I support training non-licensed personnel to place peripheral IV catheters.   I do not believe this will diminish the value of the LVT as the knowledge and training that they receive in LVT training programs and through licensing far exceeds the technical skill of IV catheter placement.  I see that the LVTs are united in their opposition of this proposal and I understand that they have worked hard to distinguish themselves in the profession.  That being said, if we look the human medical field, we have EMT's that place IV catheters in the field, phlebotomists that are trained to peform venipuncture and other technical skills that non- RN/nurses have been trained to do.  I believe that we could offer a certificate/training program to insure consistent training of IV catheter placement throughout the state.  As has been mentioned there is a shortage of LVTs.  If we have a certificate program, practices that do not have an LVT or enough LVTs could send their staff member to one of the short courses to achieve certification in peripheral IV catheter placment.  I must say that I highly value the LVT profession and have been in both private practice and academia.  I teach my students to respect and value the LVT as they will not be able to work efficiently and productively without the LVT.  In my mind the LVT  has a much higher value than just an IV catheter placer and this should not be lost in this discussion.