When it comes to creating your own path in animal care, you have options. Life as a Registered Veterinary Technician/Technologist (RVT) or techniciens et technologues en santé animale certifiés (TSAc) may seem limited at first glance, but the reality is there are plenty of opportunities to enhance and hone your career with or without additional education.
“RVTs and TSAcs can go through and become board certified in a wide variety of disciplines within veterinarian medicine,” offers Martha Little, Regional Sales Manager, Ontario and Western Canada, with CDMV, adding, “It’s just not emergency and critical care, either. The next step up could be anything from specializing in dental, dermatology, behaviour, nutrition, or a variety of other fields.”
“Unfortunately, some RVTs/TSAcs don’t even know what is available,” she adds.
Finding your path
Taking your animal care career to the next level can seem daunting. Yet with a variety of rewarding and engaging disciplines to discover, there are benefits to making the leap. “And the first step, says Little, is to tap into what excites you about the field: Ask yourself: Why did you become an RVT or TSAcs in the first place? What about the profession really engages and energizes me? Technicians need to listen to their heart and then, move forward in that direction.”
Once you’ve started honing in on your preferred specialization, the next step is to set realistic, short-term goals that you can track. These goals can be as simple and immediate as “begin certification” or “enroll in a new class.” The idea is to get your short-term milestones “on paper” so you can stay motivated as you get closer to your career destination (and beyond…)
“Feel free to dream big,” adds Little. “You can even work your way up to be a manager but once you’re there, why not ask yourself: what are the opportunities for advancement?”
Invest in yourself
Along the way to your next career step, be prepared to invest time and effort into your training and education. Granted, you may also need to invest actual money into your training, but that, too, is an investment that will most certainly pay off down the road.
And don’t be shy about seeking support. There are plenty of industry veterans and organizations who can provide the guidance and resources you need to reach your goals. They might include veterinary management, who can support RVTs/TSAcs through certification courses; mentors, who can impart real-world advice; discipline leaders, who can start connecting you to the field; or organizations like CDMV that can provide advice for career growth and advancement. There are many individuals in this sector who have gone through the same career journey you are, and are ready and eager to help … you just need to ask.
Promote yourself
Like it or not, networking is an important part of career building. Take advantage of social media outlets (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) to get your name in front of potential employers, mentors, and colleagues who can link you to opportunities.
“RVTs and TSAcs benefit from managing their professional brand online,” advises Little. “Maybe you need to revamp your Linkedin profile or put a little extra time to stay connected and enlarge your network. Either way, if you’re not active on social media, you are going to miss out on visibility to create connections that could bring your career to the next step, especially now since the industry is lacking people.”
Celebrate your successes
No one said building a career is easy. Given the potential rewards, however, it’s worth the work. Make sure to keep yourself motivated through the tougher times by celebrating your accomplishments, no matter how small you might think they are. Even the simplest step will take you closer to your goal, and recognizing these accomplishments is a reminder of how far you’ve come.
Is now the time to step up?
It is not uncommon for RVTs and TSAcs to leave the industry before realizing their full potential, either because they aren’t aware of their options or feel underutilized. Before you consider making an exit, consider the many ways in which you can take your education and experience to the next level and benefit from a more rewarding professional career.
“In order to blossom, one has to move forward and find the practice that fits them best and embraces what they can bring to it as a valued team member,” adds Little. “In doing so, they will be able to give back to the profession and to clients to help more animals.”
“Remember,” she continues. “Follow your heart!”
Martha Little is Regional Sales Manager, Ontario and Western Canada, with CDMV, a Canada-wide distributor dedicated to supplying and supporting veterinary practices.
