Become a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS)
Probably you’re quite familiar with the initials DVM, which stands for Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. But, are you familiar with another veterinary medicine designation with the initials VTS? This stands for Veterinary Technician Specialist.
Need For Specialized Skills
There’s never been a greater opportunity for veterinary technicians to develop specialized skills that exist today. Technicians are no longer limited to either a two-year or four-year schools that land them only in a small pet practice. There many areas open to veterinary technicians to gain additional education that will designate them as a specialist in a focused area of veterinary care.
More Initials Added to Your Title
Although the title VTS stands for Veterinary Technician Specialist, techs gain additional education that helps them to specialize in a particular area of veterinary medicine are warded specific designation with accompanying additional initials such as CVT, AHT, RVT and more. Many of these designations are specifically issued by individual states and cover such areas as emergency and critical care, internal medicine, dentistry, anaesthesia and other subspecialties as well. Vet techs can pursue focused study in the areas of oncology, cardiology, small or large animal internal medicine and dentistry. Therefore an individual who has the initials following their name of VTS (ECC) is a veterinary technician specializing in emergency and critical care. A great deal of the recognition afforded to vet techs gaining such a designation as a complement to their dedication to continuing education.
Where to Work
Additionally, an area where vet tech specialists are employed is in teaching hospitals after acquiring specific hands-on experience in the specialty for which they trained. This valuable everyday experience translates into mentoring opportunities guiding other vet techs seeking a specialized course of study. Subsequently, experienced vet tech specialists who might have worked several years at a wildlife preserve dealing with exotic animals can benefit students in a learning setting through teaching these students based on their personal experience. Specializing in large animal internal medicine could land a vet tech specialist with a job on a cattle ranch or possibly at a large racetrack. Job possibilities are many.
Lots of Work
If you want to consider a major drawback toward becoming a vet tech specialist this would be the need to commit to a lot of work. Specialty designations not only require additional education and the passing of a qualifying exam, but you will need to have a certain amount of hands-on experience in the specific veterinary medical field chosen. So, there will be more time and effort involved than becoming a standard veterinary technician. But, it could be well worth your investment of time, energy and money.
Specialties Growing
Just as is found in the practice of human medical care, specialties are growing in veterinary medical practice as well. Don’t be surprised to find a veterinarian dedicated to avian medical care (bird) or another whose practice solely handles reptile care. Vet techs employed in such practices will need to have specialized skills. Plus, there will be a need for these same specialists to continue their specialized education staying current with the latest procedures and technology.
So, when your see those initials VTS followed by a (XXX) will indicate a vet tech who has completed a focused education and training program such as ECC (Emergency and Critical Care) or (Anesthesia) or (Dentistry) and more.