The Veterinary Technology Blog

The veterinary industry faces a critical shortage of qualified professionals at all levels. With the demand for veterinary services rising, the need for qualified vet staff has never been greater. The current staffing shortages are causing long wait times for pet owners and increased stress levels among those working in veterinary clinics.

Graduating from veterinary technician school is an accomplishment to celebrate, but for many, it's overshadowed by financial worry. Read this guide to learn more about loan forgiveness programs for veterinary technicians and common repayment options.

Looking for a good list of veterinary apps? We've compiled a list -- some for Android, some for Apple -- that can help veterinarians on the job. Find vet calculators, terminology references, and drug treatment information. To top it off, most of the apps on our list are inexpensive or free.

Most state regulatory boards accept RACE-approved and CVTEA-accredited continuing education credits. However, continuing education acceptance is not standardized. States reserve the right to refuse credits from certain classes or providers. Students are advised to confirm that their state will accept credits before registering for any program.

For many animal-lovers, choosing a career as a veterinary technician is a natural choice. It’s a field that couples the rigor of scientific laboratory testing with soft skills in patient caretaking.

Human health is closely linked to the health of animals and the health of our shared environment. Today, humans and animals interact more closely than ever before. More than half of all diseases people get are zoonotic, meaning they can spread between animals and humans.

Learn about the daily responsibilities of the zoo veterinary technician, and about how to prepare to manage and help care for exotic, rare, and sometime dangerous animals.

Pet owners can be a notoriously particular bunch: people who dote on their animals tend to have very specific ideas of what’s best for their furry companions. Giving these folks a gift for the holidays that they won’t just have a use for but will actually cherish can be downright frustrating.

Considering how deeply bonded we are to our pets in this country, it’s surprising that the first wellness program for pets wasn’t launched until more recently, in 2002, when the National Research Council of the National Academies sponsored PetFit at Purdue University.

First begun in 1993 by a NAVTA resolution, Vet Tech Appreciation Week exists to enlighten the public about veterinary technicians and explore the field in greater detail. Established in the third week of every October, the appreciation week spotlights the profession and shows gratitude to those special vet techs in our life. This gift-giving guide for vet techs offers options for thoughtful, fun, and useful gifts.

If you recently graduated or are close to completing a veterinary technology program, congratulations! The majority of the hard work is behind you, but there is one final hurdle to jump before you can start your career as a licensed, certified, or registered veterinary technician: the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

Just because you have seen every episode of Swamp People or know more about calling ducks that the guys on Duck Dynasty doesn’t mean that you would be a good veterinary assistant. True, it is helpful to have a background dealing with animals, but there are many other considerations when deciding to make veterinary assistance your lifetime career.

With the anticipated growth of the pet care industry, veterinarians will need more qualified technicians and technologists to perform tests, prepare vaccines, prep tissue samples, take blood samples, clean instruments, maintain equipment, and assist vets during surgery.

Vet tech candidates preparing for interviews may have an advantage if they are familiar with the questions they may be asked. This collection of questions—some common and others less so—along with possible answers, were all shared by past and present vet techs.

Assistance dogs take loyal companionship to a professional level. Trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a person’s disability, these canine volunteers play a crucial role in the lives of the people they serve.