American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
To support and advance the regulatory process for veterinary medicine.
- Income
- $8.6 million
- Spending
- $8.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 19.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 91%
- Employees
- 40
- Volunteers
- 100
- Highest pay
- $401,305, chief executive officer/non-voting secretary
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 80% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 19.9 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.
Income trend
10 of 15Income fell 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (8)
- $1.4 million spent. Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) - The VTNE program provides standardized examination services to state and provincial regulatory boards responsible for credentialing veterinary technicians. The examination supports these boards in their public protection mandate by ensuring that candidates have demonstrated the required level of knowledge and skills for entry-level practice. The VTNE assesses professional competency and offers a consistent standard for evaluating candidates across jurisdictions. In 2025, approximately 9,500 candidates took the VTNE, and more than 7,900 candidates completed online practice tests in preparation for the exam.
- $921,829 spent. Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) - The RACE program evaluates and approves providers and programs of continuing education in veterinary medicine based on uniform standards. RACE supports participating Member Boards by helping them fulfill their statutory and ethical responsibilities related to the regulation and enforcement of continuing education requirements. In 2025, the RACE program approved over 7,600 continuing education programs.
- $881,031 spent. Annual Meeting and Conference - The Annual Meeting and Conference offers professional development and educational opportunities for regulatory stakeholders, supporting Member Boards in fulfilling their statutory responsibilities and public protection mandates. The event features presentations and sessions on key regulatory topics and fosters collaboration among Delegates, staff, Board members, and committee members. The Annual Delegate Assembly, held during the conference, allows Member Boards to participate in governance through formal voting. In 2025, approximately 250 individuals participated in various educational sessions and activities.
- $1.0 million spent. Veterinary Application for Uniform Licensure Transfer (VAULT) and Veterinary Information Verifying Agency (VIVA) - The VAULT services utilize the VIVA database, which houses verified, primary-source information such as educational records, national examination scores, credentials, disciplinary actions, and continuing education histories for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. VAULT delivers this verified data to Member Boards to support licensure and credentialing decisions. These services promote consistency, efficiency, and integrity in the licensure process. In 2024, the Association processed more than 12,300 score transfer and credential verification requests.
- $958,857 spent. Member Services - The Member Services programs support regulatory boards by promoting effective and efficient operations through access to best practices, peer networking, and relevant data. Services include legislative and regulatory tracking, webinars, training sessions, and resource sharing. These tools help Member Boards stay informed and aligned with emerging trends, enabling them to fulfill their public protection responsibilities more effectively.
- $626,095 spent. The Outreach program promotes collaboration and engagement with Member Boards, allied veterinary organizations, and other regulatory associations. In 2024, members of the Board of Directors, committees, and staff participated in various meetings and events aimed at strengthening interorganizational relationships and advancing regulatory excellence. The organization also hosted several student outreach events, with total attendance exceeding 500 individuals, to support education and awareness of veterinary regulation.
- $281,383 spent. Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) - The PAVE program provides an examination designed to assess the educational equivalence and competency of international graduates of veterinary and veterinary technician programs. It supports AAVSB Member Boards by evaluating candidates' qualifications to meet licensure standards and fulfill public protection mandates. In 2024, approximately 175 candidates completed the PAVE examination.
- $43,601 spent. Jurisprudence Exams - Through its State and Provincial Assessments (SPA) service, the Association administered over 1,400 online jurisprudence examinations in 2025. These exams assess candidates' knowledge of state- or province-specific laws and regulations governing the practice of veterinary medicine, supporting Member Boards in their licensure processes and public protection efforts.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.