Registered veterinary technicians provide a strong foundation of support for our team and clients
Behind every great veterinary hospital is a team of dedicated registered veterinary technicians. Learn how our RVTs combine skills and compassionate care to better support your animal.
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Registered veterinary technicians (RVTs) are an integral part of our patient care team. They bring specialized knowledge, technical skills, and intentional care to veterinary medicine.
A lot happens behind the scenes at the CSU Veterinary Health System that keeps our hospital moving, and our technicians are at the center of it all.
At the center of care
CSU Veterinary Health System registered veterinary technicians play a critical role in patient care. They guide our patients, veterinarians, students, and the rest of the team through every step of the visit. The list of their duties is long, including preparing equipment and medications, coordinating patient care, following up on diagnostics, managing treatments, keeping supplies stocked, all to ensure the little details that provide extra support for your animal don’t fall through the cracks.
“Our technicians are there when a patient is frightened, in pain, or recovering from a procedure, bringing comfort, advocating for them, recognizing subtle changes in their condition, and helping them feel safe,” said Alysha Ducharme, veterinary technician manager at the CSU Veterinary Health System.
A massive part of the unseen work our RVTs provide is the human side of veterinary medicine, supporting clients and families through some of the hardest moments they will experience with their animals.
Randi Price is a Cancer Care client who first brought her beloved service dog, Lucky, to CSU’s veterinary hospital, where he received compassionate care as he bravely battled cancer. Years later, Randi returned with Hughy (pictured here), who also faced cancer with remarkable courage.
“The veterinary technicians were the first and the last faces we saw every visit. Warriors in the most important battle. World-class clinicians with the biggest hearts, holding everything together. Always aware you were being entrusted with my greatest treasure; you treated Hughy as you do each patient, as your highest priority. I know you loved him as much as I did; you were there to heartily celebrate our wins and to gracefully shoulder our sorrows. You are forever woven with gratitude into the tapestry of my heart. Thank you for fighting with us and for us,” said Price.
The skills behind the compassion
Registered veterinary technicians
In Colorado, our technicians must meet specific requirements to become a registered veterinary technician (RVT). RVTs complete a two to three-year program where they receive education in anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, surgical care, lab diagnostics, dentistry, emergency and critical care, and patient care to graduate from an accredited veterinary technology program.
In this process, they develop hands-on clinical skills before entering the profession and must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
“Colorado has a formal credentialing and registration process. A technician must obtain a credential through the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT) and then register with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) to use the protected title of registered veterinary technician,” said Ducharme.
RVTs can pursue additional training and advanced certification as a veterinary technician specialist (VTS).
Veterinary technician specialists
Veterinary technician specialists, or VTSs, are credentialed veterinary technicians who have pursued advanced education, training, and experience in a specific area of veterinary medicine. These specialized areas can include anesthesia, emergency and critical care, dentistry, surgery, internal medicine, and much more.
Becoming a veterinary technician specialist takes three to five years of clinical experience beyond the initial RVT requirements where they submit case logs, case reports, documentation of advanced skills mastery, and must pass a specialty-specific exam, bringing an additional level of expertise to our hospital that can be incredibly valuable.
“We are fortunate to have a strong community of VTSs, and their expertise is an important part of the depth of care and education we can provide,” said Ducharme.
Teaching the next generation of veterinary professionals
At the VHS, our RVTs teach students, interns, residents, and fellow technicians every day through hands-on demonstrations when caring for our patients.
“Our RVTs play a major role in managing and mentoring these students throughout their clinical experience. They help coordinate learning opportunities, provide hands-on teaching, give feedback, demonstrate clinical skills, and help students develop the judgment and confidence they need to enter the profession,” said Ducharme.
They teach how to safely handle a patient, recognize changes in condition, and approach patients with compassion. They help students understand what excellent patient care looks like, including learning the “why” behind the procedures, while showing the importance of teamwork, communication, and patient safety.
Providing compassionate care
When you visit the Veterinary Health System, our registered veterinary technicians offer intentional care to your pet and support for your family. Their combination of clinical skills and compassionate support is part of what makes our hospital special.
The Veterinary Health System welcomes technicians at all experience levels across our small and large animal services. If you are interested in joining our team, visit our careers site to learn more about the opportunities available.