NAVC expands its 2026 calendar with year-round team education

CURRENT BRIEF VERSION: NAVC is promoting a fuller 2026 calendar of education and workforce programs, extending beyond its flagship VMX meeting into year-round offerings for different roles across the veterinary team. Current listings include NAVC SkillShop, a hands-on training event set for May 24-28, 2026, in Orlando, plus multiple HiVE meetings aimed at veterinary nurses, technicians, practice managers, and support staff, including HiVE South on May 30-31 in San Antonio and HiVE East on August 1-2 in Charlotte. NAVC’s event calendar also highlights ongoing online education through VetFolio, while NAVC has framed these programs as part of a broader strategy to support workforce development after drawing nearly 29,000 attendees to VMX 2026. VMX itself also previewed where NAVC sees clinical education heading, with featured sessions on preventive care and animal “healthspan,” rehabilitation and mobility, integrative and exotic animal medicine, and expanding access to care in rural and underserved communities. (navc.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the story isn’t just about another conference lineup. It reflects how one of the profession’s largest education providers is spreading CE, skills training, and team-focused programming across the year, with more explicit attention to veterinary nurses, technicians, and practice management staff. It also suggests NAVC is trying to connect clinical innovation with workforce realities, including access-to-care gaps and the need for better communication and leadership across increasingly multigenerational teams. That matters for clinics trying to improve retention, expand practical skills, and give team members role-specific development without waiting for a single annual event. (navc.com)

What to watch: Watch for additional 2026 event details, including HiVE West timing and location, more SkillShop programming, and any new VetFolio webinars or certifications tied to workforce training. It will also be worth watching whether NAVC keeps leaning into themes highlighted at VMX, such as rural access, rehabilitation, preventive care, and leadership development for a changing workforce. (navc.com)