Veterinary technician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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, place IV Catheters as well as Urinary Catheters, give anesthesia, and help the veterinarian in other tasks. Veterinary technicians are different from veterinary assistants, because veterinary assistants are not certified to perform many of the tasks that veterinary technicians can.
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[edit] 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.
Many are titled "Veterinary Technician" But tend not to be Certified, Registered, Liscensed(caries by state). To become a Certified/Regestered/Liscensed Vet Tech you must attend a 2 year accredited school, obtain an Associates in Vet. Technology and pass your states' board exam. Vet Techs, Vet Assistants are different than a liscensed/registered/certified technician. They differ in knowledge, skills and legally can perform many more procedures than an assistant.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- State regulations of Veterinary Technicians
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons - Veterinary Nursing Department
[edit] External links
- Becoming a Veterinary Technician
- AVMA's (American Veterinary Medical Association) Homepage
- NAVTA's (National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America) Homepage
- vetnurse.co.uk - is the leading community website for veterinary nurses and technicians. The site contains a thriving forum in which to share ideas and experience, an archive of all editions of VN Times Magazine ever published, a busy (and free) job advertising section, an online store for veterinary nursing books, and a comprehensive online education section.
- Vet Students Abroad - Vetstudents.net is the premier location for everything to do with being a vet student, with the emphasis on being a vet student abroad. It is made by vet students for vet students and is designed to accept contributions from vet students and others all over the world. Everyone can create an account and the more information contributed, the more useful this site will be for everyone.
- British Veterinary Nursing Association
- The Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists This site is the homepage for the Academy which is a certifying body for board certification in Anesthesia as a specialty for veterinary technicians.
- The Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians
[edit] Other External Links
| Veterinary Practitioners | Edit |
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| Veterinarian | Veterinary technician | |
