March 01, 2021

The AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities released its most recent accreditation decisions from its Nov. 6-7, 2020, meeting, including initial accreditation granted to one program.

There are currently 209 CVTEA-accredited veterinary technology programs, including 10 distance education programs. There are 168 programs assigned full accreditation, 37 with initial accreditation, and four with probationary accreditation.

The San Diego Mesa College in San Diego was approved for initial accreditation, and the State University of New York-Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, New York, was granted full accreditation following review of the site visit report. Accreditation was withdrawn from Baker College of Clinton Township in Michigan.

The CVTEA has 45 site visits scheduled for 2021, including six new programs. There are currently 19 programs that have indicated an interest in seeking initial accreditation, and eight new program applications have been approved for initial site visits. The CVTEA performs roughly 50 site visits each year.

Along with its accreditation decisions, the committee also updated its COVID-19 policy and proposed changes to several of its Standards of Accreditation.

The AVMA CVTEA also delayed the implementation of its Standard 11, or the requirement that a program’s three-year rolling average pass percentage for individuals taking the Veterinary Technician National Exam for the first time must be 50% or higher, to Sept. 1. The committee made this decision on the basis of some graduates’ inability to complete the VTNE during the pandemic.

The CVTEA’s next meeting is April 22-25.