While hands-on experience is necessary to produce a good practioner, I don't think students in their first three years of classwork training should be treating patients, especially ones that can't speak for themselves. Direct oversight by staff clinicians would suffer due to the sheer volume of increased supervision needs of more students. If my animal needs the kind of  special care provided at the Virginia Tech Veterinary School, I want a licensed pratitioner providing or directly supervising  treatment given by a practioner close to graduation. If 4th year students are not getting enough hands-on experience,  change the 4th year of the program, don't reduce the quality of care by letting more inexperienced students  treat the animals. Entrusting your pet to a specialty practice means you expect treatment by highly skilled practioners with the experience to make difficult diagnoses and give more skilled care. That's why you are referred by your regular Veterinarian or realize that you are in need special expertise. Your primary responsibility is the welfare of the animals entrusted to your care.