AAVSB approves NAVTA’s veterinary technician representation request

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) recently shared that the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) approved "Resolution 2025-4: Veterinary Technician Representative—Member Board Composition." The resolution was adopted at the AAVSB’s 2025 Annual Meeting and Conference, now encouraging veterinary regulatory boards to include credentialed veterinary technicians as voting members alongside public members and veterinarians.

According to NAVTA, the association submitted the proposal to AAVSB in April 2024 to highlight the essential role that credentialed technicians play in animal health, public protection, and the entire veterinary team.1 Currently, more than 20 state boards already include veterinary technicians, but the representation is inconsistent, with many serving in roles that are advisory or nonvoting. The AAVSB took the NAVTA’s resolution for member consideration, which urges all state boards overseeing the licensing and regulation of technicians to create and then fill a voting seat for a credentialed veterinary technician.

“This resolution is a milestone for the profession. Veterinary technicians bring valuable expertise to issues of regulation, licensure, and public safety. Ensuring that our voices are represented at the decision-making table will strengthen the profession and improve outcomes for veterinary teams, patients, and the public,” Beckie Mossor, RVT, NAVTA president, said in a news release.1

The AAVSB will be working with its member boards to help promote the inclusion of veterinary technicians on those boards, including through the AAVSB Practice Act Model, and will provide support to states that do not yet have an established voting seat for veterinary technicians.1,2

“NAVTA looks forward to partnering with AAVSB to encourage broader adoption of this resolution and to provide resources to help state boards implement veterinary technician representation,” NAVTA stated in their release.

Along with this win for veterinary technicians, NAVTA also announced that it is now accepting nominations for its Veterinary Technician of the Year Award. The award is given to a credentialed veterinary technician who meets the following criteria3:

• Outstanding contributions and impact of the following:
  • Veterinary technology/nursing profession
  • State or local community
  • Their practice/place of employment
  • Area of specialty
• Development of ground-breaking techniques or ideas that improve team culture, animal health care, or well-being
• Development of a body of knowledge that did not exist previously or that needed to be updated
• Distinguished service to or leadership of the profession on a local, state, or national level

The chosen winner will receive appreciation, praise, and recognition from the entire NAVTA community, plus free membership for a year. Anyone interested in nominating a veterinary technician can do so on the NAVTA website before November 7, 2025.3

References

1. NAVTA’s request for veterinary technician representation on state boards approved by AAVSB. News release. National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. September 25, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://navta.net/news/navtas-request-for-veterinary-technician-representationon-state-boards-approved-by-aavsb/
2. Larkin M. AAVSB opposes midlevel position, supports in-person VCPR requirement. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. September 30, 2025. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/aavsb-opposes-midlevel-position-supports-person-vcpr-requirement
3. Nominations for NAVTA’s Veterinary Technician of the Year Award now open. News release. National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America. Accessed October 17, 2025. https://navta.net/news/nominations-for-navtas-veterinary-technician-of-the-year-award-now-open/