Why is it important that my vet’s staff be licensed and continuing their professional development?
It’s probably obvious to most pet parents that your veterinarian should be a licensed professional, though disreputable breeders and shelters do occasionally face charges for practicing veterinary medicine without a license. However, it may not be as clear why a vet’s staff of veterinary technicians should be licensed. The truth is that vet techs are primary caregivers at a vet hospital, just like nurses are at a hospital for people.
Why do vet technicians need to be licensed?
Like nurses, vet technicians handle a large part of your pet’s medical care when they come for a visit. They assist the veterinarian in surgery and administer medications or anesthesia. They take x-rays and perform dental and lab procedures. All of these tasks require medical knowledge and specialized skills. The proper training and licensing ensure that our vet techs are competent and confident when your pet needs care.
What kind of education and license do vet techs in New York state need?
Vet techs learn all these valuable and often highly technical skills in a Veterinary Technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). When they graduate with an A.A.S. or B.S. in Veterinary Technology, a prospective vet tech is eligible to take the VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Examination). You must pass the VTNE to become a licensed veterinary technician in New York state.
Do vet techs benefit from continuing education and professional development?
Most professionals benefit from continuing education, and this is especially true for practitioners in a science-based field. Scientific research on animal welfare and disease is always growing, and vets and vet techs need to stay abreast of this new knowledge to provide the best care for your pets. Medications and technologies are evolving more rapidly now than ever before, and it would be hard to stay on top of all these changes without putting in time for learning.
We keep learning so we can offer the best options for your pet’s health.
At Gloves Cities Veterinary Hospital, our veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians continually supplement their education to provide your pet with the most appropriate and up-to-date treatment. We’re proud to be an AAHA-accredited veterinary hospital, and we’re even more proud of our licensed staff of caring vets and vet techs. We are committed to offering you and your pet the very highest standards of care in the industry. If you need us, call Gloves City Veterinary Hospital at 518-725-8117.
