Veterinary Technician is a person credentialed in his/her state as a veterinary
technician and /or a graduate of an AVMA-accredited program in veterinary technology.
Credentialing programs and requirements vary from state to state, thus you may
see various titles
- RVT : Registered Veterinary Technician
- CVT: Certified Veterinary Technician
- LVT: Licensed Veterinary Technician
- AHT: Animal Health Technician
- RAHT: Registered Animal Health Technician
In Texas there are several titles used, depending on training and skill level.
- RVT: Registered Veterinary Technician. A graduate from an AVMA-accredited
program in veterinary technology and maitains five hours of continuing education
per year
- VTS: Veterinary Technician Specialist. Any credentialed veterinary technician
may earn additional credentials in emergency medicine, anesthesia, dentistry,
or internal medicine
- VA: Veterinary Assistant. Non-credentialed staff employed to assist veterinarians
or veterinary technicians. VAs are ususally trained on the job.
- CVA: Certified Veterinary Assistant. Training may be done by the TVMA or
vocational/community colleges. The TVMA offers three levels of CVA training,
CVA-1, CVA-2, CVA-3.