Comment Now: Educational Curriculum Standards

April 16, 2024 — 

The AVMA Council on Education® (AVMA COE®) has proposed changes to its educational standard governing the curriculum for veterinary medical schools and is accepting comment on the proposal through April 29, 2024.

Under the proposed change, all accredited veterinary schools would be required to "provide at least 130 weeks of instruction that is directly supervised. Direct instruction must include a minimum of 40 weeks of hands-on clinical education involving the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and mitigation of disease related to animal health."

The current standard requires "a period equivalent to a minimum of four academic years, including a minimum of one academic year of hands-on clinical education."

The council explains the rationale for the proposed change this way: "Increasing variability in the calendar length of veterinary educational programs requires standardization of requirements in terms of weeks of instruction to ensure students are able to participate fully in the didactic, required, and elective education necessary for their development. "

How to comment

Comments on the proposal must be submitted directly to the COE in writing (email or surface mail). Here are instructions for submitting comments, as well as more detail on the proposed change.

[Source: AVMA 9 April 2024]