March 01, 2021

A certificate program aimed at assessing the education equivalence of veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses trained outside the U.S. and Canada—for which there is currently no existing coordinated program—debuted late last year.

The American Association of Veterinary State Boards released new standards and policies for the PAVE for Veterinary Technicians certificate program in December. PAVE is the AAVSB’s Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence for graduates of foreign veterinary colleges. The AVMA Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates also offers a certification program.

The PAVE for Veterinary Technicians certificate is not a credential to practice as a veterinary technician in the U.S. or Canada but does, in areas where it is accepted, indicate that the holder meets the educational requirements for credentialing eligibility.

Kenichiro Yagi, president of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, said there has been a need for an avenue for veterinary technicians and nurses trained abroad to enter the U.S. and Canadian workforce.

“We’re happy to see AAVSB offering the PAVE program for the members of our profession,” Yagi said. “In an ever-increasingly mobile world, moving across country borders is not uncommon. Practicing in the U.S. is often seen as an attractive option for individuals with the desire to hone their skills, and we hope to see the influx add to the diversity within our field.”

The PAVE program was originally developed for veterinarians who wanted a pathway to practice in the U.S. and Canada, and the additional certificate for veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses will expand on that program.

Dr. Roger Redman, AAVSB president, said in a statement, “In the past few years, our membership has made it clear the demand to expand PAVE into the veterinary technician/nurse profession is immense.”

Get more information about the PAVE for Veterinary Technicians program.