A veterinary school is accredited through a review process by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) and the Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). These institutions offer accreditation to a veterinary school by ensuring the school meets all the standards required for becoming an accredited veterinary school.
Accreditation
Accreditation is very important for a veterinary school to be recognized as an institution that is equipped to educate veterinarians. Veterinary schools in the United States that are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) and Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) are considered to be schools that offer a quality standard of veterinary medical education. As such veterinary educational institutions that receive accreditation from these institutions show students that they are committed to providing excellent training in the veterinary medical field. The AVMA COE is responsible for administering reviews of schools offering medical educational programs leading to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and similar degrees. The AVMA CVTEA outlines review standards and regulations for schools that offer programs in veterinary technology. A veterinary school is considered to be accredited when it meets the standards of these institutions.
Benefits of Accreditation
The accreditation veterinary medicals schools receive from AVMA assure prospective students that the programs and course work offered by these institutions meets the acceptable standards for practice in the field of veterinary medicine after graduation. Students can be certain that the education they receive at an accredited veterinary school prepares them to be competent for entry into the profession and makes them eligible for licensure. It assures employers that graduates of the accredited institution are fully equipped for professional practice. Moreover accreditation gives the general public the assurance that the graduates of the accredited institution are trained to meet the health and safety standards of the veterinary medical profession.
Veterinary Degrees
Accredited veterinary schools offer veterinary degree programs that include Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medicine Doctorate, Medicine Veterinary Baccalaureate, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery, Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry. In order to become a veterinarian a veterinary student must complete a veterinary educational program at an accredited veterinary school and attain a Doctorate or a Baccalaureate Veterinary Degree. Likewise graduation from a school which is accredited by the AVMA COE or the CVTEA is necessary for certification or licensure for professional practice by state licensing boards and veterinary medicine credential agencies across the country.
Curriculum
The veterinary medical school curriculum for accredited institutions is a generally a four year medical degree program. The program includes classroom course work, tests, laboratory sessions and clinical sessions. The program offers courses such as Fundamental Principles of Veterinary Anatomy; Veterinary Histology; Veterinary Developmental Anatomy; Veterinary Physiology; Radiographic Anatomy of the Dog and Cat; Health, History and Physical Examination; Introduction to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital; Veterinary Medical Ethics; Veterinary Nutrition; Anatomy of the Large Domestic Animals; Large Animal Radiographic Anatomy; Veterinary Immunology; Veterinary Epidemiology; Veterinary Virology; Food Animal Medicine; Small Animal Surgery; Veterinary Small Animal Anesthesia Lab and Large Animal Surgery. Most accredited schools also offer programs that include externships, research and clinical investigations.
Sources:
American Veterinary Medical Association: Why Is Accreditation Important?
http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/about_accred.asp
Veterinary Schools: Veterinary School Accreditation
http://www.veterinaryschools.com/veterinary-school-accreditation.html
