AAVSB, VMG surveys find lack of support for midlevel practitioner

July 17, 2024

A 2023 American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) survey found most North American veterinarians and veterinary technicians supported better utilization of credentialed veterinary technicians (CrVTs) as a means to help alleviate veterinary workforce shortages, rather than creating a new midlevel practitioner (MLP).

The AAVSB, whose membership includes licensing bodies in more than 60 jurisdictions, including all of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the 10 Canadian provinces, fielded the survey earlier this year to assess current roles and responsibilities of veterinary technicians and gauge level of interest within the North American veterinary community for an MLP, whose duties would overlap the duties of the veterinarian and veterinary technician.

Nearly 14,000 veterinarians and veterinary technicians responded to the survey, a majority (61%) of them being veterinary technicians. Most respondents (79%) work in companion animal exclusive practices, and half work in the suburbs, followed by urban (32%) and rural (18%) areas.

Two veterinarians examine a dog — Two veterinary organizations say they have not found overwhelming support for the creation of a midlevel practitioner position among their members right now and, instead, will focus on better utilization and an expanded role for veterinary technicians.

“Our commitment remains to public protection and ensuring accessible, quality veterinary care. The survey data demonstrates that veterinary technicians can and should be utilized more extensively to address gaps in veterinary care, before a midlevel veterinary practitioner can be considered,” said Dr. Kim Gemeinhardt, AAVSB president, in a June 19 press release. As a result, the AAVSB has indicated that it will not encourage legislative and regulatory attempts to create a MLP.

Veterinary Management Groups (VMG), a professional membership organization for practice owners who want to improve the business side of their practice, also conducted a 2024 survey regarding the creation of an MLP.

Their surveyed members were overwhelmingly against the idea of the position. Their main concerns were as follows:

Nonveterinarians performing surgeries, because of the risks and potential complications.
A decline in care quality, resulting in improper diagnosis or malpractice, as well as devaluing the veterinary degree.
The potential to dilute revenue streams, making it harder to pay off student loans for veterinarians, and possibly lead to a saturated market with an oversupply of MLPs.
The perception that this initiative is driven by interests to lower labor costs, rather than actual need for the position.

Suggested alternatives from respondents were to improve and properly leverage CrVTs, push for universal licensure of veterinary technicians before creating a new role, focus on expanding and enhancing veterinary technician specialist programs for more specialized technician roles, and increase pay and support for current veterinary technicians.

A version of this story appears in the September 2024 print issue of JAVMA