hours every three years, speakers said).

The Canine Rehabilitation Institute’s director, Dr. Kara Amstutz, described a hybrid program with two in‑person modules, online coursework and a 40‑hour internship at an approved site. CRI reported more than 2,000 total program graduates and some 180 California graduates; CRI requires written module tests at a minimum 85 percent passing grade plus supervised clinical experience before awarding its credential.

On the veterinary side, UC Davis and the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation explained that veterinary specialty status requires a rotating internship and a three‑year residency with credentialing exams. UC Davis faculty emphasized that veterinary training covers comparative anatomy, species‑specific physiology and a broad medical foundation not replicated in most short post‑graduate courses.

Ending: Witnesses described an ecosystem of education and credentialing—university residencies, post‑professional certification programs and continuing education—that committee members can use to set minimum qualifications in any proposed California rule or law.