What is a VTS?

It is not a new type of stereo equipment and it does not cost $600 at a car repair place.

I have gotten this question asked more often than I am comfortable with.  I was asked nearly every time I sent an email with VTS examinee in my credential line while I was in New Mexico where there was one VTS  in the state.  So shall we start from the beginning?

VTS stands for veterinary technician specialist.  There are numerous specialties now recognized internationally.  They include Emergency and Critical Care Specialty, Nutrition Specialty, Dentistry Specialty, Clinical Practice Specialty, Surgical Specialty, Anesthesia Specialty, Internal Medicine Specialty, Zoo Specialty, Behavior Specialty, Equine Specialty and Clinical Pathology Specialty.  These are all under the supervision of the North American Veterinary Technician Association.  There are technician specialists from the US, Switzerland, Australia, the UK, St. Kitts, Canada and the list goes on.

Veterinary technician specialists are the cream of the crop and have worked incredibly hard to get there.  The process of becoming a VTS is at least three years long.  Starting with obtaining the basic knowledge and time in the field requirements, these technicians have many hurdles to overcome.  These technicians have worked 3-5 years exclusively in their chosen field as a credentialed technician, mastered a skills list that would make a technical student cry, completed 50-75 case logs and several detailed case reports and proven their commitment by attending 40 plus hours of continuing education in their field.  Once they have the requirements, they submit an application and wait a grueling 3 months for acceptance to sit the exam.  Once accepted they spend every waking hour reviewing texts, journals, cases and flashcards.  They then sit for a several hour exam covering the breadth and depth of their specialty knowledge.  The fail rates on these exams have been as low as 27% in recent exams.  If VTS candidates do not pass in three attempts, they have to resubmit an application and the process starts again.

Now you ask why would anyone choose to do this?  Or perhaps how much of a pay raise would this bring?  The answer is for some technicians who are already at the top of their field they may receive no pay increase.  For others perhaps they have received a pay increase.  VT specialists are typically paid at the top of the veterinary field.  That having been said, most of the VTS I have asked have cited the clout and the professional advancement as reasoning for their choice.  It is a way to open new and amazing career paths that did not exist 10 years ago for veterinary technicians.  I have included a face book post from Louise O'Dwyer, VTS (ECC).

 Since obtaining my VTS(ECC) my life has completely changed - the company I work for promoted me from head nurse to clinical director meaning I am now responsible for running the largest emergency clinic in the UK and next week I am discussing career progression with my boss!! I have had the opportunity to lecture at IVECCS and hold a position on the EVECCS membership development committee as well as a position in the AVECCT nursing standards committee. My lecturing career goes from strength to strength and the qualification has given my the enthusiasm and knowledge to encourage others to persue a career on ECC. Most importantly of all it has allowed me to meet some wonderful new friends from the US ECC world!

Look for additional blogs regarding the time commitments, skills, triumphs and tribulations of becoming and being a VTS.