CVTEA accreditation policies and procedures

Last update to this section: January 2024

Appendix C – Guidelines for Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Technology Degree

The CVTEA has developed the following guidelines for evaluation of baccalaureate veterinary technology degrees:

  1. The mandate of the CVTEA is to accredit programs in veterinary technology, not individual degrees granted by programs. Accreditation assures that the program meets the AVMA CVTEA Standards of Accreditation.
  2. The educational institution must determine the structure and outcomes of the veterinary technology program needed to satisfy the CVTEA Standards of Accreditation. These include courses, program sequence, clinical application, duration and degree, all of which may be determined by internal policies and influenced by external regulatory standards.
  3. The CVTEA recommends that accredited programs offering baccalaureate degrees develop curricula that distinguish the program from an associate degree program. While satisfying the AVMA CVTEA standards for veterinary technology education, the baccalaureate degree program may expand veterinary exposure and offer added value options such as:
    1. Laboratory Animal Medicine
    2. Practice Management/Business
    3. Research
    4. Education
    5. Emergency/Critical Care
    6. Anesthesia
    7. Clinical Laboratory Medicine
    8. Dentistry
    9. Internal Medicine
  4. Accredited programs expanding degree options to include baccalaureate options must inform CVTEA of this change but an additional level of accreditation will not be granted.