Technical Standards

Technical Standards

Essential Abilities and Characteristics

The school intends for its graduates to become veterinarians who are capable of pursuing and completing graduate veterinary medical education, passing licensing exams and obtaining and maintaining veterinary licensure.

The avowed intention of an individual student to practice only a narrow part of clinical veterinary medicine, or to pursue a non-clinical career, does not alter the requirement that all veterinary students take and achieve competence in the complete program of veterinary medicine required by the school.

For purposes of this document and unless otherwise defined, the term “candidate” means candidates for admission to the veterinary program as well as enrolled veterinary students who are candidates for promotion and graduation.

The school also has an ethical responsibility for the safety of clients and patients with whom students and graduates will come in contact. Although students learn and work under the supervision of the faculty, students interact with patients throughout their veterinary medical school education. Patient safety and wellbeing are therefore major factors in establishing requirements involving the physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities of candidates for admission, promotion, and graduation.

Technical Standards

Technical Standards

The essential abilities and characteristics described herein are also referred to as “technical standards”. They are described below in several broad categories including: observation, communication, motor function, intellectual-conceptual (integrative and quantitative) abilities, and behavioral and social skills.

In addition to these, candidates must have the physical and emotional stamina to function in a competent and safe manner in settings that may involve heavy workloads, long hours, and stressful situations. All candidates should be aware that the academic and clinical responsibilities of veterinary students may, at times, require their presence during day and evening hours, any day of the week, at unpredictable times and for unpredictable durations of time.

Individuals who present a threat to the health and safety of animals or people for any reason, including as a result of a physical, mental, or other conditions, are not suitable candidates for admission, promotion or graduation.

Candidates must possess the capability to complete the entire program of veterinary medicine, achieve the degree Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and practice veterinary medicine with or without reasonable accommodations, taking into account the limited nature of accommodations available at St. Matthew’s University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Candidates should note, in this regard, that the school is not subject to federal or state disability laws that might apply in the United States or other countries for that matter; the school is in a position to provide only a very limited range of accommodations for students with disabilities; and much of the housing and other infrastructure on the island is not readily accessible to persons with disabilities.

Technical Skills and Abilities


A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine must have abilities and skills in the five broad areas of observation; communication; motor function; intellectual-conceptual; and behavioral and social skills.