The hierarchy of a veterinary clinic includes veterinary technicians, who require schooling and training, and veterinary technician assistants. Technicians perform a range of tasks, including client-oriented and patient-oriented duties, and can specialize in areas such as large animal care or nutrition.
The hierarchy of a veterinary clinic is clearly delineated. Each staff member has certain jobs that help the clinic run smoothly in order to provide quality care to clients and patients. Veterinary technician jobs require versatility, strength of character and compassion. In the hierarchy of a veterinary team, the veterinary technician ranks above a veterinary technical assistant, but below a veterinarian. Before becoming a veterinary technician or starting veterinary classes, it’s a good idea to have at least basic knowledge of what a veterinary technician does.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, every veterinary technician undergoes two to four years of schooling in an accredited veterinary technology degree program. Upon completing a veterinary technology program, the technician takes a national exam and, upon passing, registers for work in their geographic region. Veterinary technicians are awarded the title NVT (National Veterinary Technician), CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician), RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician) or LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician). These credentials vary by location, but all indicate the same title and training.
A person who does not complete the necessary veterinary technician training or licensing procedures is called a veterinary technician assistant. These individuals help technicians perform their duties. As a general rule, those working veterinary technician jobs can do everything except diagnose a condition, progress it, prescribe treatment, or perform surgery. This means that individuals who work in veterinary technician jobs, including veterinary technician assistants, perform a wide range of duties throughout the workday.
Veterinary technicians can expect to perform humiliating tasks such as cleaning kennels and dog runs, more skilled tasks such as taking blood samples and administering medication, as well as assisting with surgery or administering and monitoring anesthesia. Some veterinary technicians perform solely client-oriented tasks, such as working a front desk, educating clients on physician instructions, or filing records. Others only work with patients, taking vital signs, applying restraints, and performing lab work. Most technicians perform a combination of these tasks. Veterinary technician classes teach all these skills and more; therefore, each technician knows how to perform these tasks should the need arise.
In addition to standard veterinary technician jobs, there are specialized areas that a technician can learn from. These specialties require additional training and focus on large animal care to exotic animal care to anesthesia or nutrition. Training in a specialized field can help potential veterinary technicians obtain higher-paying or more prestigious veterinary technician jobs.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
