CVTEA announces accreditation decisions for technician programs

By Kaitlyn Mattson
Published on
information-circle This article is more than 3 years old

The AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities granted initial accreditation to four new veterinary technology programs and withdrew the accreditation of three programs at its Nov. 1-4 meeting in Schaumburg, Illinois.

Veterinary technician director and students
Students listen to breathing sounds as the veterinary technician clinical director oversees their work in the El Paso Veterinary Technician Laboratory. Pima Medical Institute-El Paso graduated its first two students in December. (Courtesy of Pima Medical Institute)

There are currently 204 CVTEA-accredited programs in veterinary technology, including 11 distance learning programs.

The CVTEA uses 11 standards to accredit veterinary technology programs, such as finances, admissions, students, and resources for clinical instruction.

The following schools received initial accreditation:

  • Ashworth College, Norcross, Georgia.
  • Dakota County Technical College, Rosemount, Minnesota.
  • Medaille College (online), Buffalo, New York.
  • Pima Medical Institute, El Paso, Texas.

The initial accreditation terminology is used for newly accredited programs for their first five years. Graduates of an initially accredited program are considered graduates of a CVTEA-accredited program and are eligible in nearly all states to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam.

The CVTEA continued the terminal accreditation of Vista College, Lubbock, Texas, which is expected to close in March, and continued accreditation was withdrawn from the Vet Tech Institute at Hickey College and from Harrison College in Evansville, Indiana, and Indianapolis.

In other news, the CVTEA elevated the following programs to full accreditation status during its meeting:

  • Florida A&M University, Quincy, Florida.
  • Iowa Lakes Community College, Estherville, Iowa.
  • Pima Medical Institute, Aurora, Colorado.
  • Platt College, Ontario, California.
  • Windward Community College, Kaneohe, Hawaii.

The committee has plans for 44 site visits in 2019, including visits to seven new programs. The committee allows a maximum of 50 site visits per year.

The CVTEA's next meeting is April 25-28 and will include reviews of several site visits from the end of 2018 and early 2019. See a list of the programs that have completed the application process and have been granted a site visit. There are 14 new programs applying for accreditation.

The CVTEA also made a few verbiage and policy changes to the Accreditation Policies and Procedures Manual at its meeting such as an amendment to Section VI under the accreditation fees, which changed the date of a penalty fee if the annual fee had not been paid.

Laura Lien, assistant director of education and research at the AVMA and member of the CVTEA, said: "The changes to the (Policies and Procedures Manual) are part of the continuous review and improvement process for CVTEA. These changes are often the outcome of changes in veterinary practice standards or based on stakeholder feedback and best accreditation practices."

Related JAVMA content:

New veterinary technician programs open as others close (Oct. 15, 2018)

Assessing veterinary technician education (May 1, 2018)

Veterinary technology programs hit by turmoil at for-profits (April 1, 2017)

For-profit veterinary technology programs continue to close (Sept. 1, 2016)

Closures come amid troubles at for-profits (June 15, 2015)