Editor's Note: Welcome to Tech Talk, a bimonthly column by NAVTA president Ed Carlson. Future columns will explore possible explanations for the veterinary technician shortage, underutilization, and improper use of veterinary technicians and assistants, along with potential strategies to address these issues. If you have questions or ideas for future columns, please comment below.

Is there really a shortage of veterinary technicians? According to the U.S Department of Labor, the number of veterinary technicians/technologists employed is 91,297.¹ Is this an accurate number of credentialed veterinary technicians? Are all of these individuals graduates of an accredited veterinary technology college program? Unfortunately, no statistics are provided for the number of veterinary assistants employed or other individuals working in a veterinary technician capacity. Given these numbers are of individuals self-reporting as veterinary technicians, it is doubtful it represents only credentialed veterinary technicians. So, does this make a difference?

Ongoing issues with the profession

The veterinary technician profession continues to grapple with such issues as lack of job satisfaction, low wages, lack of professional respect, limited career advancement, and veterinary technician underutilization. Results from multiple surveys conducted over the past 30 years support these trends

Through grant funding, NAVTA (an association formed to represent veterinary technicians on the issues affecting their careers) has conducted several surveys to obtain a more complete picture from veterinary technicians about their jobs, employment, continuing education opportunities, and suggestions for improving the veterinary technician profession.