[Your Full Name]
[Your Credentials or Title, if applicable]
[Your Address or City, State]
[Your Email Address]
[Date]
American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 N. Meacham Road, Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173
Email: ecfvg@avma.org / avmainfo@avma.org
Dear AVMA Leadership,
I am writing as a member of the veterinary profession who is deeply concerned about the recent and significant increase in ECFVG program fees, set to nearly double starting in 2026. These changes threaten to make an already arduous credentialing process financially inaccessible to many qualified foreign-trained veterinarians, professionals who are essential to the U.S. workforce at a time of national veterinary shortages.
To date, there has been no transparent financial breakdown released to the public justifying this fee increase. The cited explanation, rising costs from Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE) sites, raises important ethical and accessibility questions. I respectfully urge the AVMA to publish a detailed cost analysis and consider opening additional, affordable, and potentially nonprofit CPE testing sites to alleviate financial barriers.
In addition, I strongly encourage the AVMA to actively advocate for veterinary medicine to be placed on the U.S. federal Shortage Occupation List, which would ease the immigration process for foreign-trained professionals and provide much-needed support to underserved areas. This is especially crucial as student debt limits and workforce attrition continue to strain the pipeline of U.S.-trained graduates.
Lastly, I call on the AVMA to prioritize education and awareness efforts around the ECFVG by offering resources, training materials, and clinic-based guidelines to help practices support team members in the credentialing process. Many technicians, assistants, and unlicensed veterinarians are navigating this path while working, and they deserve mentorship and structured institutional support.
We all share a commitment to excellence and equity in veterinary medicine. Ensuring that credentialing is rigorous should not come at the cost of being exclusionary. Foreign-trained veterinarians bring vital skills, global experience, and diverse perspectives. They are not a backup plan; they are part of the solution. I urge the AVMA to lead with transparency, compassion, and long-term workforce sustainability in mind.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued leadership in shaping the future of our profession.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]