Of course, veterinary technicians care about patients, but they also care about proper respect from veterinarians, peers, and clients. Photo: Bigstock/zorandim
In the dynamic world of veterinary medicine, credentialed veterinary technicians are essential, highly trained professionals. We serve as anesthetists, dental hygienists, emergency responders, surgical nurses, educators, laboratory analysts, nutrition counselors, grief support specialists, and that is just the start. Our work is grounded in science, ethics, and patient care. We are trained. We are tested. We are licensed. Yet, despite our education and professional standards, the title "veterinary technician" remains largely unprotected or unenforced in many states in the U.S. As a result, credentialed veterinary technicians work in a profession where our qualifications are diluted, our professional identity is misused, and our title is applied inconsistently—even inaccurately.
This is not a superficial concern. Title misuse impacts patient safety, public trust, professional retention, and ultimately, the sustainability of veterinary healthcare teams. If we, those who hold the credential do not protect, respect, and correctly use our own title within veterinary culture, how can we expect pet owners, legislators, or even our peers in human healthcare to understand its meaning and importance?
A profession, not a position
At the heart of this issue is a fundamental misunderstanding of what credentialed veterinary technicians represent. In too many practices, the title is treated as interchangeable with "assistant" or "on-the-job-trained staff," despite the clear distinction in education, scope, and accountability. This misconception not only devalues the credential but also undermines the credibility of the entire veterinary practice.
Becoming a credentialed veterinary technician generally requires graduation from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)- accredited veterinary technology program. These intensive programs, typically two or four years long, are grounded in biomedical sciences, pharmacology, clinical practice, anesthesiology, and more. Graduates must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), a rigorous standardized exam designed to test competency across the breadth of veterinary medical practice and state-specific jurisprudence requirements and commit to continuing education for ongoing licensure.
This professional pathway mirrors other allied health fields, such as radiologic technologists, dental hygienists, or physical therapy assistants; fields where title protection is given. However, our title's persistent lack of uniform recognition and legal protection sets credentialed veterinary technicians apart, not in the way our diverse and expansive profession deserves. The absence of clear standards enables clinics and corporations to assign the title, and even protected skills, to unlicensed individuals, some without any formal training, undermining the purpose of credentialing altogether.
Why title protection matters
When uncredentialed individuals are allowed to use the title "veterinary technician," clients lose the ability to distinguish between trained, licensed professionals and non-professionals. This confusion is not benign. It compromises informed consent and misrepresents the qualifications of those entrusted with patient care.
Inconsistency in title use and education representation presents ethical and legal risks for clinics and practitioners alike. More importantly, it devalues the profession. Clients who believe their pet's anesthesia or blood draw is being performed by a credentialed professional are entitled to transparency. Allowing the title "veterinary technician" to be applied indiscriminately undermines that trust.
The 2024 NAVTA Demographic Survey offers a sobering glimpse into the profession's current state. More than 60 percent of credentialed veterinary technicians report feeling underutilized, underpaid, or undervalued. Burnout and moral distress are common. Nearly one-third of those surveyed indicated plans to leave the profession within five years, often citing a lack of recognition or career mobility as a driving factor.
The erosion of our title contributes directly to this crisis. When credentialed veterinary technicians are treated interchangeably with untrained staff, compensated the same, titled the same, and held to indistinct standards, there is little incentive to remain in the field. Title protection is not just about language; it is about respect, retention, and the future of veterinary care.
When employers and governing bodies fail to distinguish between credentialed and noncredentialed staff, they send a message: your education and licensure don't matter. When that message is reinforced by stagnant wages and limited career advancement, the result is attrition.
Why on-the-job training is not enough
Veterinary medicine is increasingly complex. Advances in pharmacology, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, and critical care require highly trained individuals who can make informed, rapid decisions under pressure. While on-the-job training has long been a pathway for entry into veterinary support roles, it cannot—and should not—replace the depth, consistency, and rigor of a formal education through an AVMA-accredited program.
Credentialed veterinary technicians undergo a structured curriculum grounded in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, medical math, anesthesia, clinical skills, and more. These programs are designed not only to impart technical skills but to cultivate critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and evidence-based practice. This level of training cannot be replicated through observation or experience alone, regardless of how competent or well-intentioned the training environment may be.
On-the-job training also lacks standardization. What one assistant learns in one practice may vary significantly from what another learns elsewhere. There is no guarantee of exposure to surgical protocols, aseptic technique, radiographic safety, emergency care, or pharmacologic accuracy. This creates risk, not only for patients but also for practices themselves, especially when uncredentialed individuals are expected to perform tasks beyond their scope.
Moreover, individuals trained solely through on-the-job experience are not held to the same regulatory standards as credentialed technicians. They are not required to pass the VTNE, adhere to state practice acts, or complete continuing education to stay current with best practices. Without licensure or certification, there is no governing body to hold them accountable in the event of error or misconduct.
This is not a critique of those who have entered the field through OJT, but rather an acknowledgement that today's veterinary medicine demands more. We owe it to our patients, clients, and teams to ensure that those entrusted with complex medical responsibilities have received the appropriate education and have demonstrated their competence through examination and licensure.
Formal credentialing is not just a hoop to jump through—it is a public trust mechanism. It ensures that everyone who bears the title "veterinary technician" has met an established, verifiable standard. Without this structure, on-the-job training alone cannot meet that standard.
Internal inconsistency: we must be the first to lead
State law's lack of title protection is only part of the problem. Too often, the misuse of the title "veterinary technician" originates within our own practices. Clinics frequently advertise technician positions with "no experience required." Assistants and credentialed technicians wear identical scrubs and carry identical titles. Reception and customer service teams refer to any back-of-house staff as "techs," regardless of training.
This internal inconsistency makes external understanding impossible. Title misuse must stop at the clinic level if we hope to create momentum for broader change. Credentialed professionals must take ownership of their title, use it consistently, and educate their colleagues and clients on what it means. Practice managers and hospital administrators should differentiate roles in job descriptions, pay scales, responsibilities, and titles.
Professional associations, veterinary schools, and corporate employers must reinforce this distinction. If we do not protect our title in our own spaces, we cannot expect lawmakers or the public to do so on our behalf.
Respecting all roles while upholding professional standards
It is essential to clarify the call for title protection and credential recognition does not dismiss the valuable contributions made by veterinary assistants. In fact, veterinary assistants are integral members of the veterinary team. Their support, dedication, and compassion are the backbone of many practices, particularly in high-volume and resource-limited settings. Many assistants bring their teams years of hands-on experience, deep patient knowledge, and essential continuity. Their role should be respected and clearly defined.
However, protecting the title "veterinary technician" is not about creating division. It is about ensuring legal clarity, ethical responsibility, and public transparency. Credentialed veterinary technicians are held to specific educational and regulatory standards. We are accountable to state boards, required to engage in continuing education, and bound by the statutes that govern our licensure. These are not symbolic distinctions but practical, legal, and professional ones.
Veterinary assistants and credentialed technicians often work side by side, and many assistants go on to become credentialed technicians themselves. The pathway should be supported, encouraged, and made more accessible—not blurred by title misuse that ultimately serves no one. By defining roles clearly, we foster respect, accountability, and growth across the team.
In short, title protection is not about exclusion—it is about precision. It ensures when clients hear the term "veterinary technician," they can trust in the training, regulation, and responsibility behind it. That is the legal and ethical imperative we all share in advocating for professional clarity.
Creating access: investing in assistants through education
As the call for title protection grows louder, it is important we simultaneously promote access to formal education for those veterinary assistants who aspire to become credentialed veterinary technicians. Title protection is not about gatekeeping but about raising the standard of care while creating clear, supported pathways for education. Fortunately, in today's educational landscape, those pathways are more accessible than ever.
Accredited veterinary technology programs are increasingly available in flexible, online formats, allowing veterinary assistants to pursue their education while continuing to work in the field. A dozen programs provide AVMA-accredited curricula that meet the educational requirements for credentialing, without requiring relocation or time away from clinical practice. For motivated assistants, these programs offer a realistic, attainable way to formalize their skills, deepen their knowledge, and elevate their role on the team.
This is where veterinary practices have a critical opportunity and responsibility. Clinics should actively encourage and support their assistants who express interest in becoming credentialed. That support can take many forms: flexible scheduling for classes and exams, mentorship from credentialed team members, financial reimbursement for tuition or books, or even formal sponsorship programs that include raises or title changes upon credential completion.
By investing in assistants and helping them become credentialed veterinary technicians, clinics improve their standard of care and strengthen retention. Empowering an assistant to grow professionally demonstrates respect and belief in their potential, driving loyalty and long-term career satisfaction.
Supporting formal education is not only ethical but also a strategic decision for the sustainability of the veterinary workforce. The future of our profession depends on growing a pipeline of qualified, credentialed professionals—and that starts with opening doors, not closing them.
Policy change and the path forward
Protecting the title "veterinary technician" requires action on multiple fronts: legal, cultural, and educational. On the legislative side, we need state veterinary practice acts to clearly define the title and restrict its use to credentialed individuals. We need accountability mechanisms that penalize misuse and create professional clarity. National organizations such as the NAVTA, American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), and AVMA should continue to advocate for standardized terminology and credentialing models across state lines.
At the institutional level, veterinary hospitals and employers must enforce internal policies that align with credential standards. This includes requiring proof of licensure, using correct job titles in marketing and communication, and creating clinical ladders that reward credentialed technicians with leadership roles and appropriate compensation.
Finally, we need to continue educating the public. Clients should understand who is treating their pet and what qualifications that individual holds. Outreach campaigns, transparent communication, and professional storytelling can bridge the knowledge gap between the public's perception of "techs" and the reality of our professional expertise.
Conclusion: A title worth defending—and a profession worth growing
Protecting the "veterinary technician" title is not an act of exclusion or elitism. It is a matter of legal clarity, public safety, and professional integrity. Acknowledging the distinction between credentialed technicians and on-the-job-trained staff is not a critique of assistants, but a recognition of the standards that regulate our profession and safeguard our patients. While valuable, we must affirm that on-the-job training is not a substitute for structured education and licensing that ensure consistency and accountability in care.
At the same time, we must open doors, not close them. The expanding availability of accredited online veterinary technology programs offers new pathways for aspiring veterinary assistants to grow into credentialed roles. Practices should not only support these aspirations, but they should also invest in them. Encouraging assistants to pursue formal education, providing mentorship, and supporting them through tuition assistance or schedule flexibility benefits the entire team. When we elevate each other, we elevate the profession.
Protecting our title is an investment in our field's credibility, our clients' informed consent, and the future of veterinary medicine. It is a declaration we are professionals, not by chance, but by choice, education, and licensure. Let us lead by using our titles with clarity, advocating for policy with unity, supporting the growth of our assistants through education, and honoring our profession with pride.
Beckie Mossor is a registered veterinary technician and current president of the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). She has a diverse veterinary background, including clinical practice, management, and academia. She is the practice management coordinator in the Veterinary Technology program at Appalachian State University. Mossor is the co-host of the podcast Veterinary Viewfinder and founder of the Veterinary Industry Giving Tree, a nonprofit organization developed to help members of the veterinary community during the winter holidays.
Resources
- NAVTA. "2024 Demographic Survey." National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America, 2024.
- AVMA. "Model Veterinary Practice Act." American Veterinary Medical Association.
- American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). "Title Protection Status by State."
- American Veterinary Medical Association. "Veterinary Technician Utilization Guidelines."
