Recently, The Bridge Club hosted a conversation titled, “Let’s Prioritize Veterinary Technicians.” As a long-time member of the Veterinary industry, The Bridge Club’s founder and CEO, Catherine Haskins, is a supporter of Veterinary technician elevation and a firm believer that thought-provoking conversations are often the catalyst for change in the Veterinary industry.
The aforementioned conversation was open to the entire Veterinary profession, regardless of position, and several hundred people were registered to attend. Several key opinion leaders served as panelists: Sam Geiling, CVT (Chief of Staff, Animal Policy Group; Co-chair of NAVTA’s Government Relations Committee), Becky Mossor, RVT (President Elect for NAVTA), and Mark Cushing, JD (CEO & Founder, Animal Policy Group). Shannon Nowak, RVT (The Bridge Club; Secretary of the North Carolina Association of Veterinary Technicians) served as moderator with help from Cheryl Good, DVM (The Bridge Club) and Catherine Haskins (The Bridge Club).
Prior to the event, a survey of proposed priorities for Veterinary technicians was circulated online, mainly through social media platforms. All participants were given a similar survey upon entering the Zoom meeting room. The results from the surveys were addressed in real-time and were found to be in alignment with the goals of the organizations in attendance, as well as with the challenges and proposed solutions brought forth by the panelists.
The conversation highlighted several challenges and proposed solutions for Veterinary technicians.
Key Challenges:
- Structural Issues: According to Mark Cushing, the Veterinary field has historically been veterinarian-centric, marginalizing technicians. Despite increasing efforts (which took hold following a large Veterinary summit in 2018) to address turnover, low morale, and under-compensation of technicians, little change has occurred. Cushing argues that the problems are structural rather than attitudinal, requiring systemic changes rather than mere appreciation of technicians by veterinarians.
- Title Protection and Utilization: One of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America’s (NAVTA) top priorities for 2025, as outlined by Beckie Mossor, includes securing title protection for Veterinary technicians across all states. The lack of such protection and recognition affects the profession’s ability to enforce proper utilization of RVTs. (There are currently six states in the U.S. that do not have technician regulations and use a voluntary credentialing process—CT, FL, MA, NJ, VT, and WY.)
- Lack of Representation in Governance: A recurring theme is the limited power RVTs hold in governing their profession. Veterinary licensing and regulatory boards and technician education program boards are often dominated by veterinarians, which hinders technicians’ ability to self-advocate, self-regulate, and advance their roles. Many other professions, including those in human healthcare, are self-governed. However, Veterinary technicians are not granted the same autonomy.
- Inconsistent Standards Across States: Sam Geiling pointed out that states have remarkably inconsistent regulations on the scope of practice for Veterinary technicians, with some states allowing unqualified assistants to perform advanced procedures. This inconsistency further dilutes the role and expertise of credentialed Veterinary technicians. It also attributes to pet owner confusion regarding the roles, skills, and education level of the Veterinary professionals caring for their pets.
- Lack of Involvement and Advocacy: Both Mossor and Geiling highlighted a challenge in mobilizing more technicians to get involved in advocacy and governance. Many Veterinary technicians remain passive, leaving a small group of dedicated professionals to push for systemic changes.
Proposed Solutions:
- Change the Rhetoric: Mark Cushing believes that by changing the language surrounding the Veterinary profession, we can begin to shift priorities both within the profession, as well as within the public space. By changing from ‘Veterinary medicine’ to the ‘pet healthcare team’ (or similar) the emphasis is no longer placed solely on the veterinarian, but rather demonstrates a team approach in which all members are professionals deserving of equal respect. This approach will also highlight Veterinary technicians to the public as educated, skilled pet care experts.
- Creating Technician-centric Governing Boards: Cushing suggests a structural change where Veterinary technicians would govern (or co-govern with equal or majority representation) their own boards responsible for the accreditation of educational institutes, credentialing, and scope of practice. This would mirror the human healthcare system, where each professional team member has their own governing body, leading to greater autonomy and respect within the profession. He advises that change begins at the state level, and technicians should explore options such as starting conversations with local Veterinary medical boards and associations or advocating for legislative changes.
- Standardization and Title Protection: Beckie Mossor reports that one of NAVTA’s priorities for 2025 is actively working on creating nationwide standards for credentialing and scope of practice for Veterinary technicians. This includes pushing for title protection legislation across all states, allowing Veterinary technicians to be fully recognized and properly utilized. Technicians can also work with their state Veterinary technician associations to ensure their voices are being heard in pushing these agendas forward within their state.
- Improving Education and Utilization: Emphasis was placed on the need for Veterinary schools to better integrate the roles of other Veterinary team members, especially Veterinary technicians, into their curricula, teaching Veterinary students the importance of a team-based model, and emphasizing the education and skills of a credentialed Veterinary technician. It was also mentioned to not neglect educating colleagues and peers, as it is not always clear what roles staff members play in each practice. By organizing staff trainings and having a clear delineation of job duties, technicians can advocate for themselves on a much more local level.
- Encouraging Broader Participation: To address the lack of involvement, Geiling, Mossor, and Nowak call for inspiring more technicians to participate in advocacy, whether through state associations or other efforts. The goal is to have a more united front to push for the changes needed in the profession. Educating Veterinary technician students on their role in influencing the future of the profession and providing mentorship to peers and colleagues will help to develop more leaders in the field.
In summary, this discussion underscores the need for systemic change, greater autonomy for Veterinary technicians, and a more active, engaged technician community to drive these reforms. Pet owners are demanding higher overall standards of care for their pets, and Veterinary technicians are well positioned to meet those elevated standards by serving as pet care experts. Veterinary technicians have, for decades, attempted to advance their profession with the help of veterinarians. It’s time for Veterinary technicians to take charge and initiate change for themselves. By doing so, they aim to elevate their profession as an equally respected part of the animal healthcare team.