13th veterinary technician specialty created

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The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America announced Aug. 16 that the Academy of Veterinary Ophthalmic Technicians is the latest veterinary technician specialty academy.

Veterinary ophthalmic technicians’ responsibilities include assisting veterinarians with ocular exams, performing or assisting with diagnostic testing such as Schirmer Tear Testing or tonometry, providing anesthetic care, and caring for ophthalmic instrumentation and equipment.

“The AVOT’s mission is to advocate ocular health while advancing the knowledge and practice standards in the field of ophthalmology. The academy operates under the guidance of NAVTA and the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists to foster yearly continuing education, professional development, and networking with industry partners,” said Natalie Herring, president of AVOT.

The ophthalmology academy is still developing and finalizing the necessary forms; the first examination is anticipated in 2018. For more information on the new specialty for veterinary technicians, visit here.

The AVOT joins the existing 12 NAVTA-recognized veterinary technician specialties: dentistry, anesthesia, internal medicine, emergency and critical care, equine nursing, zoological medicine, surgery, behavior, clinical practice, nutrition, clinical pathology, and dermatology.

The NAVTA Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialists was formed in 1994 and provides guidelines to the veterinary technician organizations to facilitate the formation of a specialty and assists the existing academies. Academies develop pathways and advanced standards that candidates must complete and maintain to be awarded the designation of veterinary technician specialist in their specific discipline.

According to the numbers provided by the individual academies in their annual reports, there were 924 veterinary technician specialists as of 2015.