Veterinary Health Care Team 
of Arizona

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Update: Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) 
2010 Eligibility Requirements

VHCTAz has received a policy update from the American Association of Veterinary State Boards about the VTNE exam. Their board has approved the following policy regarding eligibility to sit for the VTNE:

"After December 31, 2010, a VTNE candidate must be a graduate of a veterinary technology program accredited by the AVMA or the CVMA or a program approved by the regulatory board of the jurisdiction where the examination is given."

Information about the VTNE can be found on their website: http://www.aavsb.org/TIVA/TIVAHome.aspx 

Congratulations to the veterinary team at 
First Emergency Pet Care 
for being named the "Veterinary Health Care Team of the Year." The award was presented at an awards dinner at the AzVMA annual state meeting on April 5. 

News stories below are listed newest to oldest. 
Source: VHCTAz Team Talk newsletter.

Links to articles on this page:

Get the Job You Deserve

Above the Rest: CVT Specialties Gain Popularity

CapWiz Available to VHCTAz Members

Get the Job You Deserve
by Kristin DuBois, CVT

If a new job is in your future, here are a few hints to ensure that your resume gets the attention it deserves and demonstrates your value to the potential employer.

bulletDesign your resume appropriately. Many applicants leave out basic details, such as: dates of employment, positions held, and the position for which you are applying. Lay it out to be reader friendly-you don't want an employer searching for information.
bulletYour resume should be typed in a font large enough that a poor fax machine won't obscure your information. The only handwritten part should be your signature.
bulletUse vocabulary appropriate to the field: phlebotomy instead of blood draws, etc.
bulletHave at least two people check your resume for spelling, grammatical or layout problems. It doesn't do you any good if you say you have an eye for detail and then misspell your words!
bulletAt the interview, dress appropriately!!! T-shirts, jeans and tennis shoes are ill advised. Make sure your clothes fit you well and your hair (and makeup if appropriate) show you put effort into your appearance.
bulletNever say anything negative about past/present employers-doing so shows the interviewer that you will do the same to them when given the chance.
bulletCome prepared with at least three questions to ask during the interview (make sure they're not regarding money or vacation time).

Once you have been offered the position, and are starting the job, keep this piece of advice in mind: every business does almost every thing differently. What that means to you is, go into a new job with an attitude that says you are willing to learn and will do things their way without saying "my last employer did it this way...". Remember, your new employers have been there a long time and have adjusted its protocols and procedures to what works best for their business.

There are many Web sites and books that can help you through he process. A little preparation goes a long way, so take the time to find the resources you need to make job hunting a breeze. Good luck!

Above the Rest: CVT Specialties Gain Popularity

Do you have an interest in internal medicine, a desire to dentistry? Are you awed by anesthesia or crazy for emergency medicine? If you are a CVT, or other licensed technician, there is a way to show your pride and interest in your profession by becoming a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS). There is increasing interest in veterinary technician specialties, as the technician field becomes more educated and better utilized.

Currently there are three specialty academies (dentistry, emergency/critical care and anesthesia), with a fourth one in internal medicine offering its first exam in June 2008. These academies are granted status and are governed by the Veterinary Technician Specialties Committee for NAVTA. To become a member requires hard work and dedication. Members are licensed technicians who show an interest in one of the academies and pass a stringent exam.

Applications include letters of recommendation from boarded veterinarians and other VTA technicians, case reports (usually 50 or more), three or more years of experience in the specialty area, a list of technical skills, and current continuing education related to the chosen specialty. For more information visit the Web sites of the Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians, the Academy of Emergency and Critical Care Technicians, the Academy of Dental Veterinary Technicians and the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists.

(Note: The VHCTAz education committee is working on plans for a Special Practice CE meeting in September to inform interested technicians about these specialty practice areas and the steps needed to qualify.)

CapWiz Available to VHCTAz Members

The Arizona Veterinary Medical Association has entered into an agreement with Capitol Advantage (CapWiz) to use the power of the internet to deliver grassroots support for our legislative priorities. CapWiz will provide AzVMA and VHCTAz members with tools, content and services to keep them informed and engaged in public policy. By logging onto the AzVMA Web site (www.azvma.org), you can link to the site that will give you access to your state and federal elected officials, as well as officials in state government agencies.

When you arrive at the site, type in your address and you will immediately find the contact information for all the elected officials in your district, including biographical information. You will have the ability to send an email, or use the contact information to call or write these individuals on topics of concern to you.

AzVMA and VHCTAz will have the capability of issuing legislative alerts and calls to action to members, complete with a summary of the issues and a list of individuals to be contacted. This gives the association the ability to quickly mobilize members to impact legislation and regulations that affect veterinarians, veterinary staff and the veterinary profession.

AzVMA and VHCTAz members may remember the critical issue we faced during the last legislative session and how the quick and decisive response to our call to action helped us defeat the bill that would have exempted complementary and alternative therapies from the practice act. With this new tool, we can disseminate information instantaneously and make it as easy and timely as possible for everyone to participate in the legislative process and affect the outcome of critical issues. We hope you will use this new member benefit to develop relationships with your elected officials and be a resource to them when they deliberate issues of concern to the veterinary profession.

Capitol Advantage is the nation's pioneer provider of online and offline grassroots solutions for corporation, non-profits, associations, educational institutions and other organizations.


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