Veterinary education for technicians

Jessica Summers, CVT, a practice manager at Banfield Pet Hospital in Marlton, New Jersey, spoke with dvm360 about National Veterinary Technician Week, along with several peers from the New Jersey Veterinary Technicians and Assistants organization. In her interview with dvm360—held at the Fetch Coastal conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey—Summers discussed education and certification for veterinary technicians and her perspective as an employer.

The following is a transcript of the video:

Jessica Summers, CVT: As an employer, one of the things that is a big differentiation for me is between a certified veterinary technician or an LVT or RVT, and our veterinary assistants. [Our Veterinary assistants] have an incredible skill level—they've been doing this for 20, 30, years—but the education level is very different between someone that has on-the-job training versus someone that has gone to school and truly learned to do this and has a passion for it, has that education. So, it's very important for me as an employer to make that differentiation between a certified veterinary technician and a veterinary assistant [and] for them to be able to practice at the top of their license and truly exhibit the skills and education that they've earned.

Visit our dedicated conference news page for more coverage and interviews from the recent Fetch dvm360 Conference.