Youth for the Quality Care of Animals (YQCA)

Youth for the Quality Care of Animals

Link above takes you to Nebraska State 4-H Website

  • Includes information on how to complete, course requirements, and more.

YQCA CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Youth Quality Care of Animals (YQCA)

  • The Nebraska 4-H Program and the Washington County 4-H Program has mandated the Quality Assurance Certification for 4-H/FFA members exhibiting the following projects at the Washington County Fair, Fremont 4-H Expo, and Nebraska State Fair:
    • BEEF
    • DAIRY CATTLE
    • DAIRY GOATS
    • HOGS
    • MEAT GOATS
    • POULTRY
    • RABBITS
    • SHEEP
  • Washington County 4-H/FFA Exhibitors are REQUIRED to be Quality Assurance Certified through online certification or testing no later than JUNE 15, 2021.
  • Exhibitors must be certified before the show season or they will NOT be allowed to exhibit their livestock at this year’s shows; Washington County Fair, Fremont 4-H Expo, and Nebraska State Fair.
  • The following are the YQCA Certification Requirements for 4-H/FFA animal project members/students based on their age on January 1, 2021.

Junior (8 – 10 years old on January 1, 2021)

  • Complete On-line Courses (three completed are required per year)

Intermediate (11 – 14 years old on January 1, 2021)

  • Complete On-line Courses (three completed are required per year); OR
  • YQCA Testing Out Option (see details below) 

Senior (15 – 18 years old on January 1, 2021)

  • Complete On-line Courses (three completed are required per year); OR 
  • YQCA Testing Out Option (see details below) 

YQCA LOGIN INSTRUCTIONS

  1. 4-H livestock members will use your FAMILY 4HOnline login and password information to access the courses for the ACTIVE youth in your family. Only ACTIVE (approved enrollment & fees for 2021) members will show in the drop down menu for access to the course.  Therefore, be sure to enroll BEFORE proceeding to the YQCA online course. NOTE: There is a button for families that have forgotten their 4HOnline password.
    1. Go to yqca.org from your computer browser and select Sign In/Register Tab
    2. Sign in and register using the 4-H Online box
    3. Select the name of your organization from the pick list “Nebraska 4-H Youth Development”. NOTE: All 4-Hers need to use the 4-H tab and not the FFA tab even if they are members of both organizations.
    4. Use your 4-H Online user name and password to start the process.
    5. Select the member name taking the course.
    6. Select the age of the member in the appropriate box.
    7. When the age is selected the appropriate courses will be selected.
    8. Select online choice
    9. Select payment method credit card. $12 per member/student will be charged prior to taking the YQCA online certification. Fees will help cover cost of the online management.
    10. Once the 4-Hers have completed the three courses, they will need to save on their computer and print out the certificate and deliver to the Extension Office in Blair.
      1. For swine exhibitors, the number on your completion certificate will be used as the number that will be asked for by swine buyers. So be sure to keep the certificate for marketing purposes.
      2. All registration questions or problems with YQCA should be directed to help@yqca.org. There will not be local support for the YQCA program.
      3. If you are unsure of your requirements or completed certification, contact the Nebraska Extension Office in Washington County, 402-426-9455.  

YQCA TESTING OUT OPTION 

Test-out options are only available to youth in the first year of Intermediate (age 12) and Senior (age 15) age levels. There is no test-out option for Juniors. If passed, youth will not be required to complete the annual training requirements for the remainder of their current age level (Intermediates: 12-14; Seniors: 15-18). Each test consists of 50 randomly selected questions and has a pass rate of 80% or better for certification. 

Participants will have only one chance to take the test-out option. If youth fail, they will not be provided another opportunity to test out of that age level. Participants who do not pass will be prompted to take the instructor-led training or web-based training annually. 

If the youth passes, payment for the completed test-out course will be required after the completion of the test. No payment is required to attempt the test. Test-out costs are:

  • Intermediate: $36 ($12 x 3 years of certification)
  • Senior: $48 ($12 x 4 years of certification).

If passed, youth will receive access to online modules that correspond with the age levels, found on the user's "My Library" page.