What does a licensed veterinary technician do?

All true, but we licensed techs still clean cages, restrain, and perform other basic tasks also. (No one is safe from scooping poop, except for maybe the boss 😉).

LVT's are also able to enter into further training programs, for example specialty CVT programs like ADVT (American Dermatology Veterinary Technicians) VT and VTA are not eligible.

A licensed veterinary technician has a degree from an AVMA approved college. In most states a veterinary technician is required to be licensed or registered and is required to obtain continuing education hours. They are trained to assist the veterinarian in surgery, administer and monitor anesthesia, pre and post op care, perform routine dental cleanings, take radiographs, all aspects of nursing care including iv catheters, urinary catheters, and medication administration, handling and restraint, record keeping, receptionist duties, nail trims and other vet tech appointment duties, cleaning and other tasks. A veterinary technician has many career opportunities!

Licensed veterinary technicians work with animal health companies in technical services, marketing, sales and research/development. For example, LVTs take initial contacts from veterinary clinics and animal owners about the company's products, especially when there is a suspected adverse event, lack of expected response or reported defect.

As well as being allowed to perform their own appointments for re-checks, boosters, and maintenance medications RVTs can be responsible for client education, client calls, and have the ability to advance with specialized degrees.

LVTs also play a large role in leadership, not only to veterinary assistants and customer service representatives, but also inexperienced veterinarians. A highly skilled LVT has the ability to anticipate the needs of their doctor, prioritize daily duties, and make it all look effortless.

Some of the duties of a LVT include but are setting up operating theaters, prep and assist surgeries (laparoscopic OVH and gastropexy, abdominal exploratory, foreign bodies, choleostomy, cystotomy, enucleation, mass removal, hemilamectomy, TECA/BO), catherization, pre-induction, intubation, monitor anesthesia, epidurals, blood transfusions, record vitals, set up fluid rates, administration and calculation of medications to combat hypotension, prepare estimates, prepare charges, treatment plans, go home medications. Comprehension and treatment of hypercapnia, hypocapnia, hypertension, hypotension, bradycardia, tachycardia. Appropriately calculate and set up continuous rate infusions. Venipuncture, catheter placement, digital radiographs

We do everything that needs to done at the veterinary hospital.Everyone works as a team. We need to know how to do it all. The most important thing we do is make sure that the clients and their pets are happy with their visit to our hospital

In my state they can close incisions, extract teeth and much more. Some can get some sort of specialization in various fields. Dentistry for instance.

Veterinary technicians are animal nurses (among other things). In addition to their nursing duties, they act as patient advocates, phlebotomists, radiology technicians, laboratory technicians, anesthesia technicians, and surgery technicians. Except tasks legally restricted to veterinarians, such as diagnosing disease conditions, performing surgery, prescribing medications, and prognosing medical outcomes, veterinary technicians are trained to do everything a veterinary hospital requires to run smoothly.

Long days are common ground for all employees in veterinary medicine but we do it because we have that need to help animals. One of the rewards of being a LVT is the ability to enter a job knowing that you were trained the correct way with more confidence than those that did not have formal training and education. Another is the ability to enter into a specialty hospital which is a very rewarding and fulfilling field.

LVT's have to pass an exam given by the state to get and maintain a license. Veterinary assistants do not need a license. A lot of times veterinary offices will pay for schooling to keep up with license tests and education.

LVTs are also known as RVTs (registered veterinary technicians), or CVT (certified veterinary technician), depending on the region/licensing.