(Editor’s note: Sam Geiling, CVT is co-author of this article. Her bio can be found at the bottom of the page.)
Credentialed vet techs are leaving in droves. Retention is a symptom and causes are plentiful. Let’s take a moment to consider one of the biggest issues for vet techs: title protection.
Per AAHA’s 2023 “Stay, Please” report, 30% of all roles working in clinical practice planned to leave their job in the next year. Many planned to leave the profession entirely. According to a 2022 AAHA industry survey, it takes an average of almost 13 months to fill a credentialed technician role. These gaps lead to worsening conditions and more turnover.
Let’s imagine two new hires are starting together at a general practice. Alice, the new assistant who was hired from a national coffee chain and Valerie, the recent vet tech program graduate with little prior work experience. They are provided the same training checklist and the same two vet techs to train them across their shifts.
Alice works and learns quickly. She is confident talking to clients, including in challenging conversations. She takes advantage of opportunities presented to learn as much as possible. She asks to draw blood, take x-rays, place catheters.
Valerie also starts out strong. She’s taking the VTNE soon and is helping Alice understand the why behind what she is being taught. After passing the VTNE, she is reconciling what she learned in school and what is being asked to do in practice. She is told she takes too long in appointments, while she is trying to be thorough. Her confidence is wavering.
They both have six-month reviews with the practice manager. Alice gets promoted from vet assistant to vet tech with a raise. Valerie is told she is progressing and doing well, and they will consider a raise in the future. We’ve likely all seen something similar play out.
As a profession, credentialed vet techs oppose this and ask that the vet tech title be reserved for those who have met the accepted set of qualifications–graduation from an accredited vet tech program, passing the VTNE, and applicable state exam. Even if a state’s Veterinary practice act doesn’t require it, this is a basic courtesy for all vet techs.
The most common argument I hear is that there are OJT “techs” that can spin circles around credentialed vet techs.
I agree that we have many well-trained, dedicated Veterinary assistants out there right now. We should support them through vet tech school, help them advance their career, and meet the qualifications to use the title vet tech. With over 200 accredited programs—offered in-person, online, and hybrid—earning a degree is accessible and most are at affordable community colleges.
Very few practices have seen what healthy team continuity can look like. Imagine the benefits of working with an established, long-term, trusted team, instead of navigating varying levels of knowledge and experience. Vet techs frequently leave due to low wages and to find positions where they aren’t expected to train everything they learned in school. Retention, increased wages, and title protection are directly related.
Lastly, clients often have no awareness of who has earned credentials and who hasn’t. If they were given the choice, I have a strong suspicion most would opt for educated vet techs performing complex tasks, such as anesthesia. People who misrepresent themselves as veterinarians are prosecuted. No one is seen in a human healthcare facility by an “unregistered” nurse. Credentialed vet techs deserve the same distinction and respect.
Sam Geiling, CVT (she/her) serves as the Vice President for Accreditation and Industry Services at Animal Policy Group, where she advises deans and administrators on all aspects of accreditation and building Veterinary programs. Sam leads initiatives that support and strengthen the Veterinary industry nationwide. Recognized for her leadership and commitment to advancing the profession, Sam was honored as the 2023 NAVTA Veterinary Technician of the Year. She is also the President-elect of the Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians (MAVT), where she continues to advocate for technician growth and recognition.