Vet Tech Week

Personalized Gifts for Veterinary Technicians

Looking for a personalized gift for a veterinary technician? Well, you are definitely in the right place. I’ll share with you some of my favorite personalized gifts you can get to show how much you appreciate and value the dedication of veterinary technicians. I’ll list the best customized gifts you can get if you want to get a personal touch to a gift.

Personalized Gifts for Veterinary Technicians

Stethoscope Tag

This veterinary technician stethoscope tag has an excellent feature, you can customize it. It is an ID tag which will help veterinary technicians have a personal stethoscope and no one will be able to take it by mistake. What I found most interesting is that it can also be used for your keys, scissors, or anything else you don’t want to lose.

Canvas

This Jennifer Steinbrecher custom canvas will make any room more stylish and beautiful. I love it because we have in our veterinary clinics and it makes it more modern and cozy. What I like most about this canvas is that you can select your own style and size. For a canvas which looks that good, the price is a great value for money.

Blanket

This Suzanne Gold custom blanket features a lightweight, pill-free microfiber fleece that is not only supremely soft, but warm and cozy. Another great feature of this fleece blanket is the fact that it is made of extremely high-quality materials.

Pet Silhouette Necklace

This is probably one of my favorite personalized gifts on this list. What I most like about it is that it is a cat silhouette pendant necklace which can come with an engraving. I love the personal touch to it, but also the fact that it can be made of silver plated or sterling silver material. Nevertheless, probably the best feature about this pet silhouette necklace is that you can add an engraving of your choice and preference.

Sneakers

These paw and bones women sneakers are extremely comfortable and suitable to wear on a daily basis, especially when at work. Another great feature of this gift is that you can choose whether you want them with white or black sole.

How Much Does a Vet Tech Make?

Veterinary technicians perform a number of tasks related to animal care, including nursing care, lab work, surgery assistance, collecting samples and performing tests, and radiology. They work in animal hospitals or private clinics and assist veterinarians with animal care. Working as a vet tech isn’t a glamorous job and only the ones who really care for animals and are committed tend to stay in the field. You are probably wondering how much does a vet tech make. We’ll let’s say that it depends on a number of things, such as education, specialization, experience, geographic location and the type of employer. Nevertheless, let’s try to find the best possible answer for all of you who wonder what’s the average salary of veterinary technicians.

National Statistics

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for veterinary technicians is $33,400 annually. In fact, the best-paid 25 percent made $39,860 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $27,430.

Best-Paying Employers and States

Based on the data given by the BLS, veterinary technicians which have been employed by federal and state government agencies earn the highest average annual salaries. Moreover, the geographical location is another important metrics which determine the amount of the salary. Thus, it has been reported that the five best-paying states for this field are Alaska, New York, Connecticut, Virginia and Massachusetts.

Additionally, there are a number of metropolitan areas which provide high salaries for veterinary technicians, including areas in California, Sacramento, and San Jose.

Worst-Paying States

The lowest average salaries seem to be earning vet techs from West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Idaho. Additionally, the vet techs in Kentucky and Alabama averaged annually $26,770 and $26,960 respectively.

Best-Paying European Countries

Let’s also take a close look at how much do veterinary technicians make in Europe. Some of the highest paying European countries are Denmark, Luxembourg, Germany, Iceland, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

Nevertheless, it looks like vet techs tend to start out with slightly higher salaries and earn more with experience than vet assistants. Hence, if you are considering to become a vet tech, you won’t get rich, but you won’t go hungry either. The job is extremely rewarding and no one can argue with that.

Vet Tech Specialties

Veterinary technicians have been more and more interested in attaining a higher level of recognition for advanced knowledge and skills in specific disciplines. Therefore, the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America established the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS). CVTS is a body which provides a standardized list of criteria, as well as, help for societies which are interested in getting academy status.

This Committee, which is recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, was founded in 1994 and it provides guidelines to veterinary technician organizations in order to facilitate the formation of a specialty organization. In order for a candidate to be awarded the designation of Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in a certain discipline, a candidate has to follow the advanced pathways developed by academies.

All veterinary technicians can pursue a higher level of knowledge and be recognized for their developed skills in certain disciplines. These veterinary technician specialties can be achieved by following and successfully completing a course in a veterinary technician organization accredited both by NAVTA and AVMA.

The Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties has come up with a CVTS Guidelines, a document which contains all procedures and standards. The CVTS operates and governs the specialty academies by these standards. Moreover, all the requirements and standards for the establishment of a specialty academy are set by the CVTS.

The Difference Between a Society vs. an Academy

A number of veterinaries decide to specialize in a certain area. An academy is defined as a group of veterinary technicians who have received formal, specialized training, testing and certification in an area. The NAVTA recognized academies in several specialties, such as anesthesia, behavior, internal medicine, dental technology, emergency and critical care, zoological medicine, and equine veterinary nursing.

On the other hand, a society is a group of veterinary technicians who represent a distinct and identifiable specialty, supported by a veterinary specialty. The members of a society may or may not have received formal training and may or may not be certified in that specialty. They can become members of an academy if they meet certain requirements. Veterinary technician societies recognized by NAVTA are specialized in the fields of behavior, equine veterinary technology, zoo veterinary technology, and emergency and critical care.

Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) Academies and Societies Approved by NAVTA

There are a number of academies which have been completely approved and recognized by NAVTA, such as:

The Academy of Internal Medicine Veterinary
The Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians

The academies which have been provisionally recognized according to the NAVTA CVTS requirements include

Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anesthesia and Analgesia
The Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Diagnostic Imaging
The Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses
The Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia
The Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine
The Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians
The Academy of Dermatology Veterinary Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice
The Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians
Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians
The Academy of Physical Rehabilitation Veterinary Technicians
The Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians

Last but not least, the societies which have been approved by the NAVTA are The Society of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians, Society of Veterinary Behavior Technicians, Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society, The American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians, The American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians, and Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians.

Veterinary Technician Specialties Recognized by NAVTA

There are 15 official specialties which have been approved and recognized by NAVTA. The fourteenth specialty joined the existing thirteen NAVTA recognized veterinary technician specialties in November 2016. Currently, the NAVTA recognized veterinary technician specialties are

anesthesia,
surgery,
behavior,
internal medicine,
dental technology,
emergency and critical care,
zoological medicine,
clinical practice,
equine veterinary nursing,
nutrition,
dermatology and ophthalmology,
clinical pathology,
laboratory animal medicine,
physical rehabilitation.

Moreover, a new 16th specialty academy for veterinary technicians is announced to be joining the existing specialties. It has been revealed that the Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Diagnostic Imaging (AVTDI) will be the newly recognized academy. This is an excellent opportunity for veterinary technicians who are eager to learn more about performing higher-level diagnostic imaging, such as digital radiography, CT, fluoroscopic special procedures MRI, ultrasonography, and nuclear imaging.

Nowadays, the demand for qualified veterinary technicians is huge which makes it an excellent career choice. Veterinary technicians who want to take their careers to the next level can select one of the fourteen specialty certifications. Hence, most of the veterinary technician specialties will be entailed having a degree, 3-5 years of work experience, skill logs and case studies, attendance at continuing education events, letters of recommendation, and passing a comprehensive exam.

Nevertheless, becoming certified in a vet tech specialty will come with plenty of benefits. So, you will be able to educate clients, earn more, increase the overall productivity of the veterinary office, get more professional opportunities, and gain greater expertise and knowledge.

Vet Tech Day at the Clinic

This is a video of a Vet Tech who loves her job. She explains what it means to be a vet tech in this video of her daily routines at the clinic. Get to know her cute patients!

Watch this video if you are planning to enroll in this profession!

Vet Tech Week Gifts for the Staff

Do you have an ambitious and hard-working staff who are dedicated to their work in your veterinary clinics?! Well, we are sure they know how much you appreciate them. However, it’s good to show some appreciation once in a while. So, what a better way to show your gratitude for their hard work than giving them a gift. But this doesn’t mean that it should be any kind of a gift. It’s great if you spend some time selecting a meaningful and personalized gift for each and every staff member. Here are some ideas of personalized gifts for all the staff, which won’t leave anyone indifferent.

You can bulk order the following custom designs, which are the perfect gift for Vet Tech Appreciation Week, Veterinary World Day or Clinic Anniversary. You can choose whether you want a T-shirt with custom made design and logo on the back, some small design on the pocket, T-shirts with team members’ names, or custom drinkware, such as mugs and tumblers with names on them.

Additionally, you can also show how much you love and respect your veterinary technicians for Vet Tech Appreciation Week with some of the following gifts:

Sneakers

These watercolor paws women’s sneakers are the ideal gift for all female vet techs in the clinics. They come in the black and white sole and the vet techs will love and wear them every day at work. There are plenty of sizes to choose from.

T-Shirt or Hoodie

You can also get either a T-shirt or a hoodie with a funny wording, which says ‘I’m a vet tech, I can’t fix crazy, but I can sedate it.’ Three styles of T-shirts are available while the hoodie is unisex. You can also select one of the four color options and sizes.

Bracelet and Charm

This veterinary jewelry gift heart charm and luxury steel bracelet are an exceptional gift which will crack a smile on the vet tech’s face. There is an inscription on the charm ‘I was made for saving animals’, but you can also add an engraving of your choice.

Tumbler

This 30oZ vacuum tumbler comes with a paw print and it’s available in seven colors. The wording on this tumbler can’t be any cooler.

Mug

This white 11oZ mug features an amazing wording which will make any vet tech happy. This is another perfect gift for any coffee or tea lover. The black 11oz mug features hilarious quote, perfect for any vet.

Veterinary Nurse Initiative

The credentialing systems, which vary state to state, have caused plenty of confusion for both veterinary consumers and inside the veterinary profession. Hence, in order to clarify the crucial role of the profession, it is necessary to establish a single and standard title. So, formally trained and credentialed veterinary technicians or nurses can properly care for both pets and pet owners.

For Credentialed Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Technician Specialists who want to advance their careers, the unified title will make a national and global standard. The mission of NAVTA is to make an alignment within the veterinary field, provide education for veterinarians and consumers, as well as, raise public awareness about the roles and responsibilities of veterinary technicians and nurses.

Therefore, NAVTA has decided to initiate conversations with global, national, and state organizations in order to implement the use of a single term. This association, which collaborates with the AVMA, works towards creating common policies, practice acts, terminology, and procedures. This will make it easier for individual states and associations in credential governance.

Nevertheless, neither the Title Protection nor the National Credentialing will happen overnight. In fact, this initiative is estimated to occur in the next 5-10 years. In 2016, NAVTA did research for the best possible options and consulted plenty of organizations and global, national and state veterinary medical associations. NAVTA acknowledges the importance of veterinary assistants in the success of the credentialed veterinary technician or nurse and the veterinary hospital.

The initiative will consider their important role and ways how to promote through the Approved Veterinary Assistant Programs. Moreover, the National Credential Initiative aims to standardize the credential for the profession, including requirements, title, and scope of practice throughout the nation. So, the standardized title will be used in all 50 states and it will unify the profession and grow professional recognition.

Thus, the National Credential Initiative will provide an opportunity for veterinary consumers, who will start understanding and recognizing what veterinary technicians or nurses do on a daily basis in regards to patient care. The qualified veterinary nursing personnel will continue to provide protection and care for their patients both for pets and pet owners.

Happy Vet Tech Week Video

Animal Emergency Clinic-Victorville crated this video as a Thank You to all the Vet Techs out there, who do an amazing job day by day!

We thought it was worth a look and it might inspire you how to thank your vet techs next year. Enjoy!

Taking the VTNE

The Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) is an exam which assesses the competency of entry-level veterinary technicians, so they can practice and be credentialed. The VTNE is administered and owned by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). This computer-based exam is offered in three testing windows a year and a very valid tool as it’s regularly reviewed, updated, and reevaluated by highly-qualified item writers. The passing score on this exam is one of the criteria for credentialing required by SAVT.

The Application Process, Requirement and Cost of VTNE

In order to take the VTNE, you are required to pay and apply for the exam, as well as, apply for eligibility to take the exam. The applications are accepted all the time, but there are deadlines for each examination window, usually one month before the exam. There are three testing windows, including

November 15 – December 15
March 15 – April 15
July 15 – August 15

The VTNE costs $310.00 (paid in U.S. dollars), including the “seat fee” for the Prometric Testing Center. It can be taken at PSI testing centers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The requirements you need to fulfil in order to be able to take the VTNE are to be a graduate of AVMA or CVMA accredited veterinary technology program or a program approved by the regulatory board governing your jurisdiction. So, you need to be a Pending member of the OAVT in good standing and a graduate from an OAVT accredited college.

How to Register for the VTNE

First and foremost, you need to create a login with the AAVSB, as well as, register and pay for the exam. Then, you should become a Pending Member of the OAVT, if you aren’t already. Next, you should confirm with your eligibility with your college. Finally, you will get an Authorization-to-Test (ATT) letter from the Professional Examination Service (PES) via email. This letter will contain all the instructions for the VTNE.

After the Exam

When you finish with the exam, you will get an unofficial and provisional -screen Pass/Fail score, but you won’t be able to print it. The official exam score will be sent to you electronically about 3-4 weeks after the session is completed. The results are also sent to the provincial or state association. All colleges get the results and a summary report by OAVT.

Preparing for the VTNE

In order to prepare for the VTNE, you will need to go through a number of resources. Here are some available resources you can use to prepare for passing the VTNE:

VTNE Flashcard Study System: VTNE Test Practice Questions & Review for the Veterinary Technician National Exam
AAVSB Resources
Mosby’s Comprehensive Review for Veterinary Technicians, 3e, Monica M. Tighe, Marg Brown
VTNE Preparatory Review, an online course
Review Questions and Answers for Veterinary Technicians, 4e (Revised Reprint), Thomas P. Colville
Master the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), Peterson’s
VTNE Secrets Study Guide: VTNE Test Review for the Veterinary Technician National Exam

National Veterinary Technician Associations

There are a number of veterinary technician associations in the USA which you should know about. We composed a list of all national veterinary technician associations you can find in the United States of America. We will talk more about the national body for veterinary technicians in the country known as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).

List of National Veterinary Technician Associations in the USA

National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
Veterinary Technicians and Assistants Association of Pennsylvania
Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians
New York State Association of Veterinary Technicians
Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists
Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians
American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians
Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians
Florida Veterinary Technician Association
Association of Veterinary Technician Educators
Ohio Association of Veterinary Technicians
Academy of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care Technicians

Everything You Need to Know About the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) was established in East Lansing in 1981 and it’s a non-profit association. NAVTA promoted and represents the veterinary technician profession. It is entirely devoted to improving and developing the veterinary technology profession. Hence, it promotes the profession among the public and the industry through promotion, advocacy, education. The association is committed to the advancement, education, and career growth of its members.

Its main goal is to provide a chance to all veterinary technicians to participate in national issues regarding the veterinary profession. NAVTA’s first corporate sponsor was Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

After many years of working, NAVTA has gone through much and seen many successes. Thus, the association was part of the creation of the Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties, declaration of National Veterinary Technician Week, and the development of a scholarship program.

The mission of NAVTA is to adopt high standards of veterinary care, promote and highlights the veterinary health care team, and influence the future of its members.

Everyone who is in the veterinary industry can join NAVTA. So, if you are a credentialed veterinary technician, educator, veterinarian, student, or veterinary assistants, you can be part of the association and enjoy plenty of great benefits. Some of the major benefits the NAVTA members enjoy include discounts for hotels and car rentals, getting The NAVTA Journal and NAVTA e-newsletter, access to the NAVTA Yahoo! Groups, 20% membership discount, and savings on different kinds of insurance.

Song by Dr. Allen

Another awesome song about Vet Tech Appreciation Week by Dr.Allen from Jackson Square Animal Clinic!

“Let’s go hear it for the TECHS!” 🙂

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