Career Opportunities for RVTs
An RVT is able to provide services to:
Although many technicians are employed in private practice in a clinical setting, there are many other opportunities for veterinary technicians such as the following:
- Private veterinary practice (small, large and exotic animal)
- Veterinary teaching hospitals
- Emergency care
- Diagnostic laboratories
- Educational institutions/ teaching
- Zoo animal and wildlife care
- Wildlife rehabilitation
- Animal behaviourist and rehabilitation
- Biomedical research facilities
- Government and industrial institutions
- livestock health facilities
- animal shelters, humane societies
- pet health insurance
- clinic reception/ administration
- veterinary palliative and hospice care
- Animal health care industry sales representatives (vet pharmaceuticals, nutrition, pet food, supplies)
RVT Specialties
As there is an ever increasing interest among veterinary technicians for professional development beyond their basic qualifications, a veterinary specialty certification is also available. Those technicians who wish to attain an advanced level of knowledge and skills in specific discipline areas can do so through a number of specialty learning academies or societies. Veterinary Technician Specialists carry the additional designation "VTS" with their particular specialties indicated in parentheses.
It is already a fact that as the growing number of companion pets continues to increase, so has the demand for veterinary services. A further demand for these services may result in the need for more highly skilled RVTs to better assist the veterinarian.
NAVTA (National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America) developed the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS) for North America (U.S.A & Canada). The CVTS provides guideline that veterinary technician organizations must follow in order to offer specialty programs in veterinary medicine. The following are a list of academies and societies offering specialty programs.
Academies approved by NAVTA:
The Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists
The Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians
The Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice
The Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians
Societies:
Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians
The American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians
Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians
Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society
For more detailed information on these specialties please refer to the following websites:
OTHER PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATIONS:
Alberta Association of Animal Health Technologists
Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists
Manitoba Animal Health Technologists Association
Association des Techniciens en Sante Animale du Quebec
Eastern Veterinary Technician Association
