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What is an RVT?

An RVT, or Registered Veterinary Technologist, is a highly trained individual who has completed an accredited program of study in Animal Health Technology or Veterinary Technology. They are well-versed in many areas of veterinary medicine including anesthesia, nutrition, animal behaviour, diagnostic laboratory testing, radiography, emergency medicine, and public education.

RVTs are an integral part of the veterinary team and work together with veterinarians to provide patient care, diagnostics, and treatment services.

RVTs work in vet clinics as well as other animal and welfare-related areas such as:

Research institutions
Government services
pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
Zoos
Educational institutions
Feedlot operations
Humane societies and law enforcement
Equine training facilities
Ranching and dairy operations

Technologists also have the opportunity to become highly trained in special skills such as rehabilitative therapy, dentistry, anesthesia, emergency medicine or other recognized veterinary technologist specialty (VTS) fields and advanced training programs.

AHT vs. RVT…What’s the Difference?

In Alberta, historically, graduates of an accredited two-year Animal Health Technology program were awarded a diploma in Animal Health Technology and held the title of Animal Health Technologist (AHT).

To become a Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT), an AHT was required to complete the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), register with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA), and meet all registration requirements.

All accredited programs in Alberta have since updated their program and diploma naming. Graduates now receive a diploma in Veterinary Technology (VT) and earn the RVT designation upon successful completion of the VTNE and registration with the ABVMA.

The RVT designation distinguishes registered professionals who are legally authorized to practice veterinary medicine under the Veterinary Profession Act (VPA) from those who have not yet met all required criteria.

How to Become an RVT.

To become a Registered Veterinary Technologist in Alberta, an individual must graduate from a CVMA (Canadian Veterinary Medical Association) or AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) accredited college technology program, successfully complete the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and apply to the ABVMA for registration.

Graduates from non-accredited veterinary technology programs may qualify for registration upon successful completion of an assessment that has been established by the ABVMA and the ABVTA. To view the current policy, click here.

There are 3 colleges in Alberta that offer a diploma in Veterinary Technology.

Entrance requirements vary slightly between colleges, but generally include:

A Grade 12 diploma,
Courses in Math, English, Chemistry, and Biology,
Related experience, such as volunteering at a veterinary clinic or working on a farm.

To learn more about each school's entrance requirements please visit each website by clicking on the logo above.

In the veterinary technology programs above, students will learn important skills such as animal handling, anatomy and physiology, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic laboratory procedures, surgical preparation, anesthesia, dentistry and animal diseases.

All students in a VT program in Alberta must apply for a Student membership with the ABVMA and ABVTA.

*Application for membership is usually done in partnership with your program of study and is done simultaneously for both Associations through the online application.

To view a list of CVMA-accredited programs.

To view a list of AVMA-accredited programs.

VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Exam)

After graduating from an accredited program, the next step to becoming a Registered Veterinary Technologist is passing the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

What is the VTNE?

The Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) is a computer-based exam owned and administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). It is written by Animal Health Technologists and Veterinary Technologists/Technicians across North America.

This comprehensive exam is designed to evaluate new graduates and ensure a consistent level of competency before entering a veterinary practice. The VTNE is offered during three testing windows each year and is regularly updated to reflect advances in the veterinary field. To apply for permission to write the VTNE in Alberta, contact the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA).

For more information on the AAVSB and/or the VTNE, click here.