Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

1. What is the difference between a Veterinarian, Veterinary Technologist, Veterinary Technician, and Veterinary Assistant?
2. Where are the programs for Veterinary Technicians/Technologists?
3. Where are the programs for Veterinary Assistants?
4. Are the correspondence courses I see on TV the same as those on college campuses?
5. What is the difference between RVT, LVT, and CVT?
6. I'm moving from one state to another, how do I become credentialed in the state I'm moving to?
7. How can I become licensed without going to school?
8. Salaries and employment information.
9. Can I find employment with my veterinary technology degree?
10. How can you handle putting animals to sleep?
11. I'm a Foreign Veterinary Technician/Nurse and would like to work in the US, can you help?
12. I'm interested in the specialty certification, can you tell me more about it?

1. What is the difference between a Veterinarian, Veterinary Technologist, Veterinary Technician, and Veterinary Assistant?
Persons with varying degrees of educational experience staff the Veterinary Hospital. Tasks performed in the hospital, to provide animal care, should be assigned to persons in the level where education/training exists to ensure a positive outcome for the patient. There may be times when an employee may be asked to work at a level below their expertise, but in keeping with the philosophy of quality animal care, the opposite should not take place.

The Veterinarian is solely responsible for diagnosing, prognosing, prescribing medication and performing surgery. They are ultimately responsible for all patient care and outcomes. Most Veterinarians apply for veterinary medical school admission while obtaining a bachelor degree in a compatible field. If accepted into a medical school the course of study usually takes another four years, making that a grand total of eight years of schooling. Every state requires a veterinarian to take and pass a licensing exam. Successful candidates are given a license to practice veterinary medicine.

The Veterinary Technician/Technologist is educated to be the veterinarian’s nurse, laboratory technician, radiography technician, anesthetist, surgical nurse and client educator. Many veterinary technicians/technologists are placed in a supervisory role in veterinary practices, research institutions and in other employment options. Veterinary technicians can find employment in veterinary practices, biomedical research, zoo/wildlife medicine, industry, military, livestock health management, pharmaceutical sales, etc. A Veterinary Technician is a graduate from a two year, American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program from a community college, college or university. A Veterinary Technologist has graduated from an AVMA accredited bachelor degree program. Almost every state requires a veterinary technician/technologist to take and pass a credentialing exam. Passing this exam ensures the public that the veterinary technician has entry level knowledge of the duties they are asked to perform in the veterinary clinic or hospital. More information on Credentialing.

A Veterinary Technician/Technologist Specialist has met the same requirements as above plus spends about 75% of their time doing a specific task and has passed a specialist certification exam administered by a Specialist Academy. Currently there are three academies offering specialty certification. More information about Specialties

The Veterinary Assistant may have training through a high school, college certificate program, or through a distant learning program over the Internet. Most however are trained on the job by the veterinarian or the veterinary technician. Their role is to assist the veterinarian or the veterinary technician in their daily tasks as well as some basic setting up of equipment and cleaning of key areas in the clinic like the surgery suite. Some may be asked to do kennel cleaning and janitorial work as well. There is no credentialing exam for the veterinary assistant.
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2. Where are the programs for Veterinary Technicians/Technologists?
There are over 100 AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology Programs located around the United States. You can earn either an Associate Degree (2 years) or a Bachelor Degree (4 years) at the various community colleges, colleges and universities offering a veterinary technology program. There are a number of distance learning veterinary technology programs that are also AVMA accredited and can be accessed through the web. To view the list of AVMA accredited programs click here.  

The cost varies from school to school. You should contact the school of your choice and they will be able to give you information regarding tuition, as well as financial aid.

Students can become members of NAVTA for $25, click on the SCNAVTA button for a SCNAVTA membership application. (I'm going to leave the scholoarship stuff out altogether as that seems to change and this should be a farily static document.)

To learn more about Student Chapters of NAVTA and find a membership application click here.

3. Where are the programs for Veterinary Assistants?
Most high school or college counselors should have a catalog of veterinary assistant programs across the country. There is one Internet program available on the web. Visit VetMedTeam.com for more information.

NAVTA in cooperation with AVTE & CVTEA has developed a set of guidelines for developing a Veterinary Assistant Program. NAVTA will review assistant program curriculum to evaluate whether the program meets requirements as established by NAVTA, CVTEA and AVTE. Download the NAVTA Assistant Training Policy. (pdf)*
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4. Are the correspondence courses I see on TV the same as those on college campuses?
No! None of those meet AVMA standards for accreditation. Their graduates are not allowed to sit for credentialing exams in the majority of the states because they are veterinary assistant and not veterinary technology programs.
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5. What is the difference between RVT, LVT, and CVT?
Each state regulates their veterinary technicians differently. Some are registered, some licensed, and some certified. Most states use the Veterinary Technician National Exam, and regardless of which title is bestowed after passing the exam, you can have the score you received in one state transferred to another if that states uses the same exam. In most cases, after paying the state's fee, you are then considered certified, licensed or registered in that state. Some states require a practical exam in addition to the written national exam. You would then have to fulfill that requirement before becoming fully credentialed in that state. For more information on credentialing of veterinary technicians click here .

Regulations for setting exams are found on the American Association of Veterinary State Boards web site. To find out what your state requires go to the AAVSB website by clicking here .
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6. I'm moving from one state to another, how do I become credentialed in the state I'm moving to?
Each state has its own guidelines on credentialing veterinary technicians. Find out your state's guidlines!
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7. How can I become licensed without going to school?
In most states you can’t become credentialed without graduating from an accredited veterinary technology program. A very few states currently have an "alternate route" that allows people to sit for the exam, however there are a number of prerequisites that must be met before taking the exam. In 2000 there was a ruling by the Association of American Veterinary State Boards that within ten years they will no longer allow the National Veterinary Technician Exam to be used under these circumstances.

If you are in a position to attend a veterinary technology program in your state it is well worth the effort. The amount of knowledge behind the skills you already know will astound you. If you can’t physically get to a program there are five Distance Learning Programs that are currently accredited by the AVMA that can be taken via the Internet.
AVMA Accredited Programs 
AVMA Accredited Distance Learning Programs 
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8. Salaries and employment information.
A survey done in November 2003 by NAVTA reports that members averaged $30,500 per year for full time employment, and nonmembers averaged $26,560. In a regional breakout we see the salaries averaging $31,520 in the Northeast, $29,370 in the South, $29,060 in the Midwest and $29,010 in the West. For more information on salaries, click here.
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9. Can I find employment with my veterinary technology degree?
YES! Currently there is a strong demand for graduates from veterinary technology programs. In their recently released "Occupational Employment Projections to 2012 Report" the Department of Labor lists Veterinary Technicians as one of the top 20 fastest growing careers where an education makes a difference. For more information regarding employment trends click here.
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10. How can you handle putting animals to sleep?
This is a difficult thing but in reality it is usually a kindness for the animal. Euthanasia is usually considered when the animal is very ill or has a sever injury. Under these circumstance the best thing to do for the animal is to end its suffering. This is usually accomplished with an overdose of anesthetic drug via an IV injection. The animal initially falls asleep as if for surgery but the overdose causes their heart to stop beating. This is an extremely quick procedure and is totally painless except for the initial stick with the needle.
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11. I'm a Foreign Veterinary Technician/Nurse and would like to work in the US, can you help?
To legally work in the U.S. an entry visa and work permit must be obtained. The Department of Immigration and Naturalization handles entry visas and the Department of Labor-Alien Certification handles work permits. The American Consulate or embassy in the country of origin should be able to provide the necessary documents.
Obtaining the necessary documents to work in the U.S. is the first step. In order to work as a Veterinary Technician in the U.S. the rules and regulations of a particular state must also be considered. To help determine the practice requirements for a particular state contact the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
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12. I'm interested in the specialty certification, can you tell me more about it?
To find current information about the specialties currently recognized by NAVTA and obtain contact information for them click here.

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