Do you find it annoying when people call themselves Veterinary Technicians?

Question

Do you find it annoying when people call themselves Veterinary Technicians when they haven't gone to college or passed the VTNE?

Why or why not?

Do you agree/disagree with this statement:

A lot of people claim to be vet techs, but if you didn't go to school and haven't passed your VTNE exams you are actually considered a veterinary assistan.

typo: assistant*

Note: For the person who asked how do you tell if someone is a tech? You actually have to get at least an Associates degree in a science/math related field.

You also have to have graduated from an AVMA accredited program and passed national and licensed boards BEFORE* you can call yourself a tech.

You become registered and licensed once you pass these exams.

Just calling* yourself a tech, doesn't mean you are one.

Note: This is the textbook definition. I am not assuming anything. I am simply asking if people agree/disagree with the statement and why they do or don't.

I want to hear other people's opinions on the matter.

Answer 1

Why is it annoying? After school, you are a RVT (registered vet tech), it goes on your badge, and you get paid more. I've not been to school, but put me beside a someone from school, and I'll be able to teach you something.

I mean I agree that there is a difference between a schooled person and most people who just work in an animal hospital. I've met people on both ends of the spectrum that don't need to be labeled anything. I've met people who say they are technicians but don't even know what vaccines they give their own dogs. However, I've met a slew of people who have learned through work and bustin' their tails and who, if allowed to take the exams, would pass without a hitch. Of course, most of these people have been working in the field for 7+ years if not more. So, I don't believe in misrepresenting myself, but I don't feel like I am.

Not to be harsh, but school won't change the amount of experience that you have over someone who has bust their butt in the field for many years. Here in NC, people who go to school are called registered/licensed technicians to separate them from others who don't, and they may get paid more. However, I've worked with people who went to tech school and there is not difference between me and them, other than they sat in class to learn how to do a fecal and draw blood, and I learned from doing it a few times at work.

Not to say it isn't an accomplishment, but I've worked my a** off too to learn the things that I know and develop the skill level that I have. Here in NC, I don't have to go to school and I've decided not to yet b/c I want to go to Vet school. Of course, now that I can do school online, it could be easier for me. Unfortunately, I've had to work through college, and I decided to jump into the field and learn that way.

Also, my best friend who was a "tech" for 14 years, never went to school but there is no way that she wouldn't have kicked a*s if she would have been allowed to take the RVT exams. Why, b/c sometimes years of experience can beat out schooling. I've met and trained many people who are straight out of school. A lot of them couldn't compare their knowledge to the knowledge that my friend had. No schooled tech could hold a stick to her, even after they've worked in our clinic for a few years.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh to all of you who have been in school, but I've worked hard too. I've gotten a little annoyed by people who've come from school and thought that they were better than me. Especially, when they have to learn their job from me b/c I'm gonna be the one training them or because my knowledge of veterinary isn't too far off from theirs. I've been disrespected too many times by someone who has been to school thinking that they know more than me, and when they challenge me, I can spill back all the technical terms and knowledge that they can and a lot of times, then some.

Of course, I'm impressed that they've went to school and I will never down size the hard work that they've done, but why do you have to downsize the hard work I've done. I'm way aware of the difference but I chose my path.

At the end of the day, we are all doing the same work. Yes, you would come to the clinics that I have worked at, and do the exact same thing that I do everyday. Under the table, you may get paid more than I do which is what should set you apart. Everyday I work with people who can't draw blood, put in catheters, anesthetise animals, stitch up a wound, restrain properly, know a thing about treatments, diseases, etc... They have the same title that I have even though I know a lot of these things. It don't bother me a bit b/c it doesn't belittle what I know, and I get paid more than they do. Also, everyone around you knows how much you know and what you know. These people aren't allowed to talk to clients with problems, and are made to go to someone with more experience and knowledge to deal with owner problems or concerns. Clinic dynamics show the differences in indiviuals.

I'm not trying to shoot down your title and hard work in school. I guess I've got some anger about the issue b/c I've met so many people from school who are stuck on themselves and treat others like crap. These people were the ones that turned me against the whole difference in the 1st place. There was one guy who tried to work in our clinic that had just graduated from school. He almost killed a few dogs and caused a few other problems b/c he thought he was too good to ask questions from us who knew and was trying to teach him, but hadn't been to school. Instead of trying to learn, he tried to prove that he already knew it all.

Edit later:
It works both ways on knowing your limitations. Just b/c u call yourself a tech doesn't mean you can do it all, and know what you are doing. That goes both ways (for schooled and unschooled). Just b/c you go to school doesn't mean that you qualify to restrain this aggressive dog/cat better than I can (most likely you can't b/c that is one of my things). School doesn't automatically make you an expert. It's all relative. You should be humble when you need it.

I don't believe in posing/posers either. As far as answering questions on here, I don't think there is a guarantee. I've been trained at an emergency clinic where answering the phones and what u can and can't say is really stressed. There I've learned that what an owner may say is happening, may not be exactly what you perceive to be happening from their description. There are no guarantees without taking a look at the animal and seeing for yourself.

Answer 2

From a technical standpoint - you are not a technician until you've graduated from an AVMA accredited program and passed the VTNE. I understand that. But for those with on the job training that are considered vet techs by their practice are just that. Vet techs. If you MUST differentiate schooled and unschooled, then those who have OTJ training can not use the title certified, registered, graduated or licensed. I don't see the big deal in it and it's not like a receptionist calling themselves a tech. That I would have a problem with. If someone is employed to do the job of a vet tech and do it with proficiency and character, then that's what they are. There are plenty of great techs that have never been to school, and there are plenty of horrible techs that have been to school. I work at an animal hospital, as a vet tech and am currently in school for veterinary technology. I call myself a vet tech and I am damn good at my job!

Answer 3

As a technician who graduated from an accredited program and have passed the VTNE, I understand where you are coming from. I think the veterinary technician profession is heading in the right direction by trying to make it so the title isn't so loosely used. There are less on-the-job trained technicians entering the field today, and the profession is becoming more technical with new technologies. State associations are really starting to focus in on this issue, with licensing and trying to get the average salary increased. I don't think the majority of people understand what vet techs do! We don't just play with animals all day - we are the equivalent of a nurse, lab tech, xray tech, surgical tech, anesthesiolgist, and client educator, all rolled into one! Vet techs rock! :-)

Answer 4

there are a few states that do not require techs to have passed the VTNE. Someone who knows how to do all the tech stuff is a tech. I'd rather work with someone who has had 10 years on the job training than someone just coming out of tech school.

Answer 5

Yes. It is confusing to our clients. 1) we are not veterinary nurses which would fit our job desc. 2) pick 1 designated title for licensed technicians. Right now there are 3...lvt/rvt/cvt. The only difference is what state you are boarded in and the scope of what duties you are allowed to preform under that states veterinary practice act. Also yes those of us who graduated a avma approved veterinary technician program and passed boards shoukd absolutely have a differentdesignation. We have taken the time and effort to further our professional career. We have definetly earned it. It also makes us look more professional as an industry as a whole

Answer 6

Wow, interesting question, thanks for asking.
I am totally surprised how many people think it's okay to misrepresent themselves like that.
No.......calling yourself a vet tech is not the same as being one, even if you are working as a vet assistant.
That's like a nurses aide(little or no formal training required, sometimes a 3 week course, lot of times on the job trained) calling herself a nurse.
Vet techs have to know a lot of the same things for animals that nurses do for people and then some, so I guess if I were a vet tech and I ran into someone posing as one it would annoy me. Keep in mind, there will always be people who want to appear to be more than they are. I pity them.
I just hope that noone in this forum gives their answers any more credit than anyone elses, because that's when you run into problems. That's why I think a vet is always your best bet when it comes to real health problems.

Answer 7

I find it annoying when someone just assumes that people calling themselves vet techs aren't vet techs. I graduated from Pierce College and passed the California board and am a certified vet tech in Ca. So when I say I am a vet tech I am speaking the truth. Why do you assume so many aren't?

Answer 8

Don't think I have ever seen someone who was pretending to be a Vet Tech. I am going to school for this profession right now but I wouldn't call myself one until I graduated.

Answer 9

Yes I do! Actually, I find the term in general annoying - in England they're called Veterinary Surgeons, which I think is more fitting considering they're at least as knowledgeable as human surgeons.

Outrageous that people could be calling themselves this if they're not qualified. I'm a veterinary nurse, and was by law forbidden from describing myself as one until I'd passed by qualifications!

Chalice

Answer 10

1

Answer 11

Why would you ask this type of question? I think if someone classifies them self as a Vet Tech then they are one.
I know people like to make themselves look good and writing things down is easy too but we must take people for who they say they are.
How do you know if that person did or did not go to school for this feild?