I have been licensed in the State of Virginia since June 1976 as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. It is difficult enough to try to get "Title Protection" for Veterinary Technicians. I am an advocate for the Veterinary Nurse Initiative throughout the United States. To allow the veterinary assistant to begin to perform duties that are only allowed for veterinary technicians is unconscionable. Veterinary Technicians are continually demeaned, underpaid and relegated to a status where everyone working in a hospital, that is not a Doctor, is called veterinary technician.

I, personally, was in the 2nd group to take the Virginia State Board for Veterinary Technicians. That is 45 years ago. Unfortunately, little has been done to elevate veterinary technicians in practice. It will be another 100 years before any change is seen.

Thank you for your time.

Respectfully

Mary Ellen Goldberg LVT, CVT, SRA, CCRVN, CVPP, VTS - lab animal medicine (research anesthesia), VTS-Phycial rehabilitation, VTS-anesthesia/analgesia-H