Foreign equivalency program for veterinary technicians ending

A program created to evaluate the educational equivalence of foreign veterinary technician graduates is shutting down due to a lack of participation.

The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) said February 25 that it would discontinue the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) for Veterinary Technicians, effective immediately.

The announcement came in a letter from Dr. Frank Richardson, AAVSB president, sent to the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), Association of Veterinary Technician Educators, National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), and Registered Veterinary Technologists and Technicians of Canada.

This program launched in 2020 to establish a pathway for veterinary technician and veterinary nursing graduates from international, nonaccredited programs to practice in the U.S. and Canada.

Dr. Richardson said the AAVSB board of directors made the decision because participation was significantly lower than expected. The organization did not provide figures on how many individuals used the program.

Dr. Richardson cited the increase in distance education veterinary technology programs as a reason for the reduced the demand for this alternate pathway.

Any participating PAVE for Veterinary Technicians candidate who is in the program will be accommodated so they can complete the program, Dr. Richardson wrote.

Beckie Mossor, NAVTA president, said, “While it’s unfortunate to see cuts and stoppage of funding for any veterinary technician program, especially one that falls into the realm of (diversity, equity, and inclusion), NAVTA understands that low participation has led to PAVE’s discontinuation. We are glad AAVSB is helping those currently in the program finish up and we hope they will continue to support DEI and international initiatives in the future.”

A version of this story appears in the May 2025 print issue of JAVMA