SB331 • 2026

Veterinary Medicine, Board of; traineeships.

An Act to amend and reenact § 54.1-3805.3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Veterinary Medicine; traineeships.

Education

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Roem
Last action: 2026-04-06
Official status: Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify that trainees must work under a licensed veterinarian, though it is implied by the nature of traineeships.

Expanding Eligibility for Veterinary Traineeships

This act changes Virginia's law to allow certain graduates and registrants in veterinary programs to join traineeship programs.

What This Bill Does

Changes the rules so that graduates of accredited vet schools who haven't taken the NAVLE can join traineeship programs.
Allows those in the ECFVG program, who have passed the NAVLE but not finished all steps, to also join traineeship programs.

Who It Names or Affects

Graduates of accredited vet schools who haven't taken the NAVLE
People in the ECFVG program who have passed the NAVLE but not finished all steps

Terms To Know

NAVLE: North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, a test to become a licensed veterinarian.
ECFVG: Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates, a program that helps foreign vet graduates meet U.S. licensing requirements.

Limits and Unknowns

The act does not specify when the changes will start.
It only specifies who can join traineeship programs and doesn't mention how many spots there are or where to find them.

Bill History

2026-04-06 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 344 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-06 Governor
Approved by Governor-Chapter 344 (effective 7/1/2026)
2026-04-06 Governor
Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0344)
2026-03-10 Senate
Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 10, 2026
2026-03-10 Governor
Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026
2026-03-04 House
Signed by Speaker
2026-03-04 Senate
Signed by President
2026-03-04 Senate
Enrolled
2026-03-04 Senate
Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB331ER)
2026-03-04 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB331)
2026-02-27 House
Read third time
2026-02-27 House
Passed House Block Vote (96-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-26 House
Read second time
2026-02-24 Health and Human Services
Reported from Health and Human Services (22-Y 0-N)
2026-02-19 Health Professions
Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)
2026-02-16 Health Professions
Assigned sub: Health Professions
2026-02-13 House
Placed on Calendar
2026-02-13 Health and Human Services
Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services
2026-02-13 House
Read first time
2026-02-11 Education and Health
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB331)
2026-02-10 Senate
Read third time and passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-09 Senate
Read second time
2026-02-09 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-09 Education and Health
Education and Health Substitute agreed to
2026-02-09 Senate
Engrossed by Senate Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-06 Education and Health
Committee substitute printed 26107057D-S1
2026-02-06 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-02-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-02-06 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-02-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-02-05 Education and Health
Reported from Education and Health with substitute (14-Y 0-N)
2026-02-05 Senate
Senate committee offered
2026-01-30 Health Professions
Senate subcommittee offered
2026-01-30 Health Professions
Senate subcommittee offered
2026-01-30 Health Professions
Assigned Education sub: Health Professions
2026-01-29 Senate
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB331)
2026-01-21 General Laws and Technology
Rereferred from General Laws and Technology to Education and Health (15-Y 0-N)
2026-01-13 Senate
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100749D
2026-01-13 General Laws and Technology
Referred to Committee on General Laws and Technology

Official Summary Text

Board of Veterinary Medicine; traineeships.
Expands eligibility for veterinary traineeship programs to include (i) graduates of an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine who have not yet passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE); and (ii) registrants in the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program who have taken and received a passing score on the NAVLE and have completed all steps of the ECFVG program except for the clinical proficiency examination.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

An Act to amend and reenact §
54.1-3805.3
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Veterinary Medicine; traineeships.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
54.1-3805.3
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
54.1-3805.3
. Traineeships.
The Board may provide for the limited practice of veterinary medicine, as that term is defined by the Board, by a veterinary medicine licensure applicant enrolled in a traineeship program under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
Veterinarians who are eligible to participate in limited practice in a traineeship include:
1. Graduates of an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine who have not yet passed the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE); and
2. Registrants in the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program who have taken and received a passing score on the NAVLE and have completed all steps of the ECFVG program except for the clinical proficiency examination.