QPR Certification for Veterinarians and Veterinary Technicians
4 Course Dates Offered (see below for details)
2.0 continuing education hours

Virtual (via Zoom) | Each date limited to 30 participants

*Registration for each course CLOSES 2 days prior to the live course date*

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $256,219.00 with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the US Government.

Course dates offered (choose 1 of the 4 dates to attend; all sessions are virtual):

• December 1, 2026 from 12pm to 2pm CT (Instructor: Kathryn Lang, PhD, LP)
• March 2027 (dates, times, and instructor TBD)
• June 2027 (dates, times, and instructor TBD)
• August 2027 (dates, times, and instructor, TBD)

CE/CEU credits included: 2.0 (see below for approval details). You must attend at least 90% of the live webinar and have your camera on during the course to receive CE credits and QPR certification.

• This webinar will NOT be recorded and no make-up dates are offered.
• Partial continuing education credits are not awarded.

Format: Live, interactive virtual workshop via Zoom (we will be using breakout rooms, so please view this course in a place where you can be visible on camera)

Investment: This course is FREE if you meet at least one of the following criteria (enter code RHTP100 at checkout):

1. You are a rural or Tribal North Dakota resident (i.e., live anywhere in North Dakota EXCEPT for Fargo, West Fargo, Grand Forks, or Bismarck); OR
   
2. 50% of the clients that you serve or people you employ are rural or Tribal North Dakota Residents

If you do not meet criteria for free registration, the registration fee is $35+ sales tax

• Priority registration will be given to those meeting criteria for free registration if the course is near registration limits (30 participants).

Presenter: Kathryn Lang, PhD, LP (see bio below)

Abstract:

Veterinarians and veterinary technicians play an important role in suicide prevention. The presence of pets serve as a protective factor for suicide, in that pets can be one’s reason for living, but the death of a pet can be a risk factor for suicide (Van Buiten et al., 2026). Caring for an animal with behavioral or medical challenges can also contribute to isolation and other concerns which can impact suicidality (Black, 2012). Veterinary medicine also has high rates of death by suicide within the industry (da Silva et al., 2023). Therefore, it is our goal to not only positively impact clients they serve but also help improve identification, discussion, and referral for mental health concerns within the veterinary medicine professions. Proactive, community-based approaches are an important part of the 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention (US DHHS, 2024). Moreover, The North Dakota Suicide Fatality Review Commission (2025) recommended expanding gatekeeper training to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. In this workshop, participants will be trained in QPR, and successful completion of this course results in QPR certification, which is good for 1 year. Participants will learn and practice a 3-step model (Question, Persuade, Refer) that veterinarians and veterinary technicians can use if they suspect someone is experiencing a mental health concern. Participants will apply learned skills to various scenarios as well as discuss how components of the learned material may be integrated into standard workplace onboarding and safety training. This course goes beyond awareness and focuses on helping you take effective action when you are concerned about someone, which can be helpful for clients you serve and with colleagues. It is designed to be role-specific and supplement workplace policies and procedures and professional guidelines.

Objectives:

1. List statistics, signs, & symptoms of suicide.
2. Recall suicide factors unique rural and Tribal residents, veterinarians, and veterinary technicians
3. Choose QPR strategies to use when someone is experiencing a mental health emergency

Non-Discrimination:

HPC and ATAGF do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or age.

Conflict of Interest Statements:

There is no known commercial support for this program, nor are there any relationships between the CE sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could be construed as conflicts of interests. Dr. Lang is employed by ATAGF and receives an honorarium for instructing this course. There is no commercial support or benefits for endorsement of products (e.g., books, training, drugs).

The presenter will inform participants of the utility and validity of content discussed (including the basis for statements about utility/validity), as well as limitations of the approach and the most common and severe risks, if any, associated with program content.

Requests for Accommodations:

HPC and ATAGF are committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all aspects of its continuing education activities. Participants with special needs should contact program organizers so reasonable accommodations can be made.

To request accommodations, contact ATAGF's Continuing Education Vice Chair, Christine Boulton-Olson, PhD, LP, at training@grandforkstherapy.com.