Being a VTS is taking it to the next level.
By: Mary Anne Evans BS, CVT, VTS(ECC)
If you’re a veterinary technician with a passion for animals and a hunger for more knowledge, becoming a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) might be the next big step in your career. It’s not just a title — it’s a badge of expertise that shows your commitment to excellence in a specific area of veterinary medicine.
What is a VTS? A VTS is a credentialed veterinary technician who has specialized training, expert knowledge and advanced skills in a specific area of veterinary medicine such as dentistry, internal medicine, clinical practice, anesthesia, emergency and critical care, and more! The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) currently recognizes 16 specialty academies, each requiring its own process of training, experience, and board examination. Obtaining a VTS license sets vet techs apart from other technicians in the field and opens up many opportunities for career advancement, including higher earning potential.
As a VTS, technicians may gain professional recognition by becoming trusted leaders and educators in their chosen specialty to both doctors and fellow technicians. These technicians are the go-to experts in the veterinary field. A VTS has mastered advanced technical skills, they can perform medical procedures, and work collaboratively with veterinarians to provide gold standard care to patients. Along with the many growth opportunities becoming a VTS allows, a specialized technician will gain personal fulfillment in being able to provide patients a higher standard of care and deepen the impact they have in the veterinary field.
I have been a VTS in emergency and critical care for 10 years. While the journey to achieve this license was intense, it has thus been well worth it.
Becoming a VTS has allowed me to become a mentor for other technicians looking to achieve their specialty license, teach in accredited vet tech programs as well as lecture about emergency and critical care to my colleagues; clinically, I am able to provide my patients with the highest level of care. I have grown in my career as a leader in veterinary medicine and strive to provide support for veterinary technicians and assistants to become the best they can be. Together, we achieve our common goal of superior patient care.
