American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has provided diploma equivalency programs for graduates from non-accredited veterinary schools since 1971. The AVMA created the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) with the main objective:

To evaluate the professional competence of graduates of non-AVMA/Council on Education-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine listed by the AVMA, to the benefit of such graduates and of the state and provincial veterinary licensing agencies, and of other concerned parties. 

For years the ECFVG had been a very bureaucratic structure that didn’t meet its own objective and is rather had been creating barriers for foreign veterinary graduates to become licensed veterinarians in the USA. 

Currently, it takes several weeks or even months to get an email response from the ECFVG about candidates’ progress or to confirm their registration. I am sure that AVMA would not treat US members the same. 

AVMA keeps talking about Diversity and Inclusion but their actions are completely opposite. 

I am asking AVMA and ECFVG, please treat veterinary graduates from non-accredited veterinary schools as your colleagues and not as migrants that are trying to get into your Martha’s Vineyard community.