Provisional Accreditation granted to College of Veterinary Medicine at Utah State University
Logan, Utah, October 14, 2025 – The American Veterinary Medical Association – Council on Education, which accredits education programs that confer the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), granted Utah State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine with Provisional Accreditation, effective August 11, 2025.
August 11th is the date the college matriculated its inaugural cohort of 42 veterinary students. This class will graduate in 2029 with the distinction of being the first to achieve their DVM degrees in the state of Utah.
“Through the accreditation process the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education is fully dedicated to protecting the rights of the students, assisting the schools/colleges to improve veterinary medical education, and assuring the public that accredited programs provide a quality education,” according to the group’s Policies and Procedures.
In response to the news, Dr. Dirk K. Vanderwall, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, said, “Receiving Provisional Accreditation from the AVMA – COE is another major milestone in the establishment of the new four-year DVM degree program in the College of Veterinary Medicine. This important achievement reflects the ongoing efforts of our dedicated faculty, staff, and administration to fulfill the 11 standards of accreditation that are outlined by the COE.”
“Provisional accreditation” is awarded to a developing college in the U.S. and Canada, allowing it to pursue its plan for the veterinary program and to admit students. A college may reach “accredited” status after it demonstrates it has no deficiencies in any of the Council on Education’s Standards. One requirement for full accreditation is that at least 80 percent of each college’s graduating seniors pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). USU’s college will be eligible for full accreditation in 2029.
Following an accreditation action such as this one, the Council on Education requires a college to notify the public of its accreditation status and the date of its next site visit. The next site visit to USU’s College of Veterinary Medicine is scheduled for November 15 - 19, 2026.
For more information, please contact:
Nadia Pflaum
PR Specialist, USU College of Veterinary Medicine
Nadia.pflaum@usu.edu
(816) 716-2885