In reading all of these comments, I have noticed a wide and varying spectrum of understanding of current veterinary training. Many comments have expressed a strong and comprehensive knowledge of veterinary training while others seem to be very confused.  The first misconception that I would like to address is that veterinary students are not kids or undergraduate students. Every veterinary student has completed an undergraduate degree or a minimum of three years in an undergraduate program before entering veterinary school. This undergraduate program will have provided 3-4 years of training in core science classes including biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, physics and other advanced science courses such as anatomy and physiology. Every year 1000's of these undergraduate students apply for about 100 spots at VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. The applicants for veterinary school must meet these minimum standards no matter what veterinary school they are applying to.  Some applicants have also gone on to complete masters or doctoral degrees in sciences PRIOR to applying to and entering into veterinary school. In addition to these requirements, applicants to veterinary school must have completed 400-600 hours of practical veterinary experience. Many of these students have cleaned kennels or been a secretary at the clinics they worked for. However, most of these students worked as technicians or animal nurses under the direct supervision of the veterinarian. At this point, these applicants were already doing basic procedures including giving injections, drawing blood, performing physical exams and diagnostic procedures like running blood work, as well as fecal and urine analysis. These procedures were always done under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Once in veterinary school these students are well into their 20's and ages of students in veterinary programs range up to the mid-60's. Some are married and have children. Often they have already had other careers as licensed veterinary technicians, medical doctors, registered nurses, animal scientists, farriers, lawyers, etc. Veterinary students are considered GRADUATE students in a PROFESSIONAL degree program just like PhD, masters and MD students. Years 1-3 are spent in the classroom and in laboratories with school owned animals. Classes run 5 days per week for 8 hours per day. Students study an average of 3-6 hours per day, 7 days per week outside of the classroom. Examinations are conducted an average of twice per week starting 2 weeks into the semester and go through final exams. Practical experience in laboratories and before entry into veterinary school is limited. During the fourth year of veterinary school, students spend 365 days going on 17 different 3 week rotations through the many areas of veterinary medicine. Most of these rotations are conducted in the veterinary school. Some rotations are completed externally at veterinary clinics throughout the WORLD. The interns and residents that work at a veterinary school or in specialty hospitals are already licensed veterinarians. These are veterinarians that have an interest in specializing in things like surgery, cardiology, ophthalmology, internal medicine, reproduction, dermatology, neurology etc. Interns will go into residency programs after their internship and residents will take an exam to become board certified in their specialty following completion of their residency.

I am certain that most of the concerned parties on both sides of this issue understand the training process. However it has been evident in some comments that there was some confusion. My goal was to shed some light on the process of veterinary training for those that may not understand or had questions. I hope it helped. I also hope that each of your concerns are addressed before an amendment is made. As veterinarians and veterinary students, our primary goals is to practice sound veterinary medicine with the patient's best interest in mind, to meet the needs of our clients and to educate clients so that they can make the best decisions possible for their pets or livestock.

My personal position is that under the direct supervision of veterinarians, students should be allowed to practice procedures with the consent of owners. In fact, during the fourth year of veterinary school, clients are ALWAYS advised if a 4th year student will be working with their animal. This is true for patients at regular clinics around the world, not just for patients that are seen at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.