Veterinary Schools Face New Rules: Why Hands-On Training Can't Go Virtual
Many veterinary programs already incorporate distance education (DE) through online courses, video lectures, teleconferencing, and hybrid models. Now, the AVMA Council on Education (COE) has formally introduced policies guiding how DE should be used in veterinary education.
At its March meeting, the COE approved revisions to its Accreditation Policies and Procedures Manual, following an expansion of its accrediting authority by the U.S. Department of Education.
Key Principle: In-Person Learning Remains Essential
The new policies emphasize that distance education should enhance and support traditional in-person training, not replace it. Clinical skills training must still be conducted hands-on, with online components allowed only as supplements to laboratory or clinical instruction.
“As distance education continues to evolve, veterinary education must evolve with it—but without compromising the critical need for in-person collaboration and practical experience,” the council wrote in an April 1 letter to stakeholders.
Stakeholder Insights and Federal Mandates
Following a mandate from the U.S. Secretary of Education in November 2024, the COE surveyed accredited and provisionally accredited programs, gathering over 1,300 comments from faculty, students, and veterinarians. The feedback was clear: while online learning has value, clinical, skills-based, and lab education should remain face-to-face.
The council also consulted experts in distance education, finding that most available studies on DE outcomes stem from the COVID-19 era and may not reflect current educational settings. Additionally, accrediting bodies for MD and DO medical programs do not have separate standards for distance education.
What the New Policies Require
Veterinary programs must:
Remain predominantly residential, ensuring technology complements, not substitutes, in-person education.
Establish clear oversight and approval processes for DE courses (excluding guest lectures or emergency sessions).
Invest in technology, faculty training, and instructional design to support high-quality DE.
Regularly assess student performance and outcomes across both in-person and online courses.
Maintain at least 85% of the preclinical curriculum and 50% of direct instruction in a face-to-face format.
Ensure regular and substantive faculty-student interaction in online courses.
Programs already using DE must submit a substantive change request by late summer for any course where technology is the primary mode of interaction. The COE will evaluate requests individually, but accreditation statuses will not be affected regardless of the outcome.
Next Steps
The AVMA Council on Education will host a Q&A session about these new policies on May 13 at 3 p.m. Central Time. Registration is required to attend.
