NAVC expands its 2026 calendar with role-specific CE programs

NAVC is using its spring 2026 calendar to reinforce a bigger shift in veterinary education: more year-round, role-specific programming that extends well beyond the profession’s marquee conferences. In the March/April 2026 issue of Today’s Veterinary Practice, the organization spotlighted upcoming offerings including a free VetFolio webinar on reptilian CPR and HiVE Midwest, a continuing education event built for veterinary support staff. That calendar item lands just weeks after NAVC’s own VMX 2026 wrap-up framed the group’s strategy as connecting flagship events with practical, ongoing learning opportunities across the year. (todaysveterinarypractice.com)

That broader context matters. NAVC said VMX 2026, held January 17-21 in Orlando, drew almost 29,000 attendees, with nearly 600 speakers and 1,300 hours of CE, reinforcing its position as one of the profession’s largest educational convenings. But NAVC is also signaling that the future of its education model is distributed: live webinars through VetFolio, regional HiVE meetings for technicians, nurses, and practice managers, and hands-on SkillShop programming later in the spring. (navc.com)

HiVE is one of the clearest examples of that strategy. NAVC says the series is designed specifically for “veterinary nurses/technicians and practice management staff,” with more than 10 hours of CE, peer-led skills building, mentorship, and community-focused programming. The 2026 lineup includes HiVE Midwest on March 21-22 in Covington, Kentucky, followed by HiVE South on May 30-31 in San Antonio, HiVE East on August 1-2 in Charlotte, and a HiVE West event planned for October, with the location still to be announced. A published program guide for HiVE Midwest shows a mix of clinical and workplace content, including a session on evidence-based CPR for veterinary technicians tied to the updated 2024 RECOVER guidelines, plus leadership, compensation, and mentoring topics. (navc.com)

The reptilian CPR webinar mentioned in Today’s Veterinary Practice fits the same pattern: short-format, accessible CE aimed at a defined clinical need. NAVC’s support materials say VetFolio live webinars are generally submitted for RACE approval, and participants who attend live receive interactive CE credit through the platform. While the specific webinar page was not readily surfaced in search results, the surrounding NAVC materials support the framing that this is part of an established webinar pipeline rather than a one-off event. (help.navc.com)

Industry commentary around VMX 2026 suggests that this expansion is landing in a profession already looking for more flexible, practical education. A recap published by Goodnewsforpets said education, experience, and responsible AI were major themes at VMX 2026, while veterinarian Megan Sprinkle, DVM, used her Vet Life Reimagined podcast to reflect on takeaways from both the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference and VMX. Those reactions don’t directly evaluate the spring calendar, but they do reinforce that veterinary professionals are paying attention to how conference learning translates into day-to-day practice, career sustainability, and leadership development. (todaysveterinarypractice.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, especially hospital leaders trying to support retention and skill growth, NAVC’s event calendar is a workforce story as much as an education story. Role-specific CE can help practices invest more precisely in the people who often have the least time and budget flexibility to travel for large national meetings. A free webinar lowers the barrier for niche clinical training, while regional HiVE events may be more realistic than VMX for technicians, nurses, and managers who need targeted development without a full week away from practice. That’s especially relevant as the profession continues to focus on technician utilization, team well-being, and more sustainable career pathways. (navc.com)

There’s also a competitive angle. NAVC isn’t just promoting conferences; it’s building an education ecosystem that spans digital CE, in-person regional meetings, and immersive training. The next major checkpoint is SkillShop, scheduled for May 24-28, 2026, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, with programming that includes leadership training in partnership with Uncharted. If NAVC can keep connecting those offerings into a coherent ladder, from free webinars to hands-on intensives, it may strengthen its influence over how veterinary teams plan professional development throughout the year. (help.navc.com)

What to watch: The next signal will be whether NAVC continues to expand these role-based regional programs, and whether future calendars add more clinical microlearning and workforce-focused content tied to technician utilization, leadership, and retention. (navc.com)