General Resources
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In the state of Georgia, a veterinary assistant is a paraprofessional that assists Veterinarians and Licensed Veterinary Technicians in providing medical care for animal patients. Patients can range from hamsters and mice to cows and horses.
Tasks performed by veterinary assistants include, but are not limited to: restraining the patient for the exam and sample collection, collecting samples (blood, urine, skin samples, etc), administering vaccines (subcutanesous, intranasal, intramuscular, intraoral), administer medications (by mouth, by subcutaneous / intramuscular / intravenous injection, topically, etc), taking radiographs, monitoring general anesthesia, assisting in surgery, cleaning teeth under general anesthesia, and much more.
Veterinary Assistants in the state of Georgia must follow the legal scope of practice. For more information about the supervision responsibilities of veterinary assistants, click here.
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Approved Veterinary Assistants have completed work experience, demonstrated hands on skills, and passed the Approved Veterinary Assistant examination through National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). The goal of Approved Veterinary Assistants is to provide guided hands on training and mentorship through skills to enhance professional capacity. There are three levels of AVA: I, II, III
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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.
For more information on AVMA-accredited programs, check out our Student Resources.
For more information on becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Georgia, click here.
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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.
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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”).
Terminology:
American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB): An association of veterinary medicine regulatory boards that own and administer the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) which evaluates the competency of veterinary technicians. Most states require a passing score to obtain licensure.
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): founded in 1863, is a not-for-profit association representing more than 99,500 veterinarians in the US. The AVMA provides information resources, continuing education opportunities, publications, and discounts on personal and professional products, programs, and services. Learn more on their website (https://www.avma.org/).
AVMA CVTEA (Center for Veterinary Education Accreditation): Accreditation by the AVMA Council on Education® (AVMA COE®) and AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities® (AVMA CVTEA®) represents the highest standard of achievement for veterinary medical education in the United States. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality and continuous improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. Accreditation is a process by which an educational institution or program submits to a voluntary, non-governmental review to determine whether it meets accepted standards of quality. Within veterinary medicine, the AVMA COE develops standards and conducts reviews of DVM or equivalent educational programs, while the AVMA CVTEA develops standards and reviews programs in veterinary technology. An institution or program is considered fully accredited when it is found to meet these standards. See the COE accreditation process and the CVTEA accreditation process for more information.
Continuing Education (CE): Educational opportunities for licensed veterinary technicians to hone their skills, enhance their knowledge, and grow professionally. CE can be earned through veterinary conferences (such as our GVTAA Spring & Fall Conferences), virtual seminars, online programs, and more. Licensed Veterinary Technicians and Veterinarians are required to earn specified hours of CE to renew their licenses.
Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FVMA): The FVMA was established in 2024 and was formerly known as the AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners). Originally established in 1974, the name was changed on their 50th anniversary to be more inclusive to the veterinary community. They encourage veterinary technicians to take part as members. They offer up to date research and resources on all aspects of feline medicine and care. They provide industry respected statements and guidelines for feline specific veterinary topics as well as continuing education, advanced certification for technicians as “Cat Friendly Veterinary Professionals” and release regular publications with relevant industry updates. You can learn more about membership and benefits here: (https://catvets.com/)
Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine: Licensing boards are tasked with regulating the practice of veterinary medicine in their jurisdictions in order to protect the welfare of the public. Regulators ensure those entering the practice of veterinary medicine meet a minimum standard of practice by being properly educated, qualified, and are fit to be licensed. Regulators also set forth policies on how clinics and hospitals should be set up. Regulators will also investigate complaints against veterinarians, vet techs, or facilities. Ultimately, licensing boards are about one thing: protecting the public. The Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine is under the Georgia Secretary Of State.
Georgia Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA): A professional association for members of the veterinary industry, providing CE and tools to help Georgia veterinarians excel in practice. The GVMA does not regulate veterinary medicine or licensure; and are not a medical facility or treat animals. Click here to visit GVMA.
Rules and Regulations: When the legislature passes laws, state agencies adopted rules and regulations to interpret and enforce the laws. Rules carry the weight of law and non-compliance can result in fines, citations, or potentially, loss of a registration. To learn more, visit Georgia Board of Veterinary Medicine Rules and Laws.
Scope of Practice: Defined in the Veterinary Practice Act, the Scope of Practice dictates what tasks may be performed by Veterinary Assistants, practiced by Licensed Veterinary Technicians, and practiced by Veterinarians and under what level of supervision (Immediate, Direct, Indirect). See: Chapter 700-14 SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS and Chapter 700-15 SUPERVISION RESPONSIBILITIES OF VETERINARY ASSISTANTS
Veterinary Technology Student: A student attending an AVMA CVTEA accredited veterinary technology program.
Veterinary Practice Act: The laws that define and regulate veterinary medicine in Georgia.