Help and FAQ

Membership: 

What is SCAVMA? What is SAVMA? Why do I have to join both?

SAVMA, or Student American Veterinary Medical Association, is a national organization composed of individual school chapter organizations for veterinary students. SAVMA hosts an annual symposium and allows collaboration between veterinary student bodies. SCAVMA is Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association, and is our NCSU specific organization. SCAVMA is the main organizing body for student organizations at NCSU CVM, and provides opportunities for student enrichment including social events, funding opportunities, and service work. To join a student organization at NCSU CVM, one must be a member of both the national Student AVMA and the local chapter. Each year, you must renew your membership and abide by the university code of conduct to remain in good standing. Students who remain members of SAVMA for all four years of veterinary school receive a discount upon graduation for their first year of AVMA membership and receive free admission to the annual AVMA Convention while a student.

What does SAVMA do specifically for the other clubs at NCSU?

SAVMA functions as an umbrella organization for the clubs at NCSU, providing logistical and financial support to other student organizations:

• Organizes annual club registration and dues collection
• Maintains a semester calendar of club events, wetlabs, and bake sales
• Assigns lunch meeting dates to clubs/companies
• Maintains and sells club merchandise through the SCAVMA merchandise store
• Offers group travel and group event funding for club activities
• Provides storage space and office supply support to clubs through the SCAVMA office
• Provides a single source of electronic contact information for club officers, company representatives, and other students.

What are SAVMA dues and why pay them?

• • SAVMA Dues are composed of both National dues and NC State Chapter specific dues

    1. National dues are $15

    2. Chapter dues are $18

    3. Payments after due dates are possible but will require you to pay “back dues” if you want to graduate in good standing with the AVMA.

       1. Link to pay dues: https://ebusiness.avma.org/savma/savmaduesstep1.aspx 

  • Why pay them?

    1. Keeping up with SAVMA dues each year, and paying on time, keeps you in good standing with the AVMA (see #3 for those benefits upon graduation)

    2. Access to Professional Liability Insurance (PLIT) → FREE student insurance every year of vet school (that needs to be renewed each year) to protect you as a student while you learn during externships and on clinics

       1. It takes all of 2 minutes to register for this

    3. Access to the SAVMA externship locator and job opportunities page

    4. Access to JAVMA articles for free

    5. Free Advanced Registration to the AVMA Annual Convention (I personally don’t know much about this, but I’m linking info below!)

    6. Gives you access to SAVMA Professional Development Grants – If you have 5 SAVMA points, you’re able to apply for a SAVMA scholarship of varying monetary values to help cover externship costs, travel costs to conferences, etc.

       1. More info about SAVMA points and this specifically will be discussed in the fall after we’ve re-hauled the point system in general this summer

What are the benefits of SAVMA dues post-graduation if you’re in good standing?

1. • Automatic AVMA membership for the remaining duration of the year once you graduate (aka in 2027, post graduation you will be an AVMA member without having to pay for that year)

     • You also do NOT have to file an application to be an AVMA member, this will automatically roll-over once you graduate

   • 50% reduction of dues to be a member the first two years after graduation (2028/2029)

   • For those going into INTERNSHIPS/RESIDENCIES → Reduced due payments

   • Access to financial and career advice through the “Veterinary Life Online Support” resource

   • Guaranteed life and disability insurance

   • Professional Liability Insurance (until the point at which you are fully licensed)

   • ONE FREE AVMA Convention registration within 5 years of graduation (over $500 to register usually)

What if I don’t pay my SAVMA dues on time each year?

1. • You’re able to pay “back dues” to SAVMA BEFORE you graduate, however they cannot be paid online. You’ll have to send the AVMA a check, will have to pay NC State Chapter dues separately, and will be charged late fees for both of these as well. (It’s not worth paying back dues!! Just pay on time!

Are SAVMA dues mandatory?

1. • No. If you don’t want to pay SAVMA dues you don’t have to. That does prevent you from participating in clubs on campus, however, as NC State is a SAVMA Umbrella chapter for all other clubs (as previously mentioned).