Swine FAD Prep for the Non-Swine Vet
Swine FAD Prep for the Non-Swine Vet is an online continuing education course for veterinarians that aims to provide practicing veterinarians that have limited swine experience with the awareness and knowledge to recognize and report swine foreign animal diseases (FADs).
Veterinarians that complete this course will gain a practical understanding of some of the most important FADs of pigs, how to help their clients be prepared, and what to do if they ever suspect an FAD. The course is divided into 6 modules, and veterinarians can choose how many and which modules they wish to take, in any order:
Foreign Animal Disease Reporting and Investigations
This module will explore several topics related to foreign animal disease investigations (FADIs). After an initial refresher on FADs, reporting, and surveillance, the module explores the specifics of how and in what circumstances to make a disease report. Veterinarians will also learn about the state and federal animal health agencies that are relevant to disease reporting, the process of an FAD investigation, and their role as a private veterinarian during an FADI.
Biosecurity Principles for Swine FAD Preparedness
This module will introduce key concepts and practical approaches to swine biosecurity that veterinarians can apply in their daily work and share with clients, with an additional focus on applicability to small swine farms and how veterinarians can practice biosecurity when visiting farms. The aim of this module is to prompt veterinarians to think about and review how pathogens enter into or spread from farms, and what practical steps they and their clients can take in daily practice to prevent pathogen spread. Ultimately, the module aims to enable veterinarians to help create and support a biosecurity plan on all types of farms.
African Swine Fever (ASF)
This module on African swine fever (ASF) will provide veterinarians with a structured foundation for ASF preparedness based on up-to-date research and real-world examples. The module begins with a summary of global ASF control and why it continues to be a challenge worldwide. Then, the module describes the basics of ASF, including the ASF virus, routes of transmission, and clinical presentation and pathology. The module concludes with recommendations for on-farm prevention and practical steps on what to do if veterinarians suspect ASF.
Classical Swine Fever (CSF)
This module on classical swine fever (CSF) will provide veterinarians with a structured foundation for CSF preparedness based on up-to-date research and real-world examples. The module begins with a summary of global CSF control and why it continues to be a challenge worldwide. Then, the module describes the basics of CSF, including the CSF virus, routes of transmission, and clinical presentation and pathology. The module concludes with recommendations for on-farm prevention and practical steps on what to do if veterinarians suspect CSF.
Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD)
This module on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) will provide veterinarians with a structured foundation for FMD preparedness based on up-to-date research and real-world examples. The module begins with a summary of global FMD control and why it continues to be a challenge worldwide. Then, the module describes the basics of FMD, including the FMD virus, routes of transmission, and clinical presentation and pathology. The module concludes with recommendations for on-farm prevention and practical steps on what to do if veterinarians suspect FMD.
Mental Health Preparedness for Foreign Animal Disease Disasters
The overall goal of this model is to familiarize veterinarians with the types of situations and stress that they, colleagues, or clients will likely experience during an animal health disaster, like a foreign animal disease outbreak. Then, this module aims to provide participants with a simple and straightforward “toolkit” of resources that can be used to recognize signs of distress in themselves, clients, or coworkers, and understand what they should do as next steps. Ideally, by building awareness and providing clear guidance, veterinarians will be prepared for and protected from long-term and severe mental health impacts that can occur from veterinary disasters like outbreaks of foreign animal diseases.
About the course
This course is provided free of charge through the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program. Each module is worth 1-2 credits of continuing education (CE) for veterinarians.
The course is intended for practicing veterinarians in the United States who are not swine-specific but would like to increase their awareness and preparation for swine foreign animal diseases.
All veterinarians of all experience levels and backgrounds are encouraged to take this course. Select content is tailored toward veterinarians in Minnesota, but most content is broadly applicable to all and resources are provided for veterinarians from any state.
Course registration
You do not have to wait for all modules to be released to register!
To help us provide you with a high-quality learning experience and ensure that all participants are properly enrolled, registration is managed by CAHFS staff before course access is granted in Canvas. Because enrollment is reviewed and processed by our team, access to the course is not immediate. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience. This process allows us to support participants effectively and deliver the highest quality CE experience possible. New registrations are processed and added to the Canvas course within 2 business days.
Course webinars
Continuing education credit
This course and webinar series is delivered by the Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS) at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, an AVMA-accredited veterinary college. Each module is approved for 1-2 non-interactive continuing education (CE) credits for veterinarians by the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinarians will have the ability to generate a certificate of completion at the end of each module.
For veterinarians outside of Minnesota, CAHFS has compiled a guide to help you understand if and how this CE may be approved in your state, which you can access here:
CE Requirements by State for Swine FAD Prep Course Participants (Last Updated August 7, 2026)
Granting of continuing education credits (and the specific amount of such credits) is at the sole discretion of each state/territory's licensing authority. CAHFS advises veterinarians to refer to their state’s guidance regarding CE approval and to reach out to their veterinary board with any questions. For veterinarians who need additional information for their states’ approval process, course syllabi are provided in the Canvas course hub for each module.
This project is funded by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service through the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program via a cooperative agreement between the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Veterinary Services (VS) and the University of Minnesota Center for Animal Health and Food Safety (CAHFS), USDA-APHIS Award: CON000000115375.