License Portability Progress in 2026

In the June 2026 issue of Animal Health News & Views, Mark Cushing and Loren Breen give an update on the push to make veterinary licenses portable across state lines, one of several Animal Policy Group initiatives aimed at the ongoing shortage of veterinary professionals.

The biggest obstacle they identify is prior service requirements. Depending on the state, a veterinarian may need anywhere from 1 to 10 years of continuous practice elsewhere before qualifying for a new license, and in some states a single year away from practice means retaking the NAVLE. These rules were originally written to shield in-state veterinarians from competition, an idea that makes little sense when nearly half of pet owners report getting no veterinary care at all, according to PetSmart Charities and Gallup polling.

Cushing and Breen note that momentum is building. The AVMA House of Delegates unanimously endorsed license portability in early 2025, and the past year brought real wins. Wisconsin’s Board completed a rule-making process giving it discretion to license veterinarians regardless of prior service history. Indiana and Florida passed bills removing prior service requirements for qualified out-of-state applicants, and Colorado ordered its board to review and streamline licensure by endorsement.

The states making these changes keep safeguards in place, including continuing education, background checks, and graduation from an accredited program. Plenty of restrictive practice acts remain on the books, but with no organized opposition, the authors expect that number to drop quickly over the next few years.