NAVC expands its year-round calendar of CE and workforce events

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NAVC is promoting a year-round slate of education and workforce programs that extends well beyond VMX, with current offerings including a free VetFolio webinar on reptilian CPR and multiple 2026 HiVE events built for veterinary nurses, technicians, and practice management professionals. The organization’s event calendar now highlights upcoming in-person programs such as HiVE Midwest in Covington, Kentucky, on March 21-22, 2026, HiVE South in San Antonio on May 30-31, HiVE East in Charlotte on August 1-2, and SkillShop 2026 on May 24-28, while VMX 2027 is already listed for January 16-20 in Orlando. NAVC has also framed these programs as part of a broader strategy after VMX 2026, where it said nearly 29,000 attendees gathered for continuing education, networking, and team-focused programming. In preconference messaging for VMX 2026, NAVC also emphasized “Champions of Care” sessions on animal healthspan, rehabilitation, exotic medicine, and access to care in rural and underserved communities, reinforcing that its education strategy is spanning both broad industry themes and highly practical training. (todaysveterinarypractice.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, especially support staff and practice leaders, the calendar signals how CE access is becoming more distributed, role-specific, and available throughout the year rather than concentrated in one flagship meeting. That matters for clinics trying to support retention, skill-building, and career development without sending an entire team to a single national event. NAVC’s HiVE model is explicitly aimed at veterinary nurses, technicians, and practice management staff, with more than 10 hours of CE and hands-on, peer-oriented programming, which aligns with ongoing workforce pressures around training, recognition, and advancement. The broader conference conversation is also increasingly tied to workplace issues such as multigenerational teams, leadership development, and access to care, not just clinical updates. (navc.com)

What to watch: Watch whether NAVC continues expanding these smaller regional and role-specific events in 2026 and 2027, especially as registration is already live for several HiVE meetings and VMX Virtual 2026 remains open. It is also worth watching how NAVC connects those events to adjacent programs and partnerships, including practice-owner education tied to SkillShop and VMX 2027 registration, and whether workforce themes such as rural access, team communication, and leadership stay prominent in future programming. (navc.com)