THIS IS A VOLUNTARY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM BY THE WYOMING VETERINARY TECHNICIAN ASSOCIATION in order to recognize those CVTs who have attained a college degree or certification by an AVMA accredited Veterinary Technician Program and continue to educate themselves to stay abreast of the changing needs in our veterinary medical profession and ensure quality patient care:

Click here for certification application.

Accredited Veterinary Technician Program: College level training for veterinary technicians leading to an associate degree or certificate of completion of a minimum of a two (2) year program as recognized and approved by the AVMA Veterinary Technician Testing Committee (VTTC)

NAVTA: National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (www.navta.net) Supplies guidelines for credentialed veterinary technicians and a national source of communication.

Graduate Veterinary Technician: Verified graduate (diploma or certificate) of an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program

1. Application for Certification will be made available by the WyVTA secretary

2. Successful candidates will be issued a certificate by the WyVTA Executive Board stating that named candidate is a "Certified Veterinary Technician".  These certificates shall be dated and expire every two (2) years.

Eligibility for certification defined: After June 16, 2006, only graduates of approved and accredited programs as herein defined will be permitted to take the examination and become certified with the WyVTA.

Membership in WyVTA: Membership runs from January 1 – December 31 of each year, applications may be made for membership year-round, but apply only for that year in which they are made unless they are in conjunction with a special membership drive. Dues must be paid by January 15 of each year to maintain active membership status.

Continuing education requirements: A minimum of 10 hours of continuing education will be required every 2 years to apply for re-certification.   Proof of attendance will consist of a copy of certificate of attendance stating date, course name, course instructor, sponsoring organization, and clock hour length of course.

Continuing education defined:  CE courses shall be approved and credits assigned by the Wyoming Veterinary Technician Association Continuing Education Committee and shall consist of the following:

1. Any CE program for veterinarians and/or veterinary technicians sponsored by any national, regional, state, country or district veterinary medical association or veterinary technician association that is RACE approved (Registry of Approved Continuing Education) by the AAVSB (American Association of Veterinary State Boards)

2. Any CE program for veterinarians and/or veterinary technicians sponsored by an AVMA approved school of veterinary medicine or animal health/veterinary technology school.

3. Other courses as approved by the WyVTA CE Committee.

Application of CE credits:  The WyVTA shall form and maintain a committee to assess, define, and assign CE credits.   Said committee shall review, approve, and submit a compilation of accumulated credits and applicants to the WyVTA executive board for issue of re-certification.  

Reinstatement of certification: A certificate which has lapsed for the sole reason of nonpayment of fees may be reinstated within 4 years of issue by paying the delinquent fees and penalties as assessed by the WyVTA and meeting the CE requirements as listed above.

Relationship with the client: On any occasion where the technician deals or communicates directly with a client, he should make it perfectly clear to the client that he is not a veterinarian and that he is employed or directly supervised by a veterinarian.

The licensed veterinarian’s responsibility: The licensed veterinarian has a legal and moral responsibility to the client and to the veterinary technician in the following respects:

*To personally examine the animal before the veterinary technician carries out any procedure

*To direct, control and supervise the conduct of the veterinary technician in his/her work

*To authorize or require the veterinary technician perform only such work as the veterinarian knows that the technician is capable of performing

*To direct the veterinary technician to perform his/her work in the proper method and manner

*No one may use a veterinary technician to staff a separate place of business without direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian on the premises

The Certified Veterinary Technicians Responsibility: The veterinary technician is responsible to the client and to the veterinarian in the following respects:

*To undertake only what the veterinarian authorizes or directs

*To perform his/her work only in the manner directed by the veterinarian

*To employ his/her best care and skill in performing all work for the veterinarian; not to undertake any work which he/she is not capable of performing satisfactorily

*To NOT diagnose, prognose, prescribe, or perform surgery

Discipline of Certified Veterinary Technicians:

1. A hearing shall be held no sooner than 20 days after written notice to a respondent of a complaint against him or her.  Notice of the time and place of the hearing, along with a copy of the complaint shall be served personally or by mailing first class to the address furnished by the respondent.

2. The hearing shall be held before and conducted by a Hearing Panel composed of members of the WyVTA Executive Board.  At this hearing, the respondent shall be allowed an opportunity to present any relevant evidence, to examine all witnesses, and to be represented by counsel.  After hearing all evidence the Executive Board will determine the disciplinary action. This may include revocation or suspension of the certificate of any certified technician for any of the following reasons:

a. Unprofessional or unethical conduct or engaging in practices which are in violation of the standards of the WyVTA constitution, bylaws or code Governing Veterinary Technicians in Wyoming;

b. Fraud, misrepresentation, deception in obtaining certification;

c. Fraud, deception, misrepresentation, or dishonest or illegal practices;

d. Fraud or dishonesty in the application or reporting of any test for disease in animals;

e. Incompetence, gross negligence, or malpractice;

f. Willful making of any false statement as to any material fact in any oath or affidavit which is required by this code;

g. Revocation by another state of certification as a veterinary technician in that state for any conduct which in Wyoming constitute grounds for revocation or suspension under this Code, and, in such case, the record or any hearing held in the other state shall be admissible in evidence;

h. Conviction of:

i. A charge of cruelty to animals;

ii. Violation of either Federal or State laws regarding controlled substances;

iii. A felony in the courts of this state or any other state, any territory, or any other country   which, if committed in this state, would be deemed a felony;

iv. Charges that involve the unlawful Practice of Veterinary Medicine.

v. The WyVTA may take temporary action based upon a record of a conviction of any of the above, even though an appeal of the conviction may be pending;

i. Engaging in any act consisting of cruelty to animals, unlawful Practice of Veterinary Medicine, Violation of any Federal or state law regarding controlled substances, or any violation regarding the dispensing of drugs, narcotic drugs, medicines, poisons, or dangerous drugs;

j. Permitting another to use his certificate for the purpose of obtaining employment;

k. Obtaining employment under a false or assumed name, or impersonating another technician;

l. Addiction to alcohol or habit-forming drugs or habitual use of narcotics, barbiturates, amphetamines, hallucinogens, or other drugs having similar effects to the extent that it incapacitates or limits his ability to function;

m. A determination that he is mentally incompetent by a court of competent jurisdiction.

1. After suspension of certificate: At the conclusion of a period of certificate suspension, the disciplined technician may make written application to the WyVTA, for the reinstatement of certified status the disciplined technician shall have the Burden of Proof of establishing the satisfaction of the WyVTA Executive Boards that he or she is professionally and ethically rehabilitated to resume practice as a Certified Veterinary Technician. The Veterinary Technician Committee may establish whatever conditions to reinstatement they deem necessary to protect the public and the profession, may include payment or back fees and/or taking the certification exam.

2. After negligent failure to renew certificate: Any Technician who represents him/herself as a certified veterinary technician after the expiration of his/her certificate and willfully or by neglect fails to renew such certificate shall be misrepresenting his or her qualifications; but any person may renew an expired certificate by paying the current renewal fee plus all delinquent renewal fees plus a delinquency fee as established by the WyVTA.  The WyVTA EB may refuse to renew any certificate, which has expired for conduct that constitutes a violation of the parameters of certification.

All members of the WyVTA will adhere to the NAVTA Code of Ethics (http://www.navta.net/codeofethics.htm)

*Veterinary technicians shall strive to participate in defining, upholding, and improving standards of professional practice, legislation and education.
*Veterinary technicians shall strive to contribute to the profession's body of knowledge.
*Veterinary technicians shall strive to understand and support the attachment between a person and his/her companion animal.