Certified Veterinary Technician placing a catheterWhat are veterinary technicians?

• Veterinary technicians are specifically trained professionals who work as an integral part of the veterinary medical team to provide humane and quality animal health care. Their education provides them with the theory and practical skills essential to their career choice.
• In Colorado, we have certified veterinary technicians or CVTs. CVTs are not licensed through the state government, but do maintain their certification (offered by CACVT) by taking continuing education classes.

What do veterinary technicians do?

• Assist in surgical procedures
• Manage sterile preparation of the surgical patient and instruments used
• Administer and monitor various anesthetics
• Provide emergency, intensive, and/or basic nursing car
• Collect and analyze clinical specimens by performing diagnostic laboratory procedures such as hematology, blood chemistry, urinalysis, fecal analysis, etc.
• Conduct physical examinations and assessments, including taking histories
• Perform radiology
• Perform clinical patholog
• Perform dental procedure
• Provide nutritional education and management
• Restrain and handle animals
• Perform animal husbandry
• Provide public education
• Manage client relations: counseling and education
• Assist in hospital/business management and administration

We cannot diagnose, do surgery, prescribe, or initiate treatment

What is the difference between a veterinary technician and a veterinary assistant?The veterinary technician usually has training from a program in veterinary technology (two- or four-year degree); the veterinary assistant is either trained through an assistant program or on-the-job. The assistant's job is to assist the veterinarian or veterinary technician.

Why aren't veterinary technicians called veterinary nurses?While some clinics may wish to use this terminology, the nationally-accepted language is veterinary technician. While nursing is one of veterinary technicians' duties, they do much more. They are anesthesiologists, surgery assistants, radiologists, laboratory technicians, nutritionists, dental hygienists, and more. There really isn't a direct equivalent of a veterinary technician in human medicine.