The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America has several Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) approved academies. It’s rigorous, but when earned, it helps veterinary technicians attain a higher level of recognition for advanced knowledge and skills. In this blog, VCA’s Danielle Linder, CVT, takes us behind the scenes of what it’s been like on her quest to become a VTS in emergency and critical care (ECC).

Two years of my life have been dedicated to this.

Veterinary Technician Specialists are credentialed, registered, or licensed veterinary technicians who have pursued advanced training in a specific area of veterinary medicine. Someone with VTS credentials are recognized as an expert in their field and often serve as leaders, mentors and educators within their hospitals.

There are three parts to the VTS ECC certification – Part A, Part B and a final exam.

Part A requires you to have a minimum of 6,000 hours of work experience (about three years of full-time, 40 hours per week) in veterinary ECC as a registered, licensed or certified veterinary technician.

All experience must be within five years of the Part A application start date. You must also submit 25 hours of continuing education in ECC, along with two letters of reference. The letters must come from a VTS in ECC, Anesthesia, Internal Medicine, a Veterinary Emergency Critical Care Society Veterinarian, a Diplomat of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, or a board-certified veterinarian specialist in Anesthesia, Internal Medicine, or Surgery.

If you pass Part A, Part B is the fun part – but difficult.

There is a list of 38 advanced nursing skills that is given to you. You are expected to have mastered 29 of them. Mastery is defined as being able to perform the task safely with a high degree of success and without being coached or prompted. Mastery requires performing the task in a wide variety of patients and situations.

All of the mastered skills are required to be signed off on by a VTS in ECC or a veterinarian, and some require a photo as proof.

You also have to write a minimum of 50 or a maximum of 75 case logs on emergent or critical patients. A case log is the nursing skills that you have performed on patients, ideally from your skills list. If you submit only 50 case logs and one is thrown out, you'll only have 49 and your application will be rejected.

For example, they would throw out a case log where I only placed a female urinary catheter because I am not showing that I am actively working with the patient and using a variety of nursing skills. I ended up submitting 65 logs, just in case.

You also have to write four case reports.

Your case report should clearly explain how the patient was diagnosed and treated – and show how you actively helped the veterinarian throughout the process. The focus is on demonstrating what you did – not just what happened – including your observations, questions, procedures you helped with, and how you supported treatment and care.

They want you to show that you understood the condition, why certain steps were taken, and how your input helped guide the plan – but in no longer than five pages. If you pass Part B, you have six months to study for the final test. Mine is coming up this September.

I think it's important to note the time and dedication that's required for this process.

The sacrifices you have to make personally for this journey are well known, but something I don’t think gets talked about enough is the sacrifices that your friends and family have to make. My significant other has taken on a lot of extra responsibilities at home so I can focus on studying.

I rarely get to see my friends. And when I do see them, all I talk about is this VTS process. I’m also still working full-time over three consecutive shifts at my hospital each week, if not more, if I pick up a shift or get called in.

I can’t thank my colleagues at VCA Alameda East in Denver enough for their support. They've had my back from the start – always willing to answer questions (even when we are not at work).

They’ve taken a step back and let me lead the more challenging cases. And they cheer me on when things get tough. My hospital has connected me with some really amazing board-certified veterinarians in ECC who have helped me through this journey.

Brittany Harries, a VTS in ECC, was also instrumental in helping me get through Part B.

The whole reason I’m going for my VTS is for patient care. It's my biggest priority. By becoming a VTS, I can provide the highest standard of care and make the deepest impact I can on the lives of my patients.