Our Governance Philosophy

AACVT operates under three core governance principles:

1. Mission-Driven

   All decisions are guided by AACVT’s mission to advance, protect, and represent credentialed veterinary technicians.

2. Credentialed Veterinary Technician-Led

   Credentialed veterinary technicians always hold Board authority within the organization.

3. Ethical & Transparent

   AACVT is governed with clear rules, fiduciary oversight, and protections against misuse of power.

The AACVT Board of Directors

Equal, Collaborative Leadership

• AACVT is governed by a Board of Directors that exercises collective authority.

• All Directors have equal votes and fiduciary responsibilities. Officer titles denote duties, not rank.

• All voting Directors serve under the same fiduciary obligations and governance authority.

Technician-Majority Safeguard

AACVT’s governing documents require that credentialed veterinary technicians always hold all voting seats on the Board of Directors.

This safeguard ensures:

• The profession governs itself

• No external group can assume control

• Advocacy remains technician-centered

Leadership Development & Succession

AACVT believes leadership is developed, not assumed. Our governance framework includes:

• Intentional leadership development pathways

• Committee and council leadership opportunities

• Board education and orientation

• Planned succession for officers and directors

This approach ensures continuity, prevents burnout, and builds a strong pipeline of prepared leaders.

Strong Governance Safeguards

AACVT’s governance structure includes built-in protections to prevent misuse of authority and to safeguard members:

Access

AACVT is committed to transparency. Members and stakeholders may access:

• Governing documents (Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws)

• Governance policies

• Educational resources explaining AACVT’s leadership structure

We believe trust is built through clarity.

Why This Matters

AACVT was intentionally designed to be:

• Member-led, not personality-led

• Mission-focused, not power-focused

• Accountable, not opaque

Our governance model exists to ensure AACVT remains a credible, ethical, and enduring professional association, now and in the future.

Interested in being involved with AACVT?

Fill out the form, and we will be in touch!

Questions About Governance?

We welcome questions about how AACVT is governed.

Contact us at: info@aacvt.org