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A veterinary technician (also called a vet tech), is a person trained and licensed to assist veterinarians. Their job is similar to that of a nurse. They scan animals with various devices like X-ray machines, do blood tests, give anaesthesia, and help the veterinarian in other tasks. Vet techs are different from veterinary assistants, for the latter has no training or license to perform a lot of the tests.
Education
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) is responsible for accrediting schools with either a 2-year Associate's degree or a (rarely offered) 4-year Bachelor's degree. The organization just recently started to accredit schools that offer distance education. Different states have different titles for veterinary technicians. Some call them Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), some, Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), and still others Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT). However, graduates of any AVMA accredited program may take a national certification exam (and in some states a state exam and/or references are required as well) and, upon passing, become certified/registered/licensed in any state. The technician is then subject to the regulations of the state Veterinary Medical Practice Act of the state she or he practices in.
In the United Kingdom veterinary technicians are known as Veterinary Nurses (VNs). The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons awards the veterinary nursing qualification and maintains a statutory list of veterinary nurses. VNs on the list are entitled by law to give animals medical treatment, and carry out certain minor surgery, under veterinary direction.
See also
References
- State regulations of Veterinary Technicians
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons - Veterinary Nursing Department
External links
- Becoming a Veterinary Technician
- AVMA's (American Veterinary Medical Association) Homepage
- NAVTA's (National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America) Homepage
Other External Links
"Veterinary technician"