Often people outside our profession  realize that veterinary students have rigorous training all four years of their veterinary education. Although many are likely aware that the final (fourth) year is predominantly clinical, the students receive some clinical/surgical training prior to senior year as well--the clinical training doesn't only begin the day veterinary students start their final year. This petition would allow veterinary students to learn and develop skills out in practices throughout the state during all four years (typically on holiday & summer breaks) to coincide with the intense training they receive while enrolled at a veterinary college.

Furthermore, many of the veterinary students have Virginia licensed veterinarian mentors outside the veterinary college that are in clinical practice in small and/or equine/farm animal settings. These veterinarians often invite students to visit the practices but these same veterinarians are restricted from providing any clinical training until the students are in the fourth year. This regulation severely limits some of the benefits these licensed veterinarian mentors can provide veterinary students, and this petition would definitely help address this limitation.