AVMA's veterinary college accreditor faces

The U.S. Department of Education has proposed a sweeping overhaul of accreditation rules that directly affects the body accrediting the nation's veterinary colleges. The proposed changes, published on August 20, 2026, would impose new independence requirements on the AVMA Council on Education (COE) and establish standards for student outcomes, academic freedom, and program length.

Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent stated in an August 19 announcement that the current system has contributed to inflated tuition and administrative bloat. The department's goal is to improve affordability and reconnect education to workforce needs. The proposal follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in April 2025.

Proposed changes for accreditors

The rule would require programmatic accreditors like the AVMA COE to operate "fully separate and independent" from related professional associations. This prohibits joint use of personnel, services, equipment, or facilities and mandates conflict-of-interest controls.

New evaluation standards would also be set. Accreditors would need to assess student outcomes like employment, licensure exam pass rates, and economic returns relative to cost. The proposal includes protections for academic freedom and a prohibition on standards based on "preferential treatment" tied to protected characteristics. It also requires that program length be "appropriate to the objectives of the program."

A significant change is the elimination of the "two-year rule." Currently, an accrediting agency needs two years of experience making decisions before seeking federal recognition. Under the new rule, an agency would only need to demonstrate its capacity and show it has received at least one application from an institution or program.

Impact on veterinary education

The AVMA Council on Education was formally established in 1946 and was last renewed in 2024. According to the AVMA, the proposed changes would not trigger an immediate re-review but would apply at the COE's next recognition review.

Jim Weisman, DVM, AVMA chief of academic affairs, research and accreditation, commented on the proposal. He said the AVMA celebrates the work of the COE and stands ready to work with it to meet new requirements. Weisman added that the proposal aligns with the COE's ongoing efforts to enhance its own policies and procedures.

He stated the AVMA maintains its focus on ensuring changes do not negatively impact students, veterinary schools, or the public. The broader goal stated by the department is to reduce prescriptive site visit mandates and rigid processing timelines.

Next steps and timeline

The department ran a negotiated rulemaking process through its Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization Committee. This committee met for multi-day sessions in April and May 2026 after a public comment period and hearings.

Public comments on the proposed rule are due by September 21, 2026, and can be submitted through regulations.gov. The department is targeting a final rule by November 1, 2026.

The effective date would be no earlier than July 1, 2027. Requirements affecting shared spaces could take effect July 1, 2028.