Veterinarian Technician

Theoretically on the paper CalDog is right.

In reality California State is the largest of the states were unlicensed, unregistered veterinary technicians work.

There is Zero enforcement of the law just like people made joke of the state approval of universities so is DCA. Consumer Afairs , AVMA no one is going after pet clinic owners and DVM's who hire Vet Asistants for RVT jobs.

My cousin studied at Pierce College graduated best in his class with Associate degree in Vet Technology, passed CA RVT and is in good standing with the board.

Majority of VT's working in CA are not RVT. Unless you are working for county or city in the animal shelter.

The animal hospital is not going to hire RVT if they can hire unregistered one.
Even here as long as the assistant is under supervision of DVM the pet clinic owners can save $$$$.

My friend RVT after more then 3 years of unsatisfied employment since 2008 ended up
as a clinic partner owner, he owns a small pet clinic, he hired number of DVM's and works as an RVT in the same clinic paying him self a salary.
call the board, you will hear that a lot of RVT's complain in CA as well.

 

You chose one state as an example. If you go through all of the states, most of them require registration, licensure, or certification in order to do what the law allows a veterinary technician to do.

 

OK, maybe I should have said that "legally you cannot work as an unregistered or unlicensed Veterinary Technician in California."

If you are prepared to disregard applicable laws, then presumably yes, you can work as an unregistered or unlicensed Vet Tech in California -- or anywhere else.

 

On the paper , some states do look a little tough but in reality they don't do anything, I repeat anything to enforce the RVT/LVT rules.
This is based on many RVT testimonies.
Some changed states moved, relocated only to be disappointed.

One time in 1990 the CA state superintended on Education made a claim that CA State Approval is equivalent to Regional Accreditation.
It can be still found on state handbook in CA libraries that kept that publications.

In reality the State couldn't enforce, due to the budgete tc the rules and regulations so it looked nice on paper but no other state accepted the degrees of CA approved colleges and universities unless they had RA/NA accreditation.

My unemployed RVT friends wrote letters, some drove to Sacrament to speak with board members, went and raised the issue with the Association they belong to.
Noting.
Once the economy was slow, most of small pet clinics and Animal hospitals even, VCA or other large networks started laying off RVT's and bringing in unlicensed, unregistered cheap work force.

I'm talking about facts.
Its not like 100% of RVT's lost their jobs but the % are high.
Even DVM's complain, they also loose their jobs and its easier to find a DVM.

My fiend employs two DVM's in his clinic. He put an ad on Creag list and got 20 emails in two days from DVM's looking for work.

The economy did that.

 

The board created vac-um when it comes to Vet Tech. They didn't specify what Vet Assistant or aid can or can not do.

California:

RVT:

A veterinary technician is one who has: Met certain educational requirements
Passed the written and practical exam Is registered by the board

A veterinary assistant:

Means any individual who is not an R.V.T. or a licensed veterinarian.

Specified Duties:
Veterinary Technicians:

Direct Supervision:
Induce anesthesia;Apply casts and splints;Perform dental extractions;
Suture cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, gingivitis and oral mucous membranes,
Create a relief hole in the skin to facilitate placement of an intra-vascular catheter
Indirect Supervision: Administer controlled substances.

A veterinary assistant:
Direct Supervision: Effective January 1,
2015, administer a controlled substance if certain conditions are met.

The rest is simply not specified, this means that there is no prohibition for many of the activities or approval.

So no body is breaking the law if they allow Vet Assistant do some of the activities of RVT as long as the DVM is directly supervising.

Connecticut:

Connecticut NOT SPECIFIED NONE SPECIFIED so anything goes?
Georgia: we seen above under supervision of DVM anything goes.

Delaware:

A veterinary technician means a person who has received a degree from a veterinary
technician program or its equivalent.

Florida:


All tasks which may be delegated to a veterinary aide, nurse, laboratory technician, intern, or other employee of a licensed veterinarian shall be performed only under the
"immediate supervision" of a licensed veterinarian with the exception of the
following tasks which may be performed without the licensed veterinarian on the premises:

 The administration of
medication and treatment,
excluding vaccinations,
as directed by the
licensed veterinarian;
 The obtaining of
samples and the
performance of those
diagnostic tests, including
radiographs, directed by
the licensed veterinarian.
 The administration of
anesthesia and
tranquilization by a
veterinary aide, nurse,
laboratory technician,
intern, or other employee
of a licensed veterinarian
NONE SPECIFIED

 

For the states that do have specific requirements (which are most), I recommend following the law. Just because it's not strictly enforced in some areas does not mean it's worth taking the risk of being fined. It's also unethical, especially when pet parents are expecting the vet techs to be licensed/registered/certified.

 

Actually again you are wrong, in most states there is no clear law that can be enforced in connection with Veterinary Technicians.

Me too and every one here posting here recommend to follow the law.
Please don't twist my posts.

What unfortunately is happening if you read my post is that the rules are non restrictive and unclear and at many cases don't exist.
The language should be " ONLY DVM and RVT can do such an such" then you understand that all others are excluded.

But the rules are opposite: they say RVT can do this and that. But not saying ONLY RVT. That opens the door for others that are not RVT to do work as they are not braking laws or rules.
That allows clinics owners to follow them as they interpret them.

 

The states have written down the scope of practice for veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants. The scope of practice for veterinary assistants is more limited. Going outside of that would be breaking the law.

 

DVM can do a little bit more work and save the money he needs to pay RVT by utilizing an Assistant.

I never heard on even one lawsuit related to someone who in not an RVT but a Assistant.
Again many states have no clear regulations.

How do you explain that large minimal hospital near my home, employs 4 DVM's FT, 2 DVM PT, 10 Technicians who are not RVT and 2 receptionists? Not a single RVT.

 

I think it's pretty clear when the states list what veterinary assistants can do. They aren't allowed to do anything beyond that. I don't know how it can be clearer. I don't live in your state and your state is not every state, but if your state requires registration/certification, then those people are not technicians.

 

Did you say you live in California? I found the laws for registered veterinary technicians and unregistered veterinary assistants.

These are the major differences I saw:
Under the supervision of a veterinarian an RVT can:
(1) Induce anesthesia;

(2) Apply casts and splints;

(3) Perform dental extractions;

(4) Suture cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, gingiva and oral mucous membranes,

(5) Create a relief hole in the skin to facilitate placement of an intravascular catheter

An unregistered assistant is prohibited from performing any of these tasks even with supervision.

An RVT can administer a controlled substance under indirect supervision. An assistant can only administer a controlled substance under the direct supervision of a veterinarian or an RVT. RVTs also have the power to directly supervise assistants performing other tasks that are not prohibited for their title. RVTs can perform emergency animal care after communicating with a veterinarian directly. If direct communication is not available, the RVT can follow written instructions given by their employing veterinarian. Emergency animal care is only listed for RVTs. This means that unregistered assistants cannot perform the tasks that are listed in this section without direct supervision like an RVT can.

Registered Veterinary Technician and unregistered assistant duties - Veterinary Medical Board

 

California state is broke and has no resources to enforce the rules.
Many RVT's in California are unemployed, mistreated and abused.

I used to live in CA log time ego, I live in NY. I have relatives and friends in California.
One of a very close friends is RVT.
He is the source of my info about CA.

here is another opinion:

and one more:

Anyway I do recommend to get RVT if you want to do that type of work.
Simply manage expectations. But if you think becoming RN then BSN RN makes much better living then RVT and there is more work for RN's.
RN's have development and can grow in to Surgery and Nurse Practitioner roles.

My 2 C

 

Perhaps what Lerner is trying to say is that regardless of what the law requires, many places will hire unlicensed people for the job of vet tech simply because its cheaper. Perhaps he's not saying you guys are wrong about the legal requirements. Maybe he just means that even though those requirements are there, they often are not followed. Anyone can be trained on the job to do what vet techs do. The only difference is that vet techs are licensed and Joe Blow off the street isn't. But if said employer trains Joe Blow, then he can do all the same duties and have all the same responsibilities as a vet tech, gets to call himself a vet tech (even though legally he isn't one) but he doesn't have to get paid vet tech money. Therefore, if someone wants to be a vet tech, there may be a chance that the licensure will actually hurt their chances of being hired since that license means they get paid more. At least, that's what I get out of his posts.

 

That is what he is saying, but he is wrong. He seems to have issues with the law, with DVMs, with training and is using some sort of logic never before seen in the modern world.

 

I have no issues.

I hate to see people miserable. Unfortunately Vet Tech's are among the most unhappy group of professionals that I run in to. They are good people, unhappy with the state of their profession.

For me this is not a beauty contest, posting on this site.
I hope the info provided helped at least someone.

I wish all RVT's and all of you a good 2013.

 

And I appreciate that Lerner. I don't think there is any malice in what you are saying and I can see the concern in your words. Thank you.

 

Unfortunately the clinics are usually to small and owners in bad economy can't pay well.

On another side in addition to Associations Vet Techs needa Union to protect their profession.
I don't know if such union will have power to influence state governments to enforce better the rules or to draft better rules.

If all RVT's in one city went on strike, I think clinics would hire assistants and let them do the work.
Unless the union had money to hire an attorney and file a lawsuit against such clinics.

Just thinking loud.

 

You need at least a master's degree to become a nurse practitioner. But, yes, there is more room for career growth in nursing. However, new graduates are having a hard time finding jobs. In this economy, older and more experienced nurses are holding off their retirements. I'm predicting a glut in nursing soon since it seems like everyone is trying to get into it. There are numerous articles on this subject and the nurses on nursing forums seem to agree. More and more hospitals are moving to only or mostly hire BSNs.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2017720619_nurses11.html

This goes back to it being illegal and unethical. I wouldn't want anyone performing any kind of procedure on my dog without being held to any standards.

 

You are making correct statement.
The problem is if you were to take legal action you will discover the real value of the rules.

Maybe if there were some lawsuits in the news the situation of RVT's may improve.
And the care of our 4 legged friends.

 

A couple of California hospitals had problems with medical professionals getting CPR cards without the recertification training.

Fifty hospital employees fired and quit over fake CPR cards | abc7.com
CPR cards bogus, hospital finds - Los Angeles Times

I can't find the article, but it said that the medical professionals didn't even have the skills to properly perform resuscitation procedures because they had skipped the training.