Providing good medical care for your fur kid is part of pet parenthood. But do you really know who is working on your beloved buddy at the veterinarian clinic?
You may think that everyone in your vet’s office who handles your furry friend is highly qualified. However, you may be surprised to learn that the qualifications can vary drastically from clinic to clinic and state to state. Worse yet, the person caring for your buddy might be learning on the job.
Today, we’ll dig in and discover who all can handle your furry buddy at your veterinarian clinic. While your vet may have a lot of education and training to rely on when dealing with your buddy, other staff knowledge isn’t as diverse. Thus, today we’ll explore the vet associates at your clinic.
Budget tip:
While you may have a lower bill if a vet tech works on your furry friend, you may not think the bargain veterinary care is a deal in the end. Always ask what the person will be doing and if they are licensed or certified to perform the care.
Additionally, you can even ask how many times they’ve performed the procedure. If you’re gut does flips at what you hear, trust it and ask for your well-trained vet to work on your four-legged friend. Being aware of who is working on your buddy can be a major win for your fur kid’s care.
Who are the vet associates in my vet clinic?
Many people within your vet clinic may handle your buddy. Most of the time, when someone grabs my dog, Henry, I’m told he or she is a “vet tech”. However, this is an overarching term that covers different types of veterinary associates.
These associates are:
- CVT: Certified Veterinary Technician
- LVT: Licensed Veterinary Technician
- LVMT: Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician
- RVT: Registered Veterinary Technician
- RVTg: Registered Veterinary Technologist
Note: While this post focuses on vet associates, that doesn’t mean that a veterinarian can’t make a mistake. If your gut tells you something isn’t right, trust it no matter who’s handling your buddy.
What is the educational background of my vet clinic’s associates?
Rest assured that your vet has an undergraduate degree and a four-year postgraduate doctorate of veterinary medicine from a veterinary college. Upon graduation, your vet received either a D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) or V.M.D. (Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris) degree. Additionally, to practice as a veterinarian your vet must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination along with passing and meeting your state’s licensing requirements. This includes meeting continuing education criteria.
You can check out your vet’s license standing in your state by going here.
However, the educational background of your vet’s associates can vary widely. In general, you can expect a licensed or certified vet tech to have the following background:
- High school diploma, GED, or equivalent
- At least an Associate degree from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program
- Successfully passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)
- Approved license, registration, or certificate from your state
Additionally, and much like your veterinarian, a licensed vet tech must attend a certain number of education classes each year to maintain their license. However, the specifics of the continuing education requirements may differ from state to state.
What are the qualifications of Veterinary Nurses?
If your buddy is having surgery at your vet animal hospital or needs wound care, then a veterinary nurse might be providing care. The qualification of this type of vet associate can vary by location and vet specialty. However, in general, you can expect your clinic’s vet nurse to have the following:
- High school graduate or equivalent
- Completion of a two or four-year accredited program in animal science or veterinary technology
- Successfully passed the VTNE
- State issued license
- Continuing education as required by the state licensing board
Are all vet techs well-trained?
You’re probably thinking everyone who works on your best furry buddy has a license and is qualified. Maybe or maybe not.
Do you know that there are states (including my own) that will allow on-the-job training without a license? This could be while the person is preparing to take the VTNE or simply to gain knowledge so that they may take the exam.
What is a vet tech on-the-job training all about?
Again, this will vary state by state.
For instance, I looked at my vet clinic’s license on my state vet board site. In doing so, I discovered two of the vet techs at my veterinarian clinic are listed as “Veterinary Technician-in-Training” (VTIT). While this may take your breath away for a moment, it means different things in different locations.
In my state, most procedures a VTIT can do requires the licensed vet to supervise the procedure. During the training process, the person is learning. Thus, the thought is they will be able to take and pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
Rest assured that most states require that a person graduate from an AVMA- Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) or Certified Veterinary Medical Assistant (CVMA) accredited program to be eligible to take the VTNE.
However, in some U.S. states (Alaska, Colorado, Montana, Utah, and Wisconsin) you can be considered eligible to take the VTNE if you meet on-the-job training requirements.
Can a person who isn’t a graduate of a CVTEA or CVMA program or is a VTIN take the VTNE to become a vet tech?
You may be surprised to learn that some states allow a person to take the VTNE without being a VTIN. Additionally, they don’t even need to have graduated from a CVTEA or CVMA accredited program.
However, if a person has more limited knowledge and wishes to take the VTNE to become a licensed vet tech, there are a few requirements. Specifically, at a minimum to take the VTNE a person must
- Provide a transcript of their education
- Supply their work experience (if the state requires it)
- Provide any other information as required by their state
What care can a vet tech perform within a veterinary practice?
The skills and education of a licensed vet tech will allow a vet tech to perform the following tasks at your veterinary clinic:
- Giving vaccines
- First aid
- Administer a catheter
- Draw blood
- Recording your furry family member’s medical history
- Prepare animals for surgery and procedures
However, a licensed vet tech may only administer or manage anesthesia under your vet’s supervision.
Can a VTIT work on my fur kid?
The short answer is yes. You will need to check with your state to verify what a VTIT is allowed to do and not with your buddy. For example, in my state, a VTIT is required to inform the pet parent that they are not licensed. Honestly, I’ve never had anyone say this to me at my vet clinic. At a minimum, it would give me pause or paws. However, depending on Henry’s issue, I could easily walk out the door.
Additionally, some states have given licensed vet techs a lot more power. For instance, Colorado recently enacted a bill that allows a vet to delegate to his/her staff more medical care. This was done in an effort to make the veterinary clinic more efficient and keep pet parent medical bills down.
Honestly, it might. However, there is one part of the bill, which stands out to me. This part states that a non-experienced person can provide “minor medical” care. What does this mean?
According to MSD Veterinary Manual, this can include:
- Aid for broken nails
- Care for issues such as twists, sprains, bumps, and bruises
- Removal and treatment of injuries from fish hooks
- Treatment for bug stings and bites
- Care for the removal and treatment of porcupine quills
- Aid for pets sprayed by skunks
- Treatment for swallowed items
Does it really matter if a veterinarian, licensed vet tech, or VTIN works on my pet?
You will have to decide for yourself what’s important. For me, I want to know that Henry isn’t a genuine pig, especially if he has a serious issue. For example, I really don’t want an inexperienced person to be working on him if he swallows a piece of glass or some other item. That seems a bit scary to me.
How do I know who’s working on my furry buddy at my veterinarian clinic?
Ask. When you call to make your appointment ask who will be providing your veterinary services. Of course, if your buddy, requires emergency veterinary care you won’t have this luxury.
However, pet parents have a right to know who will be doing what to their fur kid. After all, you pay the bills, it’s your right to know. If you can’t get a straight answer, call your state Veterinary Board for an explanation. If you’re still not comfortable, find a new vet. After all, as a pet parent, your buddy is staking his/her life on you making the right decisions.
What should I do if I have concerns about who is treating my pet?
Ask that someone who’s licensed or your vet work on your buddy instead. If that request isn’t provided, then find a new vet clinic. Honestly, if my request wasn’t met, I’d take it as a red flag to find a new vet.
How can I tell if my buddy is getting quality care at my vet clinic?
Again, ask who’s caring for your fur baby and if they are licensed. If you don’t like the answer or if your heart is beating out of your chest then ask for your vet to care for your buddy.
Do vet techs and assistants receive ongoing training?
Yes. If they are licensed through your state’s Board of Veterinary Medicine, then they will be required to take continuing education classes. As mentioned earlier, your veterinarian is also required to meet your state’s continuing education requirements.
Are vet techs allowed to diagnose or prescribe medication?
No, vet techs cannot prescribe medication or diagnose your fur kid’s condition.
Do vet techs or assistants specialize in certain areas?
A vet tech or assistant can certainly specialize in different areas, including:
- Anesthesia
- Behavior
- Clinical
- Dental care
- Emergency care
- Equine care
- Internal medicine
- Nutrition
- Pathology
- Surgery
- Zoology
Are there any money savings for knowing who is working on my pet at my vet clinic?
While it may be a budget savings to have a VTIN change your fur kid’s bandage, there could be care issues where you simply wouldn’t want to take a chance. You might have a red line with your buddy’s care. Of course, every situation is different.
However, for me, no one is training on Henry if he’s swallowed something or is in pain. Although, I could easily move my line to never allowing anyone to work on him who isn’t licensed. Actually, that feels best to me. But you’ll need to decide for you and your buddy.
Thus, you could save a bit on your vet bill with a VTIN. But the costs might be your buddy is in more pain, develops another health issue, or there’s a fatal accident. Yes, accidents can happen with well-trained vets as well. But for me, I like minimizing risks.
Related articles:
- 10 Steps to Find the Best Vet
- Creative Ways To Cut Dog Expenses. Easy!
- Easy Dog Emergency Vet Visits Tips
- 15 Red Flags-Time For a New Vet!
- My Dog Loves Savings Accounts. Surprised?
- 6 Cool Ways Dog Parents Pay For Vet Bills
- 33 Signs Your Dog Needs a Vet
- A Vet Second Opinion Benefits for Your Dog And Wallet
Who the heck is that person at the vet’s office working on my buddy?
The purpose of this article isn’t to instill fear. But rather to instill knowledge. As the old NBC saying used to go “Knowledge is Power!” So, ask who’s doing what with your fur kid and how many times they have done the procedure.
Above all, trust your instincts. If your heart does a flip when you’re told a VTIN will be expressing your dog’s glands then ask for a licensed tech or ask for your vet to do it.
Again, your buddy is depending on you to make the right decision. I know from here on out, I’m asking everyone what their credentials are before they handle Henry at my vet clinic. I’d rather be safe than sorry where my very best furry friend is concerned.
This is a great post!
To be honest, I have found myself listening to my gut no matter who is working with my pet. A veterinarian (on the first day of her first job as a vet, so some slack needs given) a veterinarian recommended that we get our dog a dental after we ‘clear up his hear thing.’
I think she must not have read the notes well, because that “heart thing” was a terminal heart disease which left him a bad candidate for dental surgery. He died a month later. (Not by anything she did, mind you, he was terminally ill.)
The vet techs who did the cold laser therapy for him did a thorough job, and were kind and gentle. So much so, Rocco recognized “his” vet tech and relaxed because he knew it was just going to be soothing light, not a scary trip.
I think it’s good to listen carefully no matter who is working on your pup, and fact check everything.
Yes, definitely always listen to your gut when anyone, your vet, vet assistance, or anyone handles your fur kid. I’m glad you paid attention and protected your buddy. I agree, listening is super important and trusting your gut.
Great post Terri, thank you! I always thought that Nurse and Vet Tech were the same thing – I though they changed the title for some reason. But I see they’re not the same!
There are a lot of folks in an average vet clinic besides the vet. It can be a bit overwhelming to figure it all out. I’m glad I could provide some new insights for you. Pets to Jessie!
I am not sure about ‘on the job training’ letting someone medicate my pet. I assume they don’t. We always see out vet unless they are going in for surgery and they I may need to ask.
There are some useful resources here I appreciate!
Thanks, Marjorie! Yeah, the on the job training is what alerted me to write this article. Honestly, unless someone has the proper knowledge and has put it to use for a bit, I don’t want to take any chances with Henry. I think it’s a good think to ask, trust your gut, and when in doubt ask for your vet.
Fantastic post, Henry deserves a cookie. I had one horrible experience with my vet and went elsewhere with Layla but Nili has not yet needed a vet so am debating what clinic to go to. I never thought about Vet Techs qualifications although I will only let a vet check Nili. Thanks for the eye openener
It’s definitely an eye opener. I wasn’t even aware of on the job training vet techs until a friend told me of her experience in CO. That is what inspired this article. It’s meant to educate folks and get them to ask questions. Henry says Nili needs a cookie!
I understand that to be a good vet or vet tech, people need to learn and get hands-on experience. There have been a few times though that I’ve requested someone with more experience step in. I also wish the requirements didn’t vary so much state to state!
You’re right the requirements do vary from state-to-state. It really should be uniformed across the country. I get needing knowledge with experience, but I don’t want someone inserting a catheter into Henry for the first time. If it’s a simple bandage, perhaps I’d let someone gain some experience with Henry. But overall, I don’t want him to be a genuine pig as someone tries to better their skills. I completely agree, when in doubt as for the vet.