The Veterinary Technology Blog

Like many other sectors, the field of veterinary medicine grapples with the challenge of ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion. Historically, the veterinary profession has been predominantly white and male, and while other professions have made strides towards a more diverse workforce, this field has been lagging behind.

Veterinary technicians, often called vet techs, are crucial in providing compassionate animal care. They fulfill myriad responsibilities, including administering medication, assisting in surgeries, conducting laboratory tests, and offering routine healthcare advice to pet owners. To become a vet tech, students must complete a two-year associate degree in veterinary technology, although some pursue a four-year bachelor's degree.

Moral distress is a term used to describe the psychological and emotional turmoil that can arise when individuals are faced with a situation where they feel ethically conflicted or unable to act following their moral values. While moral distress is commonly associated with healthcare professionals, such as doctors and nurses, it can also be experienced by veterinary technicians.

The Southern California vet tech schools featured on this list are all accredited through the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Not only does AVMA program accreditation ensure students that these programs meet the highest educational standards, graduating from an AVMA-accredited program also enables students to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Exam offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), “Cyberbullying is the use of electronic communication to bully someone, typically by sending or publicly posting messages that are intimidating or threatening.” This is beyond a simple bad review and is a serious issue in many veterinary facilities. In fact, 40 percent of AVMA members surveyed said they, or someone they work with, has been a victim of cyberbullying.

A 2022 report published by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America found that 40 percent of the veterinary technicians who responded to their survey about their state’s title protection laws answered incorrectly. The report also found that, at the time, 31 states had no title protection for veterinary technicians, and ten only had limited protection. This means that in well over half the states in the country, anyone can call themselves a veterinary technician with no legal ramifications.

Working with animals in a veterinary clinic requires specialized education. The two primary career options in veterinary care are as a veterinarian or a veterinary technician. Both professions play critical roles in ensuring the health and well-being of animals but have very different job duties and educational requirements.

Much like any other industry, the veterinary industry underwent significant changes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Recent research found that everything from clinic protocols, patient admissions and discharges, deliveries, shipments, appointment scheduling and duration, and the availability of food, pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment were profoundly impacted. Clinics had to adapt and implement new practices to ensure the safety of their staff, clients, and patients.

The NAVTA launched the Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI) in 2016 to combat title confusion. This initiative aims to change and standardize the title of veterinary technician to registered veterinary nurse (RVN). The scope of the job and required education wouldn’t change, just the name used for licensing purposes. The title was carefully chosen after a large survey.

With the internet, many more people without physical access to training can pursue careers assisting veterinarians as veterinary technicians. The schools on this list offer online programs for veterinary assisting, both certification for veterinary assistants and degrees for veterinary technicians, to students nationwide.

Burnout and compassion fatigue impact all professionals in this field, from veterinarians to assistants and technicians. Like human healthcare burnout, there are many reasons for veterinary professional burnout. Factors include staffing shortages, high daily patient turnover expectations, and long hours.

The veterinary industry faces a critical shortage of qualified professionals at all levels. With the demand for veterinary services rising, the need for qualified vet staff has never been greater. The current staffing shortages are causing long wait times for pet owners and increased stress levels among those working in veterinary clinics.

Graduating from veterinary technician school is an accomplishment to celebrate, but for many, it's overshadowed by financial worry. Read this guide to learn more about loan forgiveness programs for veterinary technicians and common repayment options.

Looking for a good list of veterinary apps? We've compiled a list -- some for Android, some for Apple -- that can help veterinarians on the job. Find vet calculators, terminology references, and drug treatment information. To top it off, most of the apps on our list are inexpensive or free.

For many animal-lovers, choosing a career as a veterinary technician is a natural choice. It’s a field that couples the rigor of scientific laboratory testing with soft skills in patient caretaking.