What is a Registered Veterinary Tech?

What is a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) ?

A Registered Veterinary Technician "RVT" is a designated and protected title in the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. It may only be used by those technicians:

Who have successfully graduated from an accredited Animal Health Technician/Technology, Veterinary Technician/Technology Program
Who have written and passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam
Who have met all registration requirements of their regulatory body in their province of employment
Who are and continue to be members in good standing of their provincial association
Who maintain the mandatory Continuing Education requirements of 15 hours per membership year

Maintaining your RVT Status

RVT’s are required to accumulate fifteen (15) continuing education hours over a one (1) year period & maintain membership in their provincial association in order to maintain their registered status. Those individuals who have written and passed the National Exam, but have not acquired the 15 CE hours must rewrite the examination to regain their registered status.

**Please note: Files cannot be updated if membership is not kept current

Immediate Supervision
Direct Supervision
Indirect Supervision

13 - A RVT may practice veterinary technology only under the supervision of a veterinarian as required by Sections 14, 15 and 16, and only if the veterinarian has authorized the veterinary technology services and the services are within the registered veterinary technologist’s scope of practice.

14 - A registered veterinary technologist must be under the immediate supervision of a veterinarian while performing any of the following veterinary services:

(a) administering IV induction anesthetic;
(b) acting as a surgical assistant (sterile) to a veterinarian;
(c) performing dental extractions that do not require drilling or sectioning of teeth;
(d) veterinary services not described in clauses (a) to (c), as approved by the Council.

15 - A RVT must be under the direct supervision of a veterinarian while performing any of the following veterinary services:

(a) placing and maintaining arterial catheters;
(b) placing and maintaining urinary catheters;
(c) administering blood products and cross-matching;
(d) placing and maintaining nasal esophageal or gastric tubing;
(e) performing tracheal intubation or extubation;
(f) performing cystocentesis;
(g) preparing patient for surgery;
(h) maintaining and monitoring general anesthesia;
(i) performing dental prophylaxis;
(j) administering dental nerve blocks;
(k) placing and maintaining nasal cannulas;
(l) performing neonatal care;
(m) performing tracheotomy and airway maintenance;
(n) applying splints and slings;
(o) euthanizing animals;
(p) placing skin sutures;
(q) veterinary services not described in clauses (a) to (p), as approved by the Council.

16 - A RVT must be under the indirect supervision of a veterinarian while performing any of the following veterinary services:

(a) administering treatments of drugs and medications by parenteral and injectable routes, including intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, rectal, nasal, intracardiac, oral balling gun, and esophageal feeder;
(b) applying minor bandages;
(c) administering cornual nerve blocks for dehorning;
(d) administering caudal epidurals;
(e) administering sedation;
(f) administering local anaesthesic;
(g) placing and maintaining intravenous catheters;
(h) initiating and monitoring fluid therapy;
(i) Collecting blood;
(j) collecting biological samples, including collecting and preparing tissue, cellular or microbiological samples by skin scraping, impression or another non-surgical technique;
(k) monitoring blood pressure using a non-invasive technique;
(l) maintaining logs for the purpose of controlling the administration and inventory of narcotics;
(m) maintaining log books to record surgery, radiography, and similar procedures;
(n) administering vaccines, unless prohibited by Provincial or federal law;
(o) performing laboratory testing procedures;
(p) preparing radiographs, including determining settings, positioning the animal, following safety procedures and performing quality control, but not including interpretation;
(q) administering parenteral nutrition;
(r) performing preliminary physical examinations including temperature, pulse and respiration;
(s) collecting and submitting necropsy samples;
(t) managing minor wounds;
(u) performing physiotherapy;
(v) performing castration on large animals using a closed technique such as the crush/pinch technique;
(w) removing extra teats;
(x) dehorning calves;
(y) placing growth implants and electronic identification devices;
(z) implanting embryos;
(aa) expressing anal glands;
(ab) filling prescriptions;
(ac) performing tonometry, Schirmer tear tests or fluorescein stains;
(ad) performing routine maintenance of diagnostic and anaesthetic equipment;
(ae) handling and disposing of biohazardous waste materials;
(af) performing gastric tubing on horses;
(ag) any activity that is incidental to the services described in the preceding clauses and is not an activity to which Section 14 or 15 applies.

List of Accredited Programs

Institution Name	Location
List of Animal Health Technician/Technology (AHT), Veterinary Technician/Technology (VT) Programs Accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

Algonquin College	Ottawa, ON
Dalhousie Agricultural Campus	Truro, NS
Douglas College	New Westminster, BC
Georgian College	Orillia, ON
Grand Prairie Regional College	Fairview, AB
Lakeland College	Vermilion, AB
Northern Alberta Institute of Technology	Edmonton, AB
Northern College	Haileyburg, ON
Olds College	Olds, AB
Oulton College	Moncton, NB
Red River College	Winnipeg, MB
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology	Saskatoon, SK
Seneca College	King City, ON
St. Clair College	Windsor, ON
St. Lawrence College	Kingston, ON
Thompson Rivers University	Kamloops, BC
University of Guelph	Ridgetown Campus, Ridgetown, ON
Vanier College	St-Laurent, QC