IV Seminars: FAQs and Extra Info

IVS’ seminars are designed as small-group learning experiences with focused, half-day sessions. Our format allows for meaningful interaction with speakers, while also providing time to explore your destination.

Our seminars are designed for licensed veterinarians and veterinary professionals seeking continuing education (CE) credits. Some programs and adventure trips are open to non-veterinarian companions as well — see individual seminar listings for details.

Each IVS seminar includes 12–18 CE credits. IVS is an AAVSB RACE-approved provider, and credits are accepted by state boards through both the U.S. and Canada. CE certificates are available for download through our convenient client portal.

IVS specializes in small group seminars — usually fewer than 80 people per seminar. Most veterinarians appreciate the smaller setting, as it allows for more interaction with speakers and other participants and gives everyone a chance to get their questions answered.

Your registration includes access to expert-led seminar sessions, speaker notes, and your downloadable CE certificate following the trip. IVS also offers a loyalty and referral program, allowing you to earn points toward future seminars as you continue learning and traveling with us.

IVS structures its seminars to allow maximum interaction between speakers and participants. The less formal format enables a more free-flowing presentation. All listed topics will be covered during the seminar.

Expenses associated with attending a CE seminar are generally tax-deductible. Always consult your tax advisor for guidance specific to your situation.

International Veterinary Seminars is an AAVSB RACE-approved provider of CE, which is accepted by all state boards throughout the US and Canada. We are provider #13 and are also an approved provider in New York State. Please contact your state board or our office with any questions. For more information, visit the AAVSB RACE program website.

We accept payment via debit and credit. Payment is collected securely at the time of registration.

Yes. Creating an IVS account lets you manage your trip registrations, access CE certificates, view your VideoVet purchases, track your Loyalty Program points, and use your referral link — all in one place.

You will receive an email confirmation after completing the registration process, and a second email confirming your payment. If you have questions, contact our office at 1-800-487-5650.

IVS holds group space at each seminar venue and handles hotel bookings on your behalf. You can book accommodations at the same time as your seminar registration or separately — whichever you prefer.

On your selected seminar’s page, click the Accommodations tab and scroll down to the Book Accommodations button. Please note: if you need a room outside the standard seminar dates, availability will need to be confirmed with the hotel. Hotel bookings made through our site are not automatic and require some processing time. Once confirmed, you will receive a hotel confirmation letter from IVS by email. All hotels require a credit card to guarantee your booking, and cut-off dates apply — early registration is always advised. Our team is available at 1-800-487-5650, Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm PST.

Each seminar page includes links to local resort and area information in the Accommodations section. You can also call our office at 1-800-487-5650 with any questions.

10% of the registration fee is non-refundable. If you cancel more than 30 days before the seminar start date, you may choose a refund of the remaining 90% or a Future Transfer Credit (FTC). If you cancel within 30 days, only a Future Transfer Credit is issued. The FTC can be applied to any future IVS seminar within 2 years of your cancellation date; it is forfeited if not used within that window. To cancel, you must contact our office and receive email confirmation of your cancellation before the seminar begins. Cancellations requested after the seminar has started, or without email confirmation on file, will forfeit the full registration fee. Please also note that cancellations will remove any Loyalty Program points earned from that registration.

Certificates are issued at each seminar. If you need a replacement, contact our office by phone at 1-800-487-5650 or through the Contact page on our website and we’ll get one to you.

You earn a flat 50 points for every IVS seminar you attend. Points are awarded automatically 48 hours after the seminar ends. Bio Bio adventure trips and Alaska cruise seminars are also eligible — see the Specialty Trips section for how those registrations work.

No. Loyalty points are earned through seminar registrations only, not VideoVet video purchases.

Points are added automatically 48 hours after the seminar ends. You’ll be able to see them in your account dashboard at that time.

Points can be redeemed for discounts on future IVS seminar registrations. Points cannot be applied to VideoVet purchases or transferred to other accounts. Points carry no monetary value. They can only be used for a discount off a seminar registration.

Every 50 points is worth $50 off a future IVS seminar. You can let points accumulate over time — for example, 150 points is worth $150 off. When you redeem, your full available balance is applied at once; you can’t redeem a portion and save the rest for later.

Yes. Loyalty discounts are stackable with other available promotions, including vet tech discount codes. You can redeem all applicable discounts together at checkout.

IVS offers an $80 discount on all seminar registrations. The discount code (techsaver) can be applied at checkout alongside and loyalty points you’ve redeemed.

Yes. Loyalty points expire after 2 years. For example, if your last attended seminar was on November 30, 2026, you’ll have until November 30, 2028 to register for a seminar and apply your loyalty discount.

Your current point balance and progress toward the next reward threshold are visible in your account dashboard under the Rewards section.

Yes. IVS administrators can manually adjust point balances in cases of errors or special circumstances. If you believe your balance is incorrect, contact us directly.

You earn 50 points for each successful referral, and your referred colleague earns 50 points as well.

A referral is successful when the person you referred: (1) creates a new IVS account, (2) registers for a seminar, and (3) completes payment. All three steps must be completed for the referral to count.

Referral points are added automatically after your referred colleague’s payment is confirmed. You’ll also receive an email notification when this happens.

Yes. Referral points follow the same rules as Loyalty points — they expire after 2 years.

Your unique referral link is available in your account dashboard. Copy it from there to share via email, text, or any other channel.

Bio Bio trips use a two-step process: first, complete your CE seminar registration on the IVS website — this is what earns you CE credits and Loyalty points. Then, visit the Bio Bio website to book the trip itself, including travel logistics and payment. The IVS seminar page will include a direct link to the Bio Bio booking page.

IVS handles the continuing education component, while Bio Bio manages travel logistics, accommodations, and activities. Because they are separate organizations, each requires its own registration and payment.

Yes — your CE registration on the IVS site earns Loyalty points just like any other seminar. Accommodations booking through Bio Bio does not earn IVS points.

Alaska cruise seminars use a two-step process in the opposite order: first, book your cruise through the IVS-designated travel agent. Upon booking, you will receive a unique confirmation code. Then return to the IVS website to complete your CE seminar registration using that code. The code is required to complete registration on our site.

The code confirms that you booked through the designated IVS travel agent, which is required to participate in the seminar component. This ensures the on-ship experience is coordinated properly for all attendees.

Cruise bookings must be made through the IVS-designated travel agent to participate in the CE seminar. Bookings made through other agents will not qualify for seminar registration or CE credits.

Yes — once you complete your CE registration on the IVS site, you earn Loyalty points just like any other seminar.

No. VideoVet videos are standalone surgical instructional videos — not recordings of destination seminars. They cover surgical techniques and topics independent of the seminar curriculum.

VideoVet’s library is focused on veterinary surgery. Videos are organized by surgical topic — you can browse by category on the VideoVet section of the site.

No. CE credits are no longer offered for VideoVet video purchases. CE credits are available through IVS destination seminars only.

Most VideoVet videos are available for online access. Some titles are also available on USB flash drive. Format availability is shown on each video’s product page.

Yes. You’ll need an IVS account to purchase and access VideoVet videos. On-demand purchases will appear in the My VideoVet section of your account dashboard.

No. Loyalty points are earned through seminar registrations only.

All purchased videos are accessible in the My VideoVet section of your account dashboard.