Illinois VMA to admit veterinary technicians

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — Veterinary technicians can become members of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA), based on an amendment to the ISVMA constitution.

The amendment adds a membership category for technicians and specifies the requirements for membership, but stipulates that technicians may not vote at membership meetings or serve as officers.

Technician members will be permitted, however, to have one non-voting member on the ISVMA Board of Directors. Once veterinary technician membership exceeds 100, the board member would gain voting rights, according to the amendment passed in November. When technician membership tops 500, a second voting board member may be added.

To become a veterinary technician member of the ISVMA, a technician must be a graduate of an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited technology program or a licensed certified veterinary technician.

Applications to become a technician member of the ISVMA became available Dec. 1; they can be submitted online at www.isvma.org/about_us/application.html.