Career Advancement
Once you have reached your goal of becoming an Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), there are additional options for taking your career even further. In addition to obtaining a 4-year degree in veterinary technology and becoming a technologist, there are many academies and societies that technicians can join. These specialties often boost a technician's career advancement and salary opportunities. Academies and societies are managed and approved by National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).
Academies
Technicians that join an academy receive special recognition after completing a formal process of education, training, experience, and testing. Only fully credentialed technicians are eligible to receive this designation, which is usually denoted as VTS-(specialty name), and comes after the RVT in their name.
Current Academies
- The Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists
- The Academy of Veterinary Behavior Technicians
- The Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Clinical Practice (with three initial species-specific categories: canine/feline, avian/exotic and production animal.)
- The Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians
- The Academy of Dermatology Veterinary Technicians
- The Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians
- The Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians
- The Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians (Sub-specialties include: small animal medicine, large animal medicine, cardiology, oncology and neurology.)
- The Academy of Veterinary Nutrition Technicians
- The Academy of Veterinary Clinical Pathology Technicians