Lincoln Memorial Vet School Sues AVMA, Claims Accreditation System Hurts Pet Owners and Blocks New Veterinarians

A high-stakes legal battle is underway that could reshape the future of veterinary education in the United States. Lincoln Memorial University (LMU)—which operates the largest veterinary school in the nation—has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), alleging that the organization is leveraging its control over the accreditation process to limit competition and suppress the number of new veterinarians entering the profession.

Filed on June 18, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the lawsuit claims that the AVMA’s Council on Education (COE)—the sole recognized accrediting body for veterinary programs in the U.S.—has established a set of unrealistic, exclusionary, and economically burdensome standards that effectively prevent new and innovative veterinary schools from gaining accreditation. The result, LMU argues, is a bottleneck that artificially constrains the number of practicing veterinarians in the U.S. at a time when veterinary shortages are reaching crisis levels.

According to LMU, the AVMA’s current accreditation requirements go far beyond what's needed to train competent, day-one-ready veterinarians. Instead, the association demands that schools invest heavily in research infrastructure, facilities, and faculty resources that may be unrelated to clinical practice and far out of reach for programs that are primarily tuition-funded. LMU contends that these demands not only inflate the cost of veterinary education, but also create barriers that only well-funded, legacy institutions can clear, reinforcing a system that favors the status quo over innovation and accessibility.

In the complaint, LMU describes the AVMA’s actions as a monopoly in disguise—arguing that by using its accrediting power to limit new entrants into the field, the AVMA is restricting the supply of veterinarians, reducing options for students, and undermining consumer access to affordable veterinary care for both companion animals and livestock.

“This is not just about a school’s ability to open its doors,” the university asserts in its filing. “It’s about who gets to become a veterinarian, how much they’ll pay, and whether there are enough professionals to meet the growing demand for animal healthcare in the United States.”

Indeed, veterinary workforce shortages have been widely reported across the country, especially in rural communities, emergency hospitals, and large animal practices. Pet owners are facing longer wait times and fewer care options, while veterinary professionals are experiencing rising burnout and staffing pressures. LMU believes that expanding educational opportunities is essential to solving these challenges—and that the AVMA’s restrictive practices are standing in the way.

If successful, the lawsuit could lead to major changes in how veterinary programs are evaluated and approved in the U.S. It may also open the door for more innovative, cost-effective, and community-focused veterinary schools to gain accreditation and produce graduates who are ready to serve the growing and increasingly diverse needs of animal owners.

As the legal process unfolds, the case is sparking widespread debate across the veterinary community. At its core is a critical question: Should one organization have the power to define the future of an entire profession—especially when the stakes involve public access to essential animal care?

For now, LMU is taking that question to court, and the outcome could mark a pivotal moment in the evolution of veterinary medicine in America.

RELATED Complaint filed by Lincoln Memorial University
LMU filed Complaint Case No. 3:25-cv-0282 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. The complaint, available publicly via LMU's Dropbox link, seeks an injunction against the AVMA's accreditation practices—not monetary damages

What’s the Lawsuit About?

Filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the lawsuit claims the AVMA is leveraging its accreditation monopoly to:

  • Block new schools from entering the veterinary education space

  • Limit the number of graduating veterinarians in the U.S.

  • Decrease competition among existing vet schools

  • Restrict consumer access to affordable and timely animal healthcare

LMU argues that the AVMA’s demands—such as requiring costly research infrastructure unrelated to clinical veterinary training—are deliberately impossible for tuition-funded programs to meet.

A Question of Monopoly Power

The complaint accuses the AVMA of violating antitrust laws by maintaining control over who can educate and graduate new veterinarians in the U.S. It suggests that the association has created a closed system that benefits a handful of elite schools while shutting out innovative programs looking to train day-one-ready veterinarians using modern, practical approaches.

LMU says the AVMA’s requirements have drifted from what’s truly necessary for vet students to succeed in clinical practice—like hands-on experience, mentorship, and access to patients—and instead prioritize academic research infrastructure that adds significant cost but little benefit to general practice training.

What Comes Next?

The case could lead to a broader examination of how veterinary schools are accredited in the U.S. and whether the current system supports or stifles innovation. It may also prompt discussion about how best to solve the veterinarian shortage—whether through new schools, alternative pathways, or reforming the existing standards.

For now, LMU’s lawsuit puts a spotlight on a growing tension in animal healthcare: how to balance quality education, fair market access, and the urgent needs of America’s pets and livestock. If successful, the case could reshape the future of veterinary education—and expand access to care for millions.

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