NAVC expands its year-round calendar for veterinary education

NAVC is using its event calendar to keep a steady pipeline of continuing education and workforce programming in front of veterinary teams, with offerings that range from free online learning to role-specific, in-person meetings. Current listings highlight events such as HiVE Midwest, held March 21-22, 2026, in Covington, Kentucky, plus later 2026 HiVE meetings in San Antonio and Charlotte, and NAVC SkillShop in Orlando in May. NAVC’s broader messaging after VMX 2026 also makes clear that these programs are part of a larger strategy to support veterinary nurses, technicians, practice managers, students, and other team members beyond its flagship conference. At VMX itself, NAVC also emphasized big-picture themes shaping the profession, including preventive care, rehabilitation, access to care in rural and underserved communities, and other emerging clinical innovations—signaling that its year-round programming is meant to connect workforce development with where veterinary medicine is headed. (todaysveterinarypractice.com; navc.com; navc.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the calendar underscores how CE is becoming more distributed, year-round, and role-specific. NAVC says HiVE is built around practical skills, mentorship, and community for veterinary nurses, technicians, and practice management staff, while its event calendar mixes in-person meetings with online education options. That matters for hospitals trying to retain team members, build skills without waiting for a once-a-year conference, and create clearer development paths for support staff and emerging leaders. It also fits with broader industry conversations about multigenerational teams, leadership development, and new training models that rely more on workplace-based education and distributed learning rather than a single traditional pathway. (navc.com; navc.com)

What to watch: Watch for additional 2026 event dates, new online programming, and how NAVC continues tying HiVE, SkillShop, and VMX into a year-round education and workforce strategy. Also watch whether future NAVC programming leans harder into the themes highlighted at VMX—such as access to care, preventive medicine, rehabilitation, leadership, and responsible use of new technologies like AI—as the organization refines what CE looks like beyond the annual conference. (navc.com)