SB 1144 proposes allowing an expanded On-the-Job (OTJ) training pathway into veterinary nursing roles without requiring formal, accredited education or standardized competency assessment. While framed as a workforce solution, this approach undermines patient safety, public trust, and the integrity of veterinary healthcare.

Veterinary medicine is healthcare. Veterinary technicians and nurses administer anesthesia, calculate and dispense controlled drugs, monitor critical patients, assist in surgery, and respond to life-threatening emergencies. These responsibilities demand consistent education, verified clinical competencies, and accountability. Veterinary medicine in Arizona needs standards, and not variable, undocumented OTJ experience.

Arizona already recognizes a legal alternative for experienced individuals through existing interstate pathways that include licensure, oversight, and time-based verification. SB 1144 does not close a workforce gap; instead, it duplicates a pathway without safeguards, removing essential checks that protect patients, clinics, and the public.

Allowing OTJ training as a primary route:

• Eliminates standardized education requirements
• Creates inconsistent skill levels across clinics
• Places training liability on employers without oversight
• Increases risk of medical errors and patient harm
• Devalues credentialed professionals who completed accredited programs
• Weakens workforce retention by suppressing wages and professional recognition

Errors in veterinary medicine are not theoretical , they are immediate and often irreversible. Unlike many professions where OTJ learning errors can be corrected through process, mistakes in anesthesia, pharmacology, or surgical support can result in permanent injury or death.SB 1144 lowers the bar for entry into a medical profession where standards matter most. Arizona should be strengthening credentialing, title clarity, and workforce sustainability, not eroding them. 

This petition calls on lawmakers to oppose SB 1144 and protect veterinary patients, uphold healthcare standards, and preserve a qualified, accountable veterinary workforce. To help Arizona lawmakers understand who this issue impacts, we respectfully ask signers to include:

• Your Arizona Legislative District  or Zip code
• Your Role ( DVM, CVT/LVT/RVT, or member of the public)