From Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM,
Your Guide to Veterinary Medicine.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Working with animals requires a love of animals and the knowledge of how to work with and take care of them. People who work as Veterinary Technicians learn the necessary animal handling skills and knowledge by attending veterinary technical school or by learning the skills on-the-job. Read this FAQ to learn what it takes to become a veterinary technician and what "vet techs" do on the job.

A. Veterinary technicians are trained professional support staff who provide assistance to veterinarians and biomedical/laboratory researchers. Technicians provide patient monitoring, animal restraint, surgical and dental assistance, laboratory diagnostics, administration of medicines and treatments, anesthesiology among other vital animal care and veterinary clinical tasks.

Some technicians are trained on the job by the veterinarian(s) or other technicians on staff. Some technicians attend schools that offer two or four year degrees in the science of veterinary technology. Upon completion of a formal academic program or by taking state-administered certification tests, one can become certified as a veterinary technician. Certified technicians often have a better job outlook and higher income opportunities, but this varies with an individual's level of experience and by local demand.

Certified veterinary technicians are known by various initials in the United States:

• CVT: Certified Veterinary Technician
• LVT: Licensed Veterinary Technician
• RVT: Registered Veterinary Technician

The qualifications and regulations for each designation vary, but the term used is often mandated by what state or province that the technician resides in. According to the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA):

The current terminology recognized by decree of both NAVTA and the AVMA is "Veterinary Technician." Whether you are an LVT, RVT or CVT the term used is mandated by the technician’s state of residence.

Multiple titles can be very confusing for the public. In order to simplify this we recommend the use of the credentialed Veterinary Technician. We use the word credential not only to denote licensure and certification, but also to connote an affective element inherent in these terms.

--- NAVTA on credentialing

The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) maintains a directory of regulatory agencies pertaining to licensing and credentialing of veterinary technicians and veterinarians in the United States and Canada.

Like veterinarians, veterinary technicians may specialize in a particular field of study such as dentistry or anesthesiology. NAVTA recognizes several technician specialties (recognized as either academies or societies).

Related Reading:
U.S. Department of Labor -- Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
From the Occupational Outlook Handbook