Updates: VT Profession

NEWS!

The AAEVT has researched AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology Programs so that we might offer recomendations for those who wish to enroll in a program that offers some equine: The Recomended Programs are:

1. Morehead State University
   Veterinary Technology Program
   25 MSU Farm Dr.
   Morehead, KY 40351
   606-783-2326
   www.morehead-st.edu
   (Phil Prater, DVM-Coordinator)
   2 years-Associate in Veterinary Science
   Initial Accreditation-November, 1977
   FULL ACCREDITATION

   **** new EQUINE HEALTH EDUCATION CENTER at Morehead. We feel that this facility will provide a state of the art experience for vet technician students, and unlike those facilities that are attached to a CVM, this facility is being built for the technician's training to be the primary focus. As you know, our curriculum is at least 45% large animal

2. Blue Ridge Community College
   Veterinary Technology Program
   Box 80
   Weyers Cave, VA 24486
   540-234-9261
   FAX 540-234-9066
   www.br.cc.va.us
   (Stuart Porter, VMD-Director)
   2 years-Associate in Science
   On-Campus Initial Accreditation-November, 1976
   Distance Learning Initial Accreditation (VA residents only)-November, 1999
   FULL ACCREDITATION

   Example of Eq Courses:

   http://aaevt.org:443/images/files/Blue Ridge outline-spring\'07.doc Ridge outline-spring\'07.doc
   http://aaevt.org:443/images/files/Blue RidgeVET 195 - DiGrassi.doc RidgeVET 195 - DiGrassi.doc
3. Northern Virginia Community College
   Veterinary Technology Program
   Loudoun Campus
   1000 Harry Flood Byrd Hwy.
   Sterling, VA 20164-8699
   703-450-2525
   FAX 703-450-2536
   www.nv.cc.va.us

    

   On Campus Program
   (Leslie Sinn, DVM-Head)
   2 years-Associate in Applied Science
   Initial Accreditation-April, 1980
   FULL ACCREDITATION

   Distance Learning Program
   Associate in Applied Science
   (Terri Champney, DVM-Director)
   Initial Accreditation-February 20, 2004
   FULL ACCREDITATION

   The NVCC Vet Tech Program does teach some basic equine information.

   Each course references horses but they are just one of the various species covered.

   VET 116 Breeds & Behavior has an equine unit (2 lectures out of 15)

   VET 121 Clinical Practices I covers equine dentistry (hands on lab) and restraint

   Again, in each course, horses are covered (parasites, nutrition, radiology, anesthesia-hands on lab, etc...)

   Our students are expected to complete 90 hours of outside large animal hands on experience. We have good, working relationships with local practicioners and an excellent volunteer & internship program with the Marion DuPont Equine Medical Center in Leesburg, VA. Students that are interested in horses can obtain plenty of hands on experience.

   We do have an optional VET 295 Topics in Equine Nursing that is an overview of basic horse handling and care. It covers safety, haltering, leading, restraint, injections, poisonous plants, etc and is offered online via a Blackboard platform during the summer semester.

4. San Juan College
   Veterinary Technology Distance Learning Program
   4601 College Blvd.
   Farmington, NM 87402
   505-566-3182
   www.sjc.cc.nm.us/pages/1.asp

   (David Wright, DVM Director)
   Associate of Applied Science
   Initial Accreditation-November 8, 2006
   PROVISIONAL ACCREDITATION

   *** This program has outstanding equine facilities

   *** The best Distance Learning Program

5. Yakima Valley Community College
   Veterinary Technology Program
   P.O. Box 22520
   Yakima, WA 98907-1647
   509-574-4759
   FAX 509-547-4751
   www.yvcc.edu

    

   (Susan Wedam, DVM-Coordinator)
   2 years-Associate of Applied Science
   Initial Accreditation-March, 1999

   FULL ACCREDITATION

   *** This college offers a discount for out of state - and they have dorms!

   We cover equine anatomy in our A & P class. Spring quarter of the first year students take an Equine & Livestock Medicine Lecture and Lab class. I will insert the outcomes/objectives below. In this class, they have about 10 hours of lecture on equine, and 14 hours of lab time with 2-5 horses for 18-20 students to practice physical examination, bandages, perineal and IV catheter preps etc. They also get to administer IM injections (vaccines). I will attach the skills check off list we use and the final exam information. I cover equine parasites in as much detail as dog, cWe have many students interested in equine. . In our Lab Principles class we talk about equine urine, and in cytology labs the students look at uterine cytologies and other samples from horses. In Hematology lab the students do CBCs on horse blood, as well as the other domestic species. In our disease class I talk about common diseases by system, and we spend as much time on equine as other species. We have an equine dentistry lab, and lecture session. In dosage assignments, students are often asked to calculate for equine patients, including dobutamine CRI etc. I come from a mixed practice background, and my husband is an equine vet, so it’s an area of interest for me. In our current second-year class 6 of our 19 students have expressed serious interest in equine practice. On average, about 20% of our students have an equine interest.

   VET 124 Livestock/Equine Medicine Lecture Credits: 2

   This course will cover practical aspects of livestock and equine nursing skills, plus use of humane and safe restraint techniques. Specific skill will be developed in medicating orally, topically, and parenterally, venipuncture, bandaging, and prepping for various procedures and surgeries.

   Course Outcome(s): Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to
   • Describe methods to safely and efficiently obtain patient data as part of the physical examination on large animal species such as horses and ruminants
   • Understand common husbandry, nutritional, therapeutic, diagnostic, and dentistry techniques and procedures appropriate to large animal species such as horses, ruminants, and swine
   Course Objectives/Competencies: During the course the student will
   1. Apply anatomical and physiological knowledge to conformation and blemishes with their relationship to lameness in horses and other large animals
   2. Compare and describe advantages and disadvantages of various restraint methods used in large animals to provide safety and minimize stress
   3. Understand the significance of patient assessments and techniques as they relate to the physical examination of horses and ruminants
   4. Develop an understanding of wound care and treatments including the principles of bandaging
   5. Describe principles of asepsis to preparations for common surgeries and procedures performed in large animal species
   6. Identify and describe the use of instruments and equipment commonly utilized in large animal practice
   7. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate collection techniques for urinalysis, fecal examinations, microbiological, and hematological diagnostic testing
   8. Identify common types of feed and poisonous plants indigenous to this area

   VET 125 Livestock & Equine Medicine Lab Credits: 1

   This course will cover practical aspects of livestock and equine nursing skills plus use of humane and safe restraint techniques. Specific skills will be developed for medicating orally, topically, and parenterally; performing venipuncture; bandaging; and prepping for various procedures and surgeries. Class is concurrent with VET 124, Livestock & Equine Medicine Lecture; and Vet 104 Animal Care II.

   Course Outcome(s): Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to
   • Safely and efficiently obtain patient data as part of the physical examination on large animal species such as horses and ruminants
   • Utilize common husbandry, therapeutic, diagnostic, and dentistry techniques and procedures appropriate to large animal species such as horses, ruminants, and swine
   Course Objectives/Competencies: During the course the student will
   1. Demonstrate restrain techniques and the use of ropes, halters, head catches, stocks, twitches and other restraint devices used in large animal practice

       

   2. Perform physical examination of large animals, particularly horses

       

   3. Utilize techniques for administering oral, topical, and parenteral medications to large animal species

       

   4. Apply techniques for venipuncture in large animal species

       

   5. Apply bandages to horses

       

   6. Use principles of asepsis to prepare large animals for common surgeries and procedures
6. Mount Ida College
   Veterinary Technology Program
   777 Dedham St.
   Newton, MA 02459
   617-928-4545
   FAX 617-928-4072
   www.mountida.edu

   (Amy Butzier, CVT - Director)
   3 years-Associate in Arts
   4 years-Bachelor of Science
   Initial Accreditation-November, 1985
   FULL ACCREDITATION

   Large Animal Medicine and management (predominantly equine)

   Principles of Veterinary Sports Management (predominantly equine)

   Equine Sports Massage Therapy Certification course

   We also include equine material in the following courses (I teach the lectures and labs that deal with equine)

   Parasitology

   Radiography

   Pathology

   Clinical Laboratory (hematology, urology, etc)

   Our students are also required to complete 6 internships which are all hands on experiences. The students can choose their internships so students that want to specialize in equine go to equine hospitals or mobile equine vets. This gives them an entire year of hands on experience.

   We are also in the process of building a new veterinary technology facility which will include a 400 sq foot large animal classroom with two 10x10 stalls, stanchions and cross ties so we can add more equine labs and classes to our curriculum.

   We also have an equine business management degree program here at the college and lease a beautiful farm in Pembroke, MA for the school year. We have about 38 horses there and all of our classes right now are held at the farm.

   There are many classes at the college that are offered for both the EM program and the vet tech program that vet tech students can choose to take as their electives ( every vet tech student is required to take a number of elective courses outside of the main vet tech requirements)

   Some other classes that the college offers are:

   Equine breeding and reproduction

   Large animal nutrition

   Equine Science

   Farrier Science

   Equitation (students who like to ride can take this for college credit)

   We are planning to offer classes in equine dentistry and an equine specific anatomy and physiology (right now our A & P class is all mammals)

   Our website is www.mountida.eduand our equine facility website is http://www.riverwindfarm.com

   AAVSB and VTNE Update:VTNE2010.pdf

DID YOU KNOW ???

Veterinary Technicians are considered non-exempt and are not to be paid on a salary basis unless they are in a supervisory position.

According the the USBL

Veterinary technicians earned median hourly wages of $12.88 in 2006.

Know the Law http://www.dol.gov/esa/regs/compliance/whd/fairpay/fs17o_technicians.htm

If you have specific information or resources regarding the Veterinary Technician Profession, please contact Deborah Reeder to post.

RESOURCES

AAVSB http://www.aavsb.org/

AAVSB Technicians http://www.aavsb.org/TIVA/TIVAHome.aspx

AVMA Accredited VT Programs http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_programs/vettech_programs.asp

AVMA Accredited Long Distance VT Programs

http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/vettech_distance_learning.asp

NAVTA FAQ's http://www.navta.net/education/faq.php

NAVTA Specialties ( VTS ) http://navta.net/career_dev/specialties.php

Laws and Regulations by State http://www.animallaw.info/

Definitions:

Certification – is the recognition by the private sector of voluntarily achieved standards. Certification is most usually bestowed by a private sector, nonprofit, professional association or independent board on those members who achieve specified standards. Certification is therefore distinguished from licensure because it is generally nongovernmental and voluntary. Confusion can result when the title certified is used for a licensed profession, such as Certified Public Accountant.

Registration – refers to the keeping of lists of practitioners by a governmental agency. It can be equivalent to licensure but may also be distinguished form licensure in that criteria for registration may not exist, and registration may not be required for practice.

Licensure/Licensing – is understood as the permission to do something as given by an authority, with the implication that one would not be permitted to do this thing without permission. To be licensed is more than a statement of qualification, as certification is. It is a statement of qualification, and it is the right to do a thing otherwise not permitted by a given authority.

Both certification and licensure, however, carry the connotation of trust, belief, and confidence, for without these attributes, the certification or the license would have little worth.

From the AVMA Model Practice Act:

AAVSB Partners with PES for VTNE Administration

Beginning in January 2007 administration of the VTNE, will be done by PES in 19 states, most of which have voluntary certification of veterinary technicians. In those states, AAVSB will require proof of graduation from an AVMA- or CVMA- accredited veterinary technician program in order for the candidates to sit for the exam. Four of the states license veterinary technicians( DL, OH,). Applicants from those states must be approved by their state boards.

CA, DE, GA, and TN - contact individual state boards as there is still some grandfathering/ alternate routes allowed.

The AAVSB is recomending that jurisdictions include as a prerequisite to licensure an education component( an accredited veterinary technician program) in addition to the successful completion of the VTNE. In 2000, the AAVSB and PES, the owners of VTNE, supported a policy to be implemented by 2010 and reommended by the VTNE exam committee that calls for restricting the use of the VTNE to graduates of accredited veterinary technician programs or those that are approved by the regulating body. While AAVSB supports standarization, the association also recognizes that licensure eligibility is determined by the legislatures in those states that regulate technicians( in other words, they will not interfere with individual state legislation).

California Alternate Route - RVT eligibility category for experienced assistants

The alternate route has existed since 1994 and is designed for individuals already working in a veterinary setting. It provides unregistered assistants a flexible and practical methos for becoming RVT's. Candidates are required to have 300 hours of specific education and 36 months of practical experience in order to qualify. See web sites and documents below.

pdf.siteadmin/includes/../..//images/files/2065text Calif VT Code.pdf

Update: 1/08

The California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB)is considering a regulatory change that would allow unregistered assistants (UAs) to take the California State Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) Examination without any educational requirement. This change would allow UAs to qualify for the RVT exam and bypass the six established routes to eligibility, all of which require an educational component. At the VMB meeting on October 17, 2007, the VMB voted to have a formal public hearing on the issue as part of the series of steps required to adopt regulations.

Register Now for an RVT Distance Learning Program

Distance learning programs are one way to become a registered veterinary technician (RVT). The CVMA has negotiated substantial discounts for employees of CVMA members with two programs: The Cedar Valley College (CVC)/AAHA DEVTP offers a $50 discount per course for 21 of 27 required courses; and Penn Foster College offers a 25% discount on tuition.

Registration for the CVC/AAHA DEVTP (Distance Education Veterinary Technology Program) spring semester is now open. Open enrollment closes on December 21. Late enrollment ($20 extra fee) closes on January 4. The registration form for CVC/AAHA DEVTP is available online and there is more information on the CVMA web site.

Penn Foster College, which offers an Associate of Science degree upon completion of its Veterinary Technician distance learning program, has open enrollment so you can enroll at any time. Further information on that program can be found in their brochure and on the CVMA web site.