The AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) will be conducting an accreditation site visit to the following veterinary technology programs in Colorado in 2026.
- October 7 – 8, 2026 Colorado Mesa University; Grand Junction, CO
- October 14 – 15, 2026 Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology; Denver, CO
Potential volunteers can sign-up online using the CVTEA Site Team Form.
Signing up does not obligate you to volunteer or guarantee a spot on a site team. This form is designed to collect a pool of intersted volunteers.
Here’s what it takes to be one of the volunteers.
What do I need to do?
Tremendous responsibility accompanies the authority of CVTEA site team members. Site visit teams are fact-finding bodies. The purpose of the site team member is to visit a veterinary technology program to assess the program’s ability to meet the CVTEA Standards of Accreditation.
- Attend a 2-day site visit (If scheduling does not permit, the exit interviews on the last day are optional.). The objective of a site visit is to verify and supplement information presented in the self-study report.
- Carefully review the self-study and other submitted materials so that you will have a basic understanding of the program and its operation.
- Be actively engaged in the discussions with program personnel and other site team members.
- Reveal any conflicts of interest (real or perceived) with programs being accredited (see below section on Conflict of Interest).
- Be on time for all functions.
- Wear your identification badge at all times.
- Have a neat and professional appearance. Dress is business or business casual attire.
- Submit expense reports in a timely manner (if necessary).
- Contact AVMA CVTEA staff with any programmatic or organizational concerns.
- Sign the confidentiality form and abide by all confidentiality policies.
- Following the site visit, review a draft Report of Evaluation (ROE) for factual content.
A site team member represents one of the following categories:
- The public
- Veterinary technician
- Veterinarian, preferably a member of the state/local veterinary medical association
What are the skills of an awesome site team member?
- A concerned interest in veterinary technician education
- Demonstrated skill in written and oral communication including evaluating, interviewing, negotiating, and investigating
- Access to email and proficiency with Microsoft software applications
- Sensitivity and the ability to appreciate points of view of other site team members
- Ability to listen and relate well to program personnel
- Absence of bias and absence of personal agenda in the assessment of the program
- An open mind and positive attitude
Length of commitment
Approximately 6-8 hours to read submitted materials and two days for an on-site visit
Training and orientation
There is an optional site team welcome by Zoom (approximately 30 minutes) one week prior to the site visit. In addition, the site team chair will provide an orientation the first day and first hour of the site visit. During this orientation the site team chair will provide an overview of the agenda and provide guidance on how to proceed with the site visit.
Benefits
- Opportunity to improve the quality of veterinary technician education
- Develop and practice interpersonal communication and leadership skills
- Participation in organized veterinary medicine
- Opportunity to help assure students achieve their goal of working in veterinary medicine by receiving an education that meets the CVTEA Standards of Accreditation
Note: Travel, food, and lodging expenses incurred in connection with the site visit are reimbursed; however, honorariums are not paid.
Supervision
The CVTEA site team chair will serve as the lead of the site team. AVMA CVTEA staff provide support to the site team.
Conflict of interest
To serve on a site team, volunteers or their immediate family (parent, spouse, siblings) must not have any of the following conflicts of interest:
- Be a member of the program’s advisory committee or IACUC
- Past or present employment by the institution or program being evaluated.
- Service as a consultant for the institution/program being evaluated.
Volunteer candidates may contact AVMA CVTEA staff for clarification of any concerns. If conflicts of interest are revealed to the entire team, and if it is agreed that the site team member will be unbiased in evaluating the program, it may be acceptable to allow the individual to remain on the site team.
Why is serving on a site team important?
- The profession needs educated, qualified veterinary technicians as an integral part of the veterinary health care team!
- Programs designed to educate entry-level veterinary technicians must be accountable to offering a quality education that meets Standards of Accreditation established by the AVMA CVTEA!
- It gives back to your community!
- It helps people fulfill their dreams!