How the AVMA Influences Veterinary Education and Accreditation

Updated

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) influences veterinary education primarily through its Council on Education (COE), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the accrediting body for veterinary schools. That accreditation role is the AVMA's most direct lever over education: a school must meet the COE's Standards of Accreditation to award the DVM degree in a way that satisfies most state licensure boards. Beyond accreditation, the AVMA shapes the profession through policy statements, clinical and ethical guidelines, and its role in the broader licensing and continuing education ecosystem.

Accreditation: the AVMA Council on Education

The COE is the AVMA body that evaluates veterinary medical programs. Its scope covers:

  • U.S. and international veterinary schools that seek AVMA accreditation or wish to maintain it.
  • Standards of Accreditation covering areas such as curriculum, faculty, facilities, admissions, and outcomes assessment.
  • Site visits and periodic review to confirm that a program continues to meet those standards.

For a prospective student, the practical consequence is that attending an AVMA-accredited program is typically the clearest path to meeting the education requirement for licensure in U.S. states. Programs outside the U.S. may also seek AVMA COE accreditation so their graduates face fewer hurdles in the U.S. licensure process.

Why accreditation matters to you

If you are... What AVMA accreditation means
A prospective DVM student Accreditation status is a key signal for licensure eligibility and for some federal loan programs.
A student at a non-accredited school You may need additional evaluation or a different pathway to licensure.
An international graduate AVMA COE accreditation of your school can simplify recognition in the U.S.
A school administrator You must document compliance with the Standards of Accreditation and undergo periodic review.

Standards, guidelines, and policy

Accreditation is only one channel. The AVMA also issues positions and guidelines that influence what veterinary education and practice look like day to day. These typically cover:

  • Clinical standards and best practices that schools incorporate into teaching.
  • Ethical guidelines, including the Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics, which shape professional conduct taught in curricula.
  • Policy statements on topics such as animal welfare, antimicrobial use, and telehealth, which educators may use to frame coursework.

These documents are not accreditation requirements in themselves, but they inform what programs teach and what graduates are expected to know.

Influence on licensure and continuing education

The AVMA does not license veterinarians—that is done by state boards. However, its accreditation decisions feed directly into the licensure system because most state boards require graduation from an AVMA-accredited (or equivalent) program. The AVMA also engages with continuing education expectations and provides resources that veterinarians use to meet state CE requirements, though the specific CE hours and rules are set by each state board.

Key distinction

  • AVMA: accredits schools, sets professional standards and guidelines.
  • State licensing boards: grant licenses, set CE requirements, and enforce practice rules.
  • AAVSB/ICVA and similar bodies: administer national examinations and some licensure-related processes.

How to verify a school's accreditation status

  1. Go to the AVMA website (avma.org) and locate the education/accreditation section.
  2. Find the list of AVMA COE–accredited programs (and those with provisional or other status).
  3. Check the program's current accreditation status and the date of its next review.
  4. If you are an international graduate, confirm whether your school holds AVMA COE accreditation or another recognized status.

Expected result: you can confirm whether a given program meets the accreditation condition that most state boards require.

Common snag: accreditation status can change (for example, provisional or probationary status). Always check the current listing rather than relying on older information.

What the AVMA does not control

  • It does not grant veterinary licenses.
  • It does not set state CE hour requirements.
  • It does not guarantee admission or employment outcomes for any program.

If your question is about licensure in a specific state, the state board is the authoritative source; the AVMA's role is the education standard that boards typically reference.