Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society

What Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society does

The Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (VECCS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional society founded in 1969 and headquartered at 23119 West IH-10, Building 13, San Antonio, Texas. The society serves veterinary emergency and critical care (ECC) professionals — veterinarians, interns/residents, technicians, practice managers, and students — across specialty referral practice, general practice, emergency practice, and teaching institutions. VECCS claims approximately 7,000 members from nearly 60 countries on every continent, with the membership organization led by a CEO (Dr. Chris Gray) and a Board of Directors.

VECCS operates a portfolio of educational products and services built on a standard membership/e-commerce/event stack: a tiered annual membership ($55–$205/yr), the peer-reviewed Journal of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (JVECC, bi-monthly, published via Wiley), the flagship annual International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium (IVECCS), the members-only Spring Symposium, monthly VECCS x VIN webinars, the RACE-approved Foundations in ECC (FVECC) certificate program jointly with ACVECC (40+ hours across 36+ modules), the RECOVER CPR initiative (international veterinary CPR standard), the VECCS Facility Certification program, and the Power of Ten Leadership Academy. Sub-brands include SVECCS (student chapters at veterinary colleges) and VECCS Gives (charitable arm for disaster relief, working K9 support, and community care grants up to $25,000).

Revenue is generated across multiple streams: recurring membership dues (subscription), IVECCS and Spring Symposium registration plus exhibitor/sponsor fees (transaction/advertising), the WooCommerce-based VECCS Shop selling proceedings books, flash drives, and merchandise (one-time), journal and newsletter advertising (advertising), and FVECC/RECOVER certification course sales. GTM is community-led and event-driven, with annual conferences serving as the primary acquisition and retention channel, supplemented by student chapter expansion at veterinary schools, facility certification, and member-to-member referral. Preferred-partner discounts (Plumb's, CoVet AI, Vetlexicon, Headspace, Improve International, Calgary VPOCUS, Vet Vault Podcast, WSAVA Academy) add a distribution-channel dimension.

Name

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society

Legal name

Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society

Website

https://veccs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VECCS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional society, founded 1969 and headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, serving approximately 7,000 veterinary emergency and critical care professionals across nearly 60 countries through tiered membership, the IVECCS annual conference, JVECC journal, FVECC certificate program, RECOVER CPR, and facility certification.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Professional Association Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Veterinary continuing education
• Professional association services
• Veterinary emergency medicine
• Membership society services
• Veterinary certification programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Antonio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at tiered pricing levels (Veterinarian $205, Intern/Resident $95, Technician $85, Student $55 per year) with optional add-ons including hardcopy journal ($40), EVECCS ($40), and LAVECCS ($60).
2. Shop Sales: E-commerce sales of IVECCS proceedings books and flash drives, Spring Symposium proceedings, Multidisciplinary Reviews, RECOVER materials, clothing, and books. Products include IVECCS Proceedings Book ($50-80), Flash Drives ($15-50), Multidisciplinary Reviews ($15-20), and RECOVER materials.
3. Conference and Event Revenue: IVECCS (International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium) registration fees, exhibitor and sponsor fees, and Spring Symposium registration. Venue: Savannah Convention Center for IVECCS 2026.
4. Advertising and Sponsorship: Revenue from preferred partners including exhibitor fees, sponsor eblasts, program ads, newsletter advertising (The Pulse), journal ads, website advertising, and career center listings.
5. Journal Revenue: Journal of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (JVECC) published bi-monthly with online access (included in membership) and optional hardcopy ($40 additional per year).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

VECCS is a nonprofit professional society that delivers tiered annual memberships, continuing education (CE), conferences, and credentialing programs to veterinarians, technicians, interns/residents, students, and practice managers specializing in veterinary emergency and critical care. Its monetized offerings include annual membership dues, the IVECCS international symposium, Spring Symposium, the JVECC peer-reviewed journal, FVECC e-learning, RECOVER CPR training, VECCS Facility Certification, the Power of Ten Leadership Academy, an e-commerce shop for proceedings/educational materials, and a career/job posting platform.

Product overview

VECCS operates as a membership-based professional society offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational products and services for veterinary emergency and critical care professionals. The core offerings include annual membership with tiered pricing (Veterinarian, Intern/Resident, Technician, Manager/Admin, Student), access to major conferences (IVECCS and Spring Symposium), peer-reviewed journal (JVECC), and monthly webinars through the VECCS x VIN partnership. Educational programs span from beginner-level (Foundations in ECC - FVECC with 40+ hours of content) to advanced certifications (RECOVER CPR, Facility Certification). The society also provides leadership development (Power of Ten Leadership Academy), career services, charitable initiatives (VECCS Gives), student chapter support (SVECCS), and an online shop for educational materials. Members receive discounts on third-party resources including Plumb's drug references, Headspace wellness app, and various CE providers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SVECCS: Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society - a sub-organization promoting education and involvement of veterinary students in emergency and critical care medicine.
• VECCS Gives
• IVECCS
• Foundations in ECC
• Power of Ten Leadership Academy

Products and services

• VECCS Membership Annual tiered membership offering access to JVECC journal, webinars, conference discounts, partner benefits, and member-only content for veterinarians ($205/yr), interns/residents ($95/yr), technicians ($85/yr), students ($55/yr), and practice managers (price on request).
• IVECCS (International Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Symposium) Annual international symposium offering high-quality continuing education for veterinarians, technicians, and practice managers. Features advances in technology, equipment, pharmaceuticals, and information management; held annually with member discounts and exhibitor/sponsor opportunities.
• Spring Symposium Annual members-only continuing education Spring Symposium held at destination locations. Provides an immersive CE experience for VECCS members at multiple venues per year.
• Journal of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care (JVECC) Peer-reviewed bi-monthly journal recognized internationally for the ECC specialty. Online access included with membership; optional hardcopy available for an additional $40/year fee.
• VECCS x VIN Webinars Monthly member-only webinars covering emergency and critical care topics in large and small animals, typically providing CE credit. Delivered through the VIN/VSPN platform.
• Foundations in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (FVECC) RACE-approved self-paced e-learning certificate program with 40+ hours of content across 36+ modules, designed for beginners, students, interns, and early-career veterinarians. Full Suite: Veterinarian $850, Vet Tech/Staff $510, Student $340; 20% VECCS member discount and 10% bulk discount for 5+ seats.
• RECOVER CPR Initiative International standard for veterinary CPR training, evolved from 50+ years of CPR instruction. RECOVER CPR online courses are available to members at a 40% discount.
• VECCS Facility Certification Certification program recognizing emergency and critical patient care facilities that meet or exceed VECCS's established standards for veterinary ECC.
• Learning + Labs Focused, immersive training labs and workshops held at VECCS headquarters providing hands-on environments to deepen ECC knowledge and build skills; 2-3 offerings per year, members-only.
• Power of Ten Leadership Academy Leadership development program for recent DVM or veterinary technician graduates within 8 years of graduation. Provides 40+ hours of RACE-accredited non-clinical CE over 12 months via full scholarship (valued at $5,000+).
• VECCS Shop E-commerce storefront selling educational materials including IVECCS Proceedings Books, Flash Drives, Spring Symposium Proceedings, Multidisciplinary Reviews, RECOVER materials, and clothing; ships USPS Priority Mail from San Antonio, TX.
• VECCS Career Center Job posting and career services platform for veterinary professionals. Offers reduced rates for members, resume bank access, featured job listings, and employer profiles.
• SVECCS (Student VECCS) Student sub-organization promoting education and involvement in ECC at veterinary schools. Provides free VECCS membership upon chapter activation, scholarships, grants, wet labs, Dinner & Discussion events, and BluePearl Chapter Speaker Series events.
• VECCS Gives Charitable arm of VECCS focused on enhancing quality of life for animals in need and working K9s. Provides disaster relief, animal welfare initiatives, and community care grants.
• Grants & Scholarships Portfolio of financial assistance programs including Spectrum of Care Grant (up to $25,000), Community Care Grant (up to $2,500), Credential Grant ($10,000), VTNE Scholarship ($500), Educational Speaker Grant ($600), and Matching Gift Program (up to $5,000).

Quantifiable outcome

• Membership grew from ~200 in 1985 to 7,000 in 2024
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• VIN/VSPNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVECCS partners with VIN/VSPN to deliver monthly VECCS x VIN webinars covering ECC topics in both large and small animals. Members access live webinars and CE credits through the VIN platform.
• M.J. Mrvica AssociatescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerBased in Berlin, New Jersey, M.J. Mrvica Associates is a publisher's representative firm handling advertising placement in VECCS's monthly newsletter (The Pulse), medical journal (JVECC), and bi-weekly Cageside Brief.
• The Association PartnercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWebsite advertising and digital retargeting partner providing exclusive advertising opportunities on the VECCS website and across industry websites to reach VECCS members and event attendees.
• Plumb'sminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree subscription to Plumb's veterinary app offering comprehensive drug information, client handouts, and decision-support tools. Members also receive exclusive $299 rate for Standards of Care.
• Calgary Veterinary POCUS Training AcademyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVECCS members receive 25% discount on online POCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound) courses for veterinary professionals. Academy uses green screens and virtual reality for training.
• RECOVER Initiative PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RECOVER (Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary EPR) initiative develops and maintains CPR guidelines and training, serving as the international standard for veterinary CPR.
• ACVECC (American College for Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Educational Initiatives partnership producing FVECC (Foundations in Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care) certificate program. ACVECC contributes to competency framework and LMS hosting.
• Improve InternationalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVECCS members receive 15% discount on Improve International's General Practitioner Certificate (GPCert) and Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) in Emergency Medicine and Surgery online programs.
• WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVECCS members receive exclusive discounts on WSAVA Academy course catalog and reduced rates for annual WSAVA Congress through affiliation.
• VetlexiconminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVECCS members receive free trial and 30% discount on Vetlexicon subscriptions providing point-of-care information in multiple languages for dogs, cats, rabbits, exotics, horses, and cattle.
• Vet Vault PodcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVECCS members receive 30% discount on Vet Vault podcast subscriptions offering RACE-approved podcasts in medicine, surgery, and ECC with over 400 episodes.
• CoVetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVECCS members receive 25% discount on CoVet's AI-powered veterinary scribing and co-pilot solutions for generating SOAP notes, discharge instructions, and workflow automation.
• HeadspaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree Headspace app subscription for VECCS members offering mindfulness, meditation, workouts, and sleep sounds for mental wellness.
• BluePearlminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBluePearl sponsors the SVECCS Chapter Speaker Series, providing experienced emergency clinicians for tailored presentations at veterinary schools. BluePearl covers speaker expenses.
• MedVetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedVet sponsors the SVECCS Dinner & Discussion with a VECCSpert events, providing GrubHub credit for catering when chapters RSVP.
• NAVEMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNAVEMS (North American Veterinary Emergency and Medical Services) provides free First Responder prehospital veterinary care workshops for police, EMS, SAR, military, and firefighters. VECCS Gives offers scholarships for the NAVEMS Prehospital First Responder Certification Course at IVECCS.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA): AAHA is a veterinary professional association offering accreditation, CE, and member services comparable to VECCS's facility certification, journal, and conference offerings — serving a broader (general practice) but overlapping veterinary member base.
• North American Veterinary Community (NAVC): NAVC is a veterinary professional community that runs the VMX conference and provides CE content — directly comparable to VECCS's IVECCS conference and journal/webinar ecosystem in target market (vet professionals) and business model (membership + events + CE).
• Veterinary Information Network (VIN): VIN is a veterinary CE and community platform that co-delivers VECCS's monthly member webinars; it is directly comparable as a veterinary professional CE/community subscription platform.
• North American Veterinary Emergency and Medical Services (NAVEMS): NAVEMS provides prehospital veterinary first responder training and is a VECCS partner — directly comparable as a veterinary emergency-care education and certification organization.
• European Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (EVECCS): EVECCS is VECCS's European regional affiliate, offering the same model of membership, ECC congress, and CE for the European veterinary ECC community — a direct structural peer in a different geography.
• LaLatin American Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society (LAVECCS): LAVECCS is VECCS's Latin American regional affiliate offering the same membership + CE model in LATAM — a direct structural peer serving a different but connected geography.
• American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC): ACVECC is the specialty certifying college for veterinary ECC and a formal VECCS partner that jointly develops the FVECC program — directly comparable as the credentialing counterpart within the same specialty community.
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA): WSAVA is a global veterinary association offering CE, congress, and member benefits comparable to VECCS — and is a formal VECCS discount partner for Academy courses and congress registration.

Broad incumbents

• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): AVMA is the largest US veterinary professional association with ~100k members, offering CE, advocacy, and publications. It overlaps with VECCS at the broader veterinary professional membership layer but does not specialize in ECC.

Emerging players

• Veterinary Anesthesia Society: A historical VECCS partner (1983) providing veterinary anesthesia CE — comparable in operating model (membership + CE) and overlapping specialty community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/veccsinfo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/veterinary-emergency-critical-care-society
• Facebookfacebook.com/VECCS

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society