Application Process

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program: Comprehensive Essential Qualifications 

1. Purpose and Scope 

The DVM degree signifies readiness to enter the veterinary profession. To protect patient, client, student, and public safety, and to maintain the integrity of the curriculum, students must— with or without reasonable accommodation—meet the Essential Qualifications outlined in this policy. These standards apply across pre-clinical courses, laboratories, simulations, clinical skills training, experiential learning, and clinical rotations, and govern conduct toward faculty, staff, peers/colleagues, clients, patients, community members, and partners. 

2. Alignment with Accreditation and Professional Standards 

This policy is designed to align with contemporary veterinary professional expectations and educational standards, including: the AVMA Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics; the AVMA Council on Education emphasis on outcomes-based, practice-ready graduates; and the AAVMC Competency-Based Veterinary Education (CBVE) framework for competencies and assessment. 

3. Definitions (selected) 

• Essential Qualifications (Technical Standards): Non-negotiable abilities, behaviors, and professional standards necessary to complete the curriculum safely and effectively.
• Reasonable Accommodation: Modifications or adjustments that enable equal access without fundamentally altering essential program elements, compromising safety, or imposing undue burden.
• Professionalism: Behaviors and attitudes consistent with the veterinary profession’s ethical standards, including but not limited to honesty, integrity, respect, accountability, and service. 

4. Intellectual and Cognitive Abilities 

• Measure, calculate, analyze, integrate, and synthesize information from diverse sources.
• Apply critical thinking and evidence-based reasoning in time-sensitive situations.
• Comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships, including anatomical structures.
• Solve complex problems in academic, laboratory, and clinical settings and manage simultaneous tasks.
• Retain and apply large volumes of scientific information efficiently; transfer knowledge across species and contexts. 

5. Observation and Sensory Abilities 

• Observe live animals at a distance and close at hand; detect signs of fear, aggression, stress, pain, and safety hazards.
• Interpret radiographs, laboratory results, physiologic data, and clinical images.
• Obtain information from demonstrations, simulations, and written, digital, and audiovisual materials.
• Use effective alternative strategies if one or more sensory modalities are limited. 

6. Motor and Physical Abilities 

• Perform physical exam techniques (palpation, auscultation, percussion) and diagnostic procedures.
• Conduct laboratory work and assist with surgical or emergency interventions (e.g., CPR, hemorrhage control).
• Safely restrain animals and work in environments with unpredictable animal behavior.
• Lift and move animals, equipment, and materials with or without assistance; maintain stamina for prolonged standing and repetitive tasks.
• Actively participate in hands-on activities with large animals in an outdoor environment under field conditions.
• Ability to perform emergency and after-hours duties
• Respond timely and effectively to urgent or emergent situations. 

7. Communication Skills 

• Give and receive constructive feedback in a timely, respectful manner; engage effectively in team-based learning.
• Exhibit digital professionalism in electronic communications and social media consistent with institutional policies and professional standards.
• Communicate clearly, professionally, and sensitively in English—verbally, nonverbally, and in writing—with faculty, staff, peers/colleagues, clients, and the veterinary health team.
• Accurately and promptly document and convey patient status, plans, and responsibilities.
• Demonstrate active listening; seek clarification; adapt communication to diverse audiences and contexts, including emergencies. 

8. Behavioral, Social, and Emotional Attributes 

• Engage in professional behavior demonstrating honesty, integrity, accountability, reliability, punctuality, and academic integrity.
• Demonstrate respect and collegiality in interactions with faculty, staff, peers/colleagues, clients, and community members and partners; appropriate boundaries; effective conflict resolution.
• Demonstrate emotional and social maturity, including but not limited to resilience, stress management, adaptability to rapidly changing environments, compassion for animals and people, willingness to seek help, and responsiveness to feedback.
• Contribute to a safe, professional, and inclusive learning/work environment; adherence to anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. 

9. Ethical and Legal Responsibilities 

• Understand and adhere to legal and ethical standards of veterinary practice.
• Protect animal welfare; uphold public trust; maintain confidentiality of client/patient information consistent with applicable laws and institutional policy.
• Demonstrate honesty in examinations, assignments, and clinical documentation; must not engage in fraud, falsification of information or records, misrepresentation, or plagiarism under any circumstances.
• Engage in reflective practice, self-assessment, and lifelong learning; seek consultation or referral when appropriate. 

10. Safety and Environmental Responsibilities 

• Comply with infection prevention and control practices; use appropriate PPE; perform hand hygiene; follow sharps and biohazard protocols.
• Recognize and mitigate hazards associated with zoonoses, anesthetic gases, hazardous drugs/chemicals, radiation, and ergonomic risks.
• Work safely in barns, field sites, and other environments with variable lighting, noise, allergens, and climate conditions. 

11. Commitment to Learning and Professional Development 

• Engage fully in required learning activities; meet deadlines; prepare adequately for class sessions, laboratories, and clinical activities.
• Meet attendance and participation requirements for pre-clinical courses and clinical rotations, including demonstrating competency in course content and process.
• Engage actively, respectfully, productively, and professionally in team-based learning and other group learning to support the learning of all students within the group. Attendance in pre-clinical courses is mandatory, given the expectation of full participation in group and team learning within courses.
• Participate in coaching, feedback, and remediation when indicated; demonstrate improvement over time. 

12. Accommodation and Accessibility

University of Arizona CVM supports qualified students with disabilities through reasonable accommodations determined via an interactive process with the University’s Disability Resources Center https://drc.arizona.edu/. Accommodations may not compromise safety, fundamentally alter essential program elements, or unduly burden the institution. Accommodations are not retroactive and should be requested in a timely manner. Temporary conditions will be evaluated case by case. 

13. Assessment and Documentation 

• Standards are assessed across courses and phases using multiple methods (e.g., written exams, practical/OSCEs, skills sign-offs, professionalism rubrics, clinical evaluations, portfolios).
• Professionalism is assessed longitudinally; concerns may be documented via professionalism reports.
• Students must complete required safety training and any site-specific onboarding prior to clinical activities. 

14. Reporting, Remediation, and Due Process 

Concerns about Essential Qualifications may be raised by faculty, staff, clinical affiliates, the general public or peers. The College will promptly review concerns, ensure student support, and, when warranted, develop a written remediation plan with clear goals, timelines, and assessment measures. Failure to remediate may affect progression and possible administrative sanctions, including but not limited to failing a course, administrative leave of absence, suspension, and/or dismissal from the program consistent with due process and appeal rights.  A single or serious violation of the Essential Qualifications may affect progression and may result in administrative sanctions, including, but not limited to, failing a course, administrative leave of absence, suspension, and/or dismissal from the program, consistent with due process and appeal rights to the Dean of the College. 

15. Safety and Wellness 

Students are expected to use available wellness and support resources, adhere to fatigue and injury prevention guidance, and immediately report exposures, injuries, or unsafe conditions. The College will provide guidance on rabies pre-exposure immunization and other risk-based prophylaxis consistent with applicable policies. 

16. Failure to Meet Essential Qualifications

All students enrolled in the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine Essential Qualifications (Technical Standards) are expected to meet these standards throughout their enrollment. Failure to do so may affect progression or standing in the program and may result in possible administrative sanctions, including, but not limited to, failing a course, administrative leave of absence, suspension, and/or dismissal from the program, consistent with due process and appeal rights to the Dean of the College.

April 7, 2026

VMCAS requires at least three but up to six electronic recommendations (eLORs) submitted through VMCAS. At least one recommendation should be from an individual who can speak to your professional (not personal) interactions/experiences with animals. The reference could be a veterinarian, site coordinator, clinic manager, etc. VMCAS does not accept eLORs by email, express mail, or postal mail. 

For the U of A CVM to consider your application, you must have three letters of recommendation submitted to VMCAS by the due date. Applicants must have three letters for their application to be considered complete.

VMCAS requires applicants to share their experiences (animal, research, veterinary, employment, and volunteer experiences) and achievements (awards, honors, scholarships). We do not specify the number of hours nor the type of experiences an applicant may offer. Each applicant will have something unique to share.

In addition to the personal statement needed by VMCAS, we require one supplemental essay about your fit with the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine's values. This essay is a part of the VMCAS application program materials under the University of Arizona application questions. Responses play a significant role in determining whom we select to interview. Therefore, we encourage you to be thoughtful and reflective and suggest you ask someone you trust to proofread your responses for clarity, syntax, grammar, and spelling.

We do not require a standardized test (i.e., GRE) for admission to the Arizona DVM program, nor will any standardized test be considered. However, international students may need to provide proof of English Proficiency.