New in Fall 2025, The Business Certificate was revamped:

The Business Certificate comprises 15 credit hours of tangible business education, with 5 hours required in each of the Business Certificate Program categories, and 1 hour of Networking. This is an excellent overview of veterinary business topics, and Business Certificate graduates are sure to recognize all of the most important business principles for any path they choose within veterinary medicine.

The Business Certificate with Honors comprises 30 credit hours of business education and 2 hours of networking requirements. The Honors Portfolio is designed for students who aspire to go beyond the standard veterinary curriculum by engaging in a more comprehensive program of study that emphasizes advanced training in communication, leadership, and business. The Business Certificate with Honors provides flexibility for students to tailor their learning experience to individual interests while encouraging creativity and adaptability. Completion of the Honors Portfolio serves as a distinguished credential that demonstrates a student’s commitment to professional growth and their pursuit of knowledge and skills that extend far beyond traditional veterinary coursework.

In addition to the 30 credit hours of business education and 2 hours of networking requirements, Business Certificate with Honors graduates complete a comprehensive Honors Portfolio that includes over 15 separate skills with great applicability to future careers and practice management. These Honors Portfolios are submitted to practicing veterinarians and industry professionals within the same area of interest as the applicant, who then evaluate the portfolios and provide constructive feedback. Students gain invaluable insight into how they can best fulfill their potential as a well-rounded veterinary professional upon graduation. We are proud to offer this ability to network with top industry professionals to all of our Business Certificate with Honors graduates. 

For VBMA members that would like to complete the Honors Portfolio, please visit MyVBMA.biz or click here for the Honors Portfolio Application.

To ensure that all VBMA chapters consistently deliver the highest caliber of graduates, the Business Certificate curriculum is standardized across all participating VBMA chapters.

Check out the Business Certificate and Business Certificate with Honors curriculum below. Interested in joining a VBMA chapter to begin your own Business Certificate? Contact your local chapter’s executive board today to get started.

The Silver Business Certificate comprised 16 credit hours of tangible business education, with 4 hours required in each of the Business Certificate Program categories. It was discontinued in 2017, though was similar to the current Business Certificate.

The Gold Business Certificate with Honors comprised 32 credit hours of business education, and was similar to the current Business Certificate with Honors, though with the exception of the Honors Portfolio.