Both veterinary technicians and assistants are frequently required to perform a variety of overlapping duties, but there are limits to that versatility.
Specialties
A major distinction between the roles is that technicians may choose to specialize in a specific area, such as internal medicine, zoological medicine, emergency care, dental technology, anesthesia, and more.
Individuals may become a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) designation through additional training, which comes with its own host of specific requirements. Having a VTS at your practice provides multiple benefits, including greater expertise and knowledge in certain areas of animal care, the ability to empower clients with specific post-visit instructions for their pets, and increasing the office’s productivity by being qualified to handle specific duties without a veterinarian’s supervision.
When building your staffing plan, consider your expected needs. Will your practice primarily provide family pets with long-term care? Then maybe a VTS focused on internal medicine or dentistry is right for you. Do you want to offer emergency and critical care services? In that case, a VTS specializing in that area might be a better choice.
Of course, additional talent comes at a price, so review average VTS salaries and your budget to determine if the added benefits of having a VTS on staff outweigh the costs. A VTS can help your practice stand out to potential clients, but only if the demand for their services exists. Depending on what services you want to provide, you might not need a VTS at all. A regular veterinary technician or assistant could very well satisfy your business’ needs.
Licensing and Certification
Currently, there are no licensing or certification requirements for veterinary assistants in the US. By contrast, most states have strict requirements for veterinary technicians. Candidates usually need to attend accredited vet tech programs and demonstrate their competency, often through passing a licensing exam such as the Veterinary Technical National Examination. Successful individuals are then given typically to fulfill the technician’s role in that jurisdiction.
Veterinary assistants may have training through a college certificate program or from experience on the job, and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in American (NAVTA) has a list of approved veterinary assistant programs that you can reference as you vet candidates. They’re not required to possess formal education beyond a high school diploma or GED.
The value of your employees is by no means dictated by the level of their education, but depending on what type of services you want to offer clients, including knowledge of the veterinary field, may determine who you want to employ.
Takeaway
The nuances between a veterinary technician and assistant can be difficult to parse through, even for those who are experienced members of the veterinary field. Individuals in both roles provide essential services that help keep a practice up and running, and you’ll likely make room for both in your staffing plan as you strategize the next best move for your business.
