Academy Of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians
In December 2008, the American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants (AAEVT) sent out an inquiry to those members interested in organizing an Academy for Equine Veterinary Technicians. Nine qualified applicants were selected and a committee was formed. The organizing committee researched and drafted an extensive, 88 page proposal, which was presented to the NAVTA Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialists for consideration. The proposal was reviewed, and with a few minor modifications, was accepted by the NAVTA Board at the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) meeting in Seattle.
I have been a member of the AAEVT and an employee at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic since 2008. I learned of the AEVNT through being a member of AAEVT and decided that this was a specialty that I wanted to pursue. Between May 2012 and May 2013, I compiled my application, which included my resume, 50 hours of continuing education over the past three years, two recommendation letters (from our amazing surgeons), and 61 brief cases and 5 extensive cases in which I had taken part. I submitted the application and waited to hear back!
In June, I learned that the board had accepted my application and I was eligible to sit for the examination at the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. In December 2013, I took and passed the examination and was inducted into the Academy of Equine Veterinary Nursing Technicians at AAEVT’s annual luncheon.
I feel truly honored to be one of 17 technicians in the world that have this designation and look forward to using my knowledge in teaching and training externs, interns and other technicians who come through our teaching hospital.