NAVC spotlights upcoming CE for reptile CPR and support staff
NAVC is promoting a new round of upcoming education and workforce programs, with Today’s Veterinary Practice highlighting two immediate offerings: a free VetFolio webinar on reptilian CPR and HiVE Midwest, an in-person continuing education event for veterinary support staff. The update lands as NAVC looks to carry forward the energy of VMX 2026, which the organization said drew nearly 29,000 attendees and reinforced its emphasis on education, networking, and workforce development across the full veterinary team. (todaysveterinarypractice.com)
The calendar item may look routine, but it fits into a larger shift in how NAVC is packaging education. In addition to its flagship VMX conference, NAVC has been building out narrower, role-based formats, including HiVE for veterinary nurses, technicians, practice managers, and support staff, plus the newly rebranded NAVC SkillShop for hands-on training. That diversification suggests NAVC is trying to meet professionals where they are: with more specialized, shorter-duration options that can be easier to justify on time, budget, and staffing grounds than a major national conference. (todaysveterinarypractice.com)
The clearest near-term event in the calendar is HiVE Midwest, scheduled for March 21–22, 2026, at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington, Kentucky. NAVC says the meeting is built for nurses and technicians, practice managers, and other support staff, and offers up to 12 RACE-approved CE hours. Pricing on the event page starts at $99 for a basic badge and $174 for a premium badge, underscoring that NAVC is positioning HiVE as a more accessible CE option for team members who may not attend VMX. (connect.navc.com)
Program details also show the event is blending clinical and non-clinical education. Sessions in the HiVE Midwest guide include emergency-focused content such as “RECOVER in Practice: Evidence-Based CPR for Veterinary Technicians,” alongside mentoring, wellness, and team-development programming. That mix mirrors NAVC’s broader messaging after VMX 2026, where the organization emphasized not only medical education, but also resilience, scholarships, technician-focused programming, and support for long-term career sustainability. (connect.navc.com)
The reptilian CPR webinar mentioned in Today’s Veterinary Practice adds another layer to the strategy: low-friction digital education tied to niche clinical topics. While the calendar blurb offers only a short description, the topic aligns with NAVC’s broader push into exotic and emergency training. SkillShop’s published course lineup already includes avian, reptile, and exotic companion animal care, as well as RECOVER CPR training, suggesting NAVC is intentionally linking specialty medicine, practical skills, and multiple delivery formats across its education portfolio. (todaysveterinarypractice.com)
Industry reaction around NAVC’s 2026 programming has centered less on any single event than on the organization’s wider workforce role. In its VMX 2026 recap, Goodnewsforpets pointed to education, experience, and responsible AI as defining themes for the conference year, while NAVC’s own post-VMX summary said additional programs like HiVE are meant to strengthen a more connected veterinary workforce through mentorship and peer-driven discussion. Those themes line up with a profession still grappling with retention, team utilization, and the need for more tailored development pathways for non-DVM roles. (goodnewsforpets.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is less about a calendar reminder and more about where CE is heading. Role-targeted meetings like HiVE acknowledge that technicians, nurses, managers, and support staff need education designed around their actual responsibilities, not just content adapted from veterinarian-first conferences. If NAVC can keep these events affordable, practical, and locally accessible, they could become an important tool for skill-building, retention, and career progression across the practice team. (navc.com)
What to watch: NAVC already lists additional 2026 HiVE stops in San Antonio on May 30–31, Charlotte on August 1–2, and a HiVE West event planned for October, with location still to be announced, so the next question is whether attendance and employer support are strong enough to make this distributed model a bigger part of the veterinary CE landscape. (navc.com)