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Texas Authorized Personnel Program for Veterinarians

Check TAPP Status Application Process New World Screwworm Certified Inspector Program Additional Certification Veterinarian Contact Update

All veterinarians who perform regulatory work with livestock, equine, or poultry in Texas–including testing, vaccinating, and issuing CVI’s for these species–must have authorized status in the Texas Authorized Personnel Program (TAPP).

To apply for authorized status in Texas, a veterinarian must have an active Texas veterinary license and an active Category II Accreditation with the USDA. Veterinarians will remain authorized in Texas as long as they maintain active license and accreditation statuses. Authorized personnel status does not need to be renewed.

Veterinarians must obtain additional certifications to perform bovine trichomoniasis testing, chronic wasting disease (CWD) antemortem testing, and cervid tuberculosis testing.

TAPP has an abundance of opportunities to develop and enhance veterinarians in their field. For more information regarding the TAPP program, please contact authorized_personnel@tahc.texas.gov.


Check Your TAPP Status


Veterinary Authorized Personnel Program Certification Status ×
  • Name:
  • Six Digit National Accreditation Number (NAN):
  • Authorized:

  • CWD

  • CWD Antemortem Status:
  • Last Certification Date:
  • Expiration Date:

  • Trich

  • Trichomoniasis Status:
  • Last Certification Date:
  • Expiration Date:

Texas Veterinary Licensing and USDA Accreditation

For questions regarding your Texas Veterinary License, please refer to the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME).

For questions regarding your USDA Accreditation, please refer to USDA Veterinary Services (USDA APHIS-VS), 512-383-2404.

TAPP Application Process

  1. Submit a TAPP Application. Veterinarians who are licensed and accredited in Texas may submit a TAPP application by email, authorized_personnel@tahc.texas.gov, or mail, PO Box 12966, Austin TX 78711-2966, Attn: Authorized Personnel.
  2. Veterinarians who attended veterinary school outside of Texas must independently review the four TAPP orientation modules. Veterinarians who attended veterinary school in Texas, proceed to step three.
  3. Complete a phone orientation with a TAHC agency veterinarian.
    • The Authorized Personnel Department will contact the applicant to coordinate a phone call following the submission of the TAPP application.

TAPP Orientation Modules

Veterinarians who attended veterinary school outside of Texas must independently review the four TAPP modules.


New World Screwworm Certified Inspector Program

Texas Animal Health Commission and Texas A&M AgriLife have worked together to develop a New World Screwworm (NWS) Certified Inspector Program, which is available to individuals who are willing and qualified to serve as NWS Certified Inspectors.

Requirements for Current Authorized Veterinarians

If you are actively enrolled in the Texas Authorized Personnel Program (TAPP), you already meet all eligibility requirements for NWS Certified Inspector status. To issue NWS Treatment/Movement Certificates, current TAPP veterinarians need to create an account on the NWS Treatment/Movement web application using the email address on file with with the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC). To request the login link, please email authorized_personnel@tahc.texas.gov.

If you try to create an account and your email is not recognized, you can update your contact information here.

Requirements for Prospective TAHC NWS Certified Inspectors

Course Completion

After successfully completing all modules and knowledge checks in the New World Screwworm Preparedness and Response Education course, participants must pass a final exam with 94% or higher accuracy (3 attempts allowed) to earn a Certificate of Completion which includes a unique certificate number.

Participants who successfully complete the course, pass the final exam with a score of 94% or higher, and meet the eligibility requirements below may apply to become a TAHC NWS Certified Inspector.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

  • Licensed Veterinarians
  • Veterinary Technicians
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Agents and Extension Specialists
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR) Agents
  • Texas Department of Agriculture Inspectors
  • Texas Department of State Health Services Meat Safety Inspectors
  • Texas Racing Commission Inspectors
  • Animal Control Officers or Livestock Deputies
  • Designated personnel from temporary livestock aggregation points (such as livestock markets, sale barns, auctions, buy stations, exhibitions, fairs, and competition events)

How to Apply

  1. Complete the New World Screwworm Preparedness and Response Education course and pass the final exam with a score of 94% or higher.
  2. Confirm that you meet one of the eligibility criteria above.
  3. Download and complete the NWS Certified Inspector Application.
  4. Email the completed application to: authorized_personnel@tahc.texas.gov.

Approved applicants will be added to the Texas Authorized Personnel Program, provided access to the NWS Treatment/Movement web application, and can begin issuing NWS Treatment/Movement Certificates.

Additional Certification Opportunities

  • Cervid tuberculosis authorization training is offered in-person and is coordinated by the Authorized Personnel Department.
    Submit requests by email to authorized_personnel@tahc.texas.gov.
  • Bovine trichomoniasis authorization training is offered through a monthly webinar. Veterinarians will receive 1.5 hours of Continuing Education (CE) credits for completing the training.
  • Chronic wasting disease antemortem collector training is offered through a bimonthly webinar. Veterinarians will receive 1.0 hour of Continuing Education (CE) credits for completing the training.

Submit information below to register for an upcoming trichomoniasis or CWD antemortem collection webinar training. Once your request is received, a webinar invitation will be emailed to you.

Webinar Registration

Choose a program:


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Veterinary Authorized Personnel Webinar Request ×

Success! Your form has been submitted with the following information. TAHC staff will reach out to you soon with more information.

  • Webinar Requested:
  • Name:
  • Phone #:
  • National Accreditation Number (NAN):
  • Email:

Veterinarian Contact Update

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