What happened with the isolated incident you described is indeed unfortunate. What you didn't mention is all the times in the past 20 years when your animals were appropriately handledby a vet tech. 

All vet tech programs accredited by tbe AVMA are required to provide instruction in animal behavior. While some programs may list this instruction as part of another course I assure you tbat each and every time an animal is handled in the context of the vet tech program, principles of applied animal behavior are part of the instruction students are provided. In order for a vet tech to become licensed in VA, they must be a graduate of an AVMA accredited vet tech program, so even if someone got their education outside af Va, they will have had training in animal behavior.