The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) is recognized by the United States Department of Education as the accrediting body for veterinary medical education programs.
See an overview of the AVMA COE accreditation process >>
Arkansas State University College of Medicine (CVM) is currently pursuing AVMA COE accreditation. The CVM has completed several major milestones in the multi-year accreditation process which are summarized in this figure.
In 2023, Arkansas State University initiated the accreditation process by requesting the AVMA COE to conduct a review of the proposed College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM).
In July 2024, an AVMA COE site team conducted a consultative site visit. The goal of this visit was to determine if the A-State CVM was ready for a full comprehensive review.
The CVM prepared a self-study to provide information on the approach to implementing our DVM program and how we will ensure compliance with the 11 AVMA COE Standards. An AVMA COE site team will visit the A-State CVM in January 2026.
All members of the AVMA COE will review the self-study, the AVMA COE site team's report, and additional information provided by A-State CVM.
AVMA COE will assign a classification of accreditation and will continue to monitor A-State CVM.
If the classification of Reasonable Assurance is granted, A-State CVM will begin admitting students.
As outlined in the figure, the CVM has a comprehensive site visit in early 2026. Upon successful review of the 2026 comprehensive site visit and all supportive materials, the classification of Letter of Reasonable Assurance, also known as Reasonable Assurance will be granted.
What does a Letter of Reasonable Assurance mean?
The AVMA COE accreditation classification for this term is as follows:
Letter of Reasonable Assurance – This is a status awarded to developing colleges in the US and Canada. This recognition allows the College to pursue its plan for the veterinary program, and to admit students. Reasonable Assurance is not a pre-accreditation action, by the Council, and does not confer accreditation of any kind on a developing college.
At this time, we will open our admissions portal and recruit students who we anticipate to begin their training in Fall 2026. Once our inaugural class is matriculated, we will become Provisionally Accredited.
What does Provisional Accreditation mean?
The AVMA COE accreditation classification for this term is as follows:
Provisional Accreditation – This is a status awarded a developing college in the US and Canada that has been granted Reasonable Assurance after the College has admitted in its first class.
Our program will be regularly reviewed by the AVMA COE through interim reports and additional comprehensive site visits. Our college will become eligible for full accreditation after the graduation of the first cohort of students and reevaluation of the entire program by the AVMA COE that ensures all standards, including student outcomes, has been met. All currently Fully Accredited Colleges of Veterinary Medicine completed this same process, and similarly provide interim reports to the AVMA COE and undergo comprehensive site visits.
Will I be able to practice if I graduate when the college is not fully accredited?
All Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students who graduate from the CVM will have the same opportunities as a graduate from an AVMA COE Fully Accredited university. Any admitted applicants who successfully completes the 4-year DVM curriculum during our American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE) Provisional Accreditation is eligible to take the NAVLE and state/providence licensing board exams. Pending successful passing of the NAVLE and the state/providence licensing exam, the graduated student becomes a fully boarded veterinary practitioner.
