There are serious problems with the proposed change. There are no controls – NONE – on what a first, second, or third year vet student can do. It’s totally up to the supervising veterinarian. No requirement that pet owners be notified, or consent. No indication of who is liable if something goes wrong. No indication that the vet school has any responsibility for assuring that the work experience is in fact educational, and not cheap or free labor. If we’re realistic, we recognize that practicing veterinarians cover the entire spectrum of clinical competence, from barely adequate to superb, and their ethics cover the same range. We also know that not every highly qualified professional is able to teach effectively.