The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America has designated the area of laboratory animals as a specialty through the establishment of the Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses. The new group became the vet tech profession’s 14th specialty academy. The organization, which operates under the acronym ALAVTN, will develop examinations and certification standards. Three categories of specialization are planned: Research clinical nursing in traditional, nontraditional or large animal species Research surgeon Research anesthetist. ALAVTN’s first certification exam is expected to be for research clinical nurses working with traditional lab animal species. The test may take place in October at the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science meeting in Austin, Texas. More information is available at ALAVTN website. Certification makes veterinary technicians more marketable to employers. “The NAVTA … specialties give veterinary technicians an option for career advancement by taking their skill set to a veterinary technician specialist level by mastering advanced skills and education in a specific area driven by their passion,” said Ann Wortinger, LVT, chairwoman of NAVTA’s Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties. The other specialties are dentistry, anesthesia/analgesia, internal medicine, emergency and critical care, surgery, equine, zoology, behavior, clinical practice, nutrition, clinical pathology, dermatology and ophthalmology. NAVTA is headquartered in Albert Lea, Minn. Originally published in the January 2017 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Did you enjoy this article? Then subscribe today!
