All Veterinary Assistants, Certified Veterinary Assistants, Licensed Veterinary Technicians, and Students are welcome.
A Licensed Veterinary Technician has graduated from a American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-accredited program, passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), and completed the application for licensure through the Georgia Secretary of State. The term “Licensed Veterinary Technician” is a protected title under the Veterinary Practice Act, and use of the title is restricted by law to veterinary professionals that hold an active Veterinary Technician License through the Secretary of State.
AVMA-accredited programs can be completed on-campus through a two-year associates degree, hybrid learning through a college or university that offers the program online with visits to campus each semester, or through completely online programs.
The designation of “Licensed Veterinary Technician”, “Certified Veterinary Technician”, and “Registered Veterinary Technician” depends on state legislature. All* Licensed/Certified/Registered Veterinary Technicians have graduated from an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program, and have passed the Veterinary Technology National Exam (VTNE).
*Some states have exceptions regarding their qualifications to obtain these titles. Some states do not have Title Protection, and these titles are used inappropriately.
Prior to 2018, Georgia registered Veterinary Technicians as “RVTs”. In 2018 the State Practice Act was updated to designate the title as Licensed Veterinary Technician (“LVT”).
(1) Immediate Supervision means that the duly licensed veterinarian is in audible and in visual range of the animal patient and the person treating the animal.
(2) A veterinary technician working under the direction, supervision and control of a duly licensed veterinarian may provide the following animal patient care under immediate supervision:
(a) Surgical assistance.
Rule 700-14-.04 Restrictions
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit a veterinary technician to do the following:
(a) Make any diagnosis or prognosis;
(b) Prescribe any treatments, drugs, medications, or appliances;
(c) Perform surgery; or
(d) Administer a rabies vaccine to any official vaccinate.
(1) Direct supervision means that the duly licensed veterinarian is on the premises and is quickly and easily available and that the animal patient has been examined by a licensed veterinarian at such time as acceptable veterinary medical practice requires, consistent with the particular delegated animal health care task.
(2) A veterinary technician working under the direction, supervision and control of a duly licensed veterinarian may provide the following animal patient care under direct supervision:
(a) Euthanasia;
(b) Administration of blood or blood components to animal patients;
(c) Application of splints and slings;
(d) Dental procedures including, but not limited to the removal of calculus, soft deposits, plaque and stains; the smoothing, filing, and polishing of teeth; or the floatation or dressing of equine teeth;
(e) Non-emergency intubations;
(f) Induce anesthesia;
(g) Maintenance of anesthesia;
(h) Assisting any duly licensed veterinarian in the measuring of quantities of medication, but excluding the dispensing, compounding, or mixing of drugs;
(i) Dental extraction not requiring sectioning of the tooth or the resectioning of bone;
(j) Perform central venous; and
(k) Perform arterial catherization/arterial collection.
Rule 700-14-.04 Restrictions
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit a veterinary technician to do the following:
(a) Make any diagnosis or prognosis;
(b) Prescribe any treatments, drugs, medications, or appliances;
(c) Perform surgery; or
(d) Administer a rabies vaccine to any official vaccinate.
(1) Indirect supervision means the duly licensed veterinarian is not on the premises but has given either written or oral instructions for the treatment of the animal patient and the animal has been examined by a licensed veterinarian at such times as acceptable veterinary medical practice requires, consistent with the particular delegated health care task.
(2) A veterinary technician working under the direction, supervision and control of a duly licensed veterinarian may provide the following animal patient care under indirect supervision:
(a) Administration and application of treatments, drugs, medications and immunological agents by oral, IM and subqutaneous routes, excluding rabies vaccine for animals required to receive a rabies vaccine by Georgia law;
(b) Administration and application of treatments, drugs, medications and immunological agents by intravenous routes.
(c) Radiography including settings, positioning, processing, and safety procedures;
(d) Collection of blood for diagnostic purposes; collection of urine by expression, or catheterization; collection of feces; collection and preparation of tissue, cellular, or microbiological samples by skin scrapings, impressions, or other non-surgical methods for diagnostic purposes;
(e) Routine laboratory test procedures;
(f) Collection of urine by cystocentesis; and
(g) Blood or blood component collection and preparation for transfusion.
(3) A veterinary technician working under the direction, supervision and control of a duly licensed veterinarian may provide the following emergency animal patient care under indirect supervision:
(a) Application of tourniquets and/or pressure bandages to control hemorrhage;
(b) Resuscitative procedures;
(c) Application of temporary splints or bandages to prevent further injury to bones or soft tissues;
(d) Application of appropriate wound dressings and external supportive treatment in severe wound and burn cases; and
(e) External supportive treatment in heat prostration cases.
(4) Grooming procedures and non-invasive skin (topical) treatment; and
(5) Handling of biohazardous waste materials.
Rule 700-14-.04 Restrictions
(1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to permit a veterinary technician to do the following:
(a) Make any diagnosis or prognosis;
(b) Prescribe any treatments, drugs, medications, or appliances;
(c) Perform surgery; or
(d) Administer a rabies vaccine to any official vaccinate.
Georgia Veterinary Technician Association
All Veterinary Assistants, Certified Veterinary Assistants, Licensed Veterinary Technicians, and Students are welcome.
To unleash your staff’s full potential, talk to them one-on-one.
By actively engaging with your non-DVM staff and optimizing their skill sets, you’ll foster a dynamic team of empowered individuals that feel supported in their work.
Recognized legal terms in Georgia include:
Establish clear policies on title protection laws and reserve “veterinary technician” or “veterinary nurse” for credentialed individuals. Designate others as “veterinary assistants,” avoiding misleading terms like “unlicensed veterinary technicians.” This fosters transparency and ensures compliance for a thriving practice.
For clear communications of title/role/responsibilities amongst team members and the public, veterinary practices can:
What You Can Do:
Practices play a key role in ensuring that the roles and responsibilities of each team member are clear and appropriate based on their title and licensure status. Adhere to the Georgia State Practice Act and maintain the highest possible patient care standards.
Georgia Veterinary Medical Association
6050 Peachtree Pkwy, Ste. 240-381
Norcross, GA 30092
Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00am - 4:00pm
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