Join & Benefits of Membership
CVMA provides animal care professions with forward-thinking insights and a robust professional network to lead animal wellness and care into the future.
- Stay at the forefront of animal care; strengthen your knowledge and network
- Be strong in legislative efforts meaningful to the well-being of animals and the profession
- Receive discounts on best-in-class continuing education courses and events
- Enjoy complimentary learning and networking events
- Access to Article Library on relevant topics for the veterinary medical professional.
- Listed on our Find a Veterinarian tool adding to client development
- Access to Value-Added member benefits such as attorneys, business services, mental health professionals, wealth management, travel, technology tools and more.
Membership Catagories:
Member: An individual must be a graduate of a veterinary college recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association at the time of graduation or licensed to practice Veterinary medicine in any State of the United States.
Veterinary Technician (VT) Member: This membership is open to individuals who either attended and graduated from an accredited Veterinary Technician school program or are credentialed as a result of passing their state board exam. This is open to qualified individuals in the United States and internationally. Newly credentialed, certified, licensed, or registered VTs may apply for a complimentary one-year membership subject to approval by the Membership Committee.
Life Member: An individual who has attained the age of sixty-five (65) years and has been a member in good standing of the Association continuously for not less than the preceding thirty (30) years; or, an individual who has been a member in good standing of the Association continuously for not less than the preceding thirty-five (35) years and who has, after fulfilling the requirements, has been elected to Life Membership by the Membership Committee.
A call for applications is made once a year in October with a deadline for submission of November 15. If you believe you meet the above qualifications to be a new Life Member, please complete and submit the application to info@chicagovma.org by November 15, 2026. Applicants will be informed of approval status in January 2027.
Honorary Member: An individual who has given distinguished and meritorious service in the field of veterinary medicine, public health, animal industry or wildlife conservation and who has been elected to Honorary Membership by the Board of Directors.
Student Member: An individual who is enrolled in a school of veterinary medicine recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association on a full-time basis and is actively pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree. All applicants will be reviewed by the Membership Committee. Student members are ineligible to hold office and are exempt from the payment of dues. On the day student members graduate with Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees, they can apply for a complimentary one-year membership to be approved by the Membership Committee.
Click Below to Apply!
Member Testimonials
Dr. Ajaz Alvi – CVMA Member Since 1977
“I have always believed that veterinary medicine should be an organized medicine. Veterinarians should become members to promote the profession as well as fellow CVMA members.”
Dr. Kirsten Plomin – CVMA Member Since 2012
“Veterinarians are busy people, often working more than 40 hours a week all while balancing family, life and other commitments. Despite that, I think it is vitally important to make time to join your local and regional veterinary medical organizations (VMA) to stay informed despite our busy schedules. Being part of the CVMA allows me to get all that information filtered, so we get the most important information sent to us to act on. It’s hard enough for us to keep up with all the latest medical advancements, much less what rules and regulations and legislative efforts are coming our way and without the CVMA acting as the gatekeepers to this information. I also have enjoyed the relationships I’ve made over the years in the CVMA. I have met veterinary students and doctors that I have created lasting relationships with and many that have served to mentor me in my professional life. By far one of the other main reasons for being involved with the CVMA is that if I am not a member and I don’t go to meetings to voice my opinion, then what happens? If we don’t collectively share our opinions, the opinion of those less educated that we may disagree with will be made louder. We need to be a voice and representative for our profession, and if we are not, we all lose. “