Alabama college earns CVTEA accreditation

An Alabama veterinary technician program has received initial accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). Southern Union State Community College (SUSCC) in Valley, Alabama, was granted accreditation at the CVTEA’s November 2025 meeting.¹

The CVTEA’s accreditation process is designed to ensure that veterinary technicians receive an appropriate education in preparation of fulfilling their roles.² Accreditation is typically retroactive, effective from the date of the last accreditation site visit.³

SUSCC students graduating after the effective accreditation date are considered graduates of a veterinary technology program that is accredited by the AVMA. The college’s initial accreditation was made effective retroactively on September 4, 2025, the date of a CVTEA site visit.^3,4

“This accomplishment reflects the dedication, leadership, and excellence of Program Director Hayley Pritchard and her outstanding team, as well as Dean Rhonda Davis and the amazing Health Sciences Division. Their hard work, vision, and commitment to student success made this achievement possible,” SUSCC shared in a Facebook message posted on November 18, 2025.⁴ “Together, they have set a new standard for veterinary education at Southern Union and created lasting opportunities for our students and community.”

According to SUSCC, veterinary technicians are in high demand in Alabama. In 2023, Alabama's State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners reported 478 technicians and 1859 veterinarians, while 2022 labor data projected growth for employment of veterinary technicians from 2021 to 2031.⁵

"Veterinary technicians, veterinary technologists, and veterinary technician specialists are veterinary health care teammates, and they greatly enhance the success of any practice," Michael Q. Bailey, DVM, DACVR, AAAS, president of AVMA, said in a news release celebrating veterinary technicians.² "We encourage veterinarians to maximize the integration of veterinary technicians’ skills, offer them continuing education opportunities, and more fully recognize their professional value as the teammates they are."

There are 217 veterinary technician programs accredited by the CVTEA, including 6 in Puerto Rico and 1 in Ontario, Canada,⁶ which altogether annually graduate approximately 5500 veterinary technicians.² These accredited programs include 28 that offer 4-year degrees and 11 that offer distance learning. Three US states—Alaska, Utah, and Montana—and Washington, DC, do not currently have an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program.⁶

However, 5 more veterinary technician programs in the US have applied for accreditation. According to the AVMA, they include Trocaire College in Buffalo, New York; Matanuska-Susitna College in Gateway, Alaska; Community College of Beaver County in Monaca, Pennsylvania; Great Falls College in Great Falls, Montana; and Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, Iowa.³

References

1. New programs accredited at the November 2025 CVTEA meeting. AVMA. Accessed December 8, 2025. https://www.avma.org/education/center-for-veterinary-accreditation/congratulations-avma-cvteas-newly-accredited-veterinary-technology-programs
2. AVMA celebrates National Veterinary Technician Week (Oct. 12-18). News release. AVMA. October 9, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/avma-celebrates-national-veterinary-technician-week-oct-12-18
3. Programs that have applied for AVMA CVTEA accreditation. AVMA. September 2025. Accessed December 8, 2025. https://www.avma.org/education/center-for-veterinary-accreditation/programs-have-applied-avma-cvtea-accreditation
4. November 18, 2025. Accessed December 8, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1387810156678263&set=a.544964347629519
5. Program overview. Southern Union State Community College. Accessed December 8, 2025. https://www.suscc.edu/programs/program-overview
6. Programs accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). AVMA. Accessed December 8, 2025. https://www.avma.org/education/center-for-veterinary-accreditation/accredited-programs-cvtea