Q: How does a new veterinary college become accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (COE)?
A: Newly established colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States and Canada function under provisional accreditation, contingent upon their demonstration of plans and intent to administer a program that will comply with the
Standards of Accreditation. Site visits by the AVMA Council on Education (COE) are conducted during the period of provisional accreditation, in addition to review of semi-annual reports by the college. Provisional accreditation cannot exceed five years, after which the school is visited and assessed by the COE and granted one of the other (accredited or terminal) accreditation classifications. For more information, read about the different
types of accreditation classifications.