A comprehensive two-year small animal internal medicine program – 100% online & your structured route to a postgraduate certification and post nominal qualifications.
Work your way through the specialist-developed materials, at your own pace, with help and support available from registered Specialist Tutors on the online forum.
Weekly lessons for each Module include relevant clinical material to update and build on prior knowledge; the latest diagnostic and therapeutic options; and case studies to help consolidate the module content.
The innovative learning platform provides interactive short assessments and quizzes, video lectures, reference articles and demonstrations of clinical techniques, all supported by the specialist discussion board.
Small Animal Medicine Online Learning is the only veterinary postgraduate training program in Australia/New Zealand accredited by the International School of Veterinary Post Graduate Studies ISVPS for the General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Medicine.
Includes:
"*" indicates required fields
This program has been approved for 240 hours of continuing education credit in jurisdictions that recognise RACE approval.
Year 1 Modules
Date: June 2024
Module Developer & Tutor:
Kieran Borgeat BSc BVSc MVetMed CertVC FHEA MRCVS DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology)
Key learning objectives:
Date: July 2024
Module Developer & Tutor:
Kieran Borgeat BSc BVSc MVetMed CertVC FHEA MRCVS DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology)
Key learning objectives:
Date: August 2024
Module Tutor:
Claire Sharp BSc BVMS MS DACVECC
Module Developer:
Simon Tappin MA VetMB GPCert (SAP) CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: September 2024
Module Tutor:
Dr Stacey Brady BVSc (Hons I) MSc (AABAW) DipECVN
Module Developer:
Raquel Trevail DVM DipECVM MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: October 2024
Module Tutor:
Mellora Sharman BVSc MVM PGradCert PhD FANZCVS DECVIM-CA FHEA MRCVS
Module Developer:
Simon Tappin MA VetMB GPCert(SAP) CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: November 2024
Module Tutor:
James Foster BSc BVMS PhD FANZCVS
Module Developer:
Kerry Simpson BVM&S PhD FACVSc DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: February 2025
Module Tutor:
Thurid Johnstone DVM PhD DECVIM-CA
Module Developer:
James Swann MA VetMB MVetMed DipACVIM DipECVIM MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: March 2025
Module Tutor:
Thurid Johnstone DVM PhD DECVIM-CA
Module Developer:
Joana Agguiar MVM MVetMed DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: April 2025
Module Tutor:
John Hutt BVSc (Hons) CertVD MANZCVS DACVD Specialist Dermatology
Module Developer
Rosario Cerundolo DVM CertVD DipECVD MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: May 2025
Module Tutor:
Edith Hampson BVSc PhD FANZCVS
Module Developer:
Sally Turner VetMB DVOphthal MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Year 2 Modules
Date: June 2025
Module Tutor:
Bruce Parry BVSc PhD Diplomate ACVP Fellow AVA
Module Developer:
Nick Bexfield BVetMed PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA FSBoil MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: July 2025
Module Tutor:
Lydia Hambrook BVSc(Hons) FANZCVS Registered Specialist (Small Animal Medicine)
Module Developer:
Jame Swann MA VetMB MVetMed DipACVM DipECVIM MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: August 2025
Module Tutor:
Bruce Parry BVSc PhD Diplomate ACVP Fellow AVA
Module Developer:
Marta Costa DVM MSc FRCPath DipECVCP MRCVS EBVS® European Specialist in Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Key learning objectives:
Date: September 2025
Module Tutor:
Dr Randi Drees Dr.med.vet PhD DipACVR (Radiation, Radiology Oncology) DipECVDI add RadOncol PGCertAP MRCVS
Module developer:
Andrew Holdsworth BSc BVSc (Hons) DipECVDI, MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: October 2025
Module Tutor:
Mellora Sharman BVSc MVM PGradCert PhD FANZCVS DECVIM-CA MRCVS
European Specialist in Small Animal Medicine
Module Developer:
Scott Kilpatrick BSc (Hons) MSc BVM&S DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: November 2025
Module Tutor:
Mellora Sharman BVSc MVM PGradCert PhD FANZCVS DECVIM-CA MRCVS
European Specialist in Small Animal Medicine
Module Developer:
Scott Kilpatrick BSc (Hons) MSc BVM&S DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: February 2026
Module Tutor:
Philip Brain BVSc FACVSC (Small Animal Medicine) FAVA
Module developer:
Susana Silva CertSAM DipECVIM-CA MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: March 2026
Module Tutor:
Ann Thompson BVSc MANZCVS MSc GCHEd DACVIM
Module developer:
Nick Bexfield BVetMed PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA FSBiol MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: April 2026
Module Tutor:
Ann Thompson BVSc MANZCVS MSc GCHEd DACVIM
Module developer:
Nick Bexfield BVetMed PhD DSAM DipECVIM-CA FSBiol MRCVS
Key learning objectives:
Date: May 2026
Module Tutor:
Veronika Langova MVDR MACVSC (Medicine) FANZCVS (Oncology)
Module Developer:
Ana Lara DVVM MSc PhD PgCert MedEd FHEA DipACVIM ECVIM-CA (Oncology)
Key learning objectives:
"This program was truly excellent. Lots of detail in the slides and hand-outs. Excellent mix of providing information, using questions to check understanding and all with the proper clinical relevance. Feel much more confident in how I would approach and treat these conditions. Specialist response to questions was quick and detailed."
2019-2021 SAM Online Learning Program Delegate Feedback
Ann graduated from the University of Queensland in 1997. After graduation she worked in general practice in Melbourne and the UK before returning to the University of Queensland Veterinary Teaching Hospital. While at UQ …
Claire is a senior lecturer in the College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences. She did her veterinary training at Murdoch, graduating with a BSc, BVMS(Hons), in 2002.
Edith Hampson is a Queensland graduate with more than 20 years experience who has worked both in small animal veterinary practice and in research centres. Edith is passionate about eyes and loves teaching ophthalmology.
Dr James Foster BSc BVMS PhD FANZCVS After graduating from Murdoch University in 1990, James worked in general practice followed by a residency in Feline medicine and a PhD investigating feline thyroid disease, both at t …
Dr John H C Hutt BVSc(Hons) CertVD MANZCVS DipACVD John graduated from the University of Queensland in 1988. He worked in general practice in Brisbane for 18 months before travelling to the UK in 1990, where he worked in …
Dr Kieran Borgeat BSc BVSc MVetMed CertVC FHEA MRCVS DipACVIM DipECVIM-CA (Cardiology) Kieran is an American and European Diplomate and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Cardiology. He worked for 6 years in first …
Dr Lydia Hambrook BVSC (Hons) FANZCVS (Small Animal Medicine) Lydia graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2002. After gaining experience in mixed, equine and small animal practice she commenced a residency in Sma …
Dr Mellora Sharman BVSc MVM PGradCert PhD FANZCVS DECVIM-CA FHEA MRCVS Mellora graduated from the University of Queensland, Australia in 2003, spending time in small animal general practice before gaining further experie …
Philip H Brain graduated from the University of Sydney in 1985 and after 13 years in general practice, completed a residency program in small animal medicine at the Veterinary Specialist Centre, North Ryde, NSW.
Dr Randi Drees Dr.med.vet PhD DipACVR (Radiology, Radiation Oncology) DipECVDI add RadOncol PGCertAP MRCVS Dr Randi Drees graduated from the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany in 2001. Randi spent time in private practice …
Dr Stacey Brady BVSc (Hons I) MSc (AABAW) DipECVN Neurologist & Neurosurgeon Dr Stacey completed her veterinary degree at the University of Sydney in 2011. She worked in small animal practice for several years while …
Thurid graduated in Veterinary Science from Leipzig University, Germany, and then completed a PhD with focus on canine and feline urinary tract infections at Massey University in New Zealand.
Dr Veronika Langova graduated in Brno, Czech Republic in 1992. She was admitted to the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists as a Member in Small Animal Medicine in 2000. In 2005, she attained Fellowship in Small A …
Full Payment Upfront: Total payable AU$15,100 inc GST
All prices are inclusive of compulsory 10% GST. Price of Small Animal Medicine online learning program excludes ISVPS registration & examination fees.
AU $2,000 initial deposit to secure your place. The full balance of fees ($13,100) must be paid one month prior to the program start date (on or before 1 May 2024).
If your enrolment is being submitted within one month of the program start date and you would like to discuss payment options, please contact the Improve team.
All prices are inclusive of compulsory 10% GST. Price of Small Animal Medicine online learning program excludes ISVPS registration & examination fees.
Payment plans may be available. A member of the Improve team will be in touch to discuss your individual requirements.
Please note that an administration fee applies for all payment plans.
All prices are inclusive of compulsory 10% GST.
Terms and Conditions apply to all bookings.
Please find the terms and conditions here.
You must be a graduated Veterinary Surgeon with a minimum of 1 year clinical experience. Please check with Improve to ensure your suitability. It is the responsibility of the delegate to ensure you meet the program entry criteria.
You will spend on average 3-5 hours per week on reading and working through the interactive materials on the platform. You may spend significantly more time if you are engaging with the specialist tutor and your colleagues on the discussion forum and posting cases and questions, preparing cases, forum interaction etc.
After the module month is over, you will continue to have access to the SAM Online Learning interactive material, however, the specialist tutor for that month’s module will no longer be available for answering questions. You will still have access to the discussion forum and the ability to view archived questions/tutor responses and can discuss module content/questions with other delegates.
It is advised to make use of the specialist tutors for each month’s module by asking questions on the discussion board for that month. If you have questions on a makeup module that is complete, the discussion board is also open to colleagues engaging and answering. The idea of the forum discussion boards are that colleagues in the program, from around the world, can help each other and add thoughts and ideas on makeup questions.
The program must be completed within 12 months of the final module. GPCert candidates will then have up to four years to satisfy ISVPS assessment requirements (assessment requirements may change so contact [email protected] for up to date information). Candidates will have the option to resubscribe for continued access. Please contact our team on [email protected]
The (GPCert) programs complete the learning objectives of the GPCert syllabus and are not intended to fully cover the ANZCVS Membership requirements. The program will provide a structured study program and a solid clinical and practical knowledge that will definitely benefit those undertaking further study in small animal medicine. A number of our program participants have successfully used the Gen. Practitioner Cert Programs for their Membership preparation.
Yes. Location of study does not affect/change this global program. We can accept delegates across Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific region.*
Additionally, all content is pre-recorded so can be viewed at any time of day (i.e. time zone differences will not impact your access to content). However, you may need to allow extra time for tutor responses (as tutors will be based in Australia).
If you intend to sit the GPCert(SAM) qualification through ISVPS, their requirements are based around online assessment. ISVPS are an independent accrediting and awarding body – please contact the ISVPS directly for further information ([email protected]).
*Be aware if you are not from these geographic regions you will be referred to the nearest Improve International Office who can help you enrol in the SAM Online Learning program.