October marks Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT) Month across Canada, led by the Registered Veterinary Technologists and Technicians of Canada (RVTTC). This annual recognition is a chance to acknowledge the rigorous training, wide-ranging skills, and central role RVTs play in veterinary medicine. At Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital (BBVSH) in Surrey, RVTs are vital to every aspect of our hospital operation — from emergency and trauma stabilization to critical care monitoring, diagnostics, specialty nursing, and client education.

The Heart of Hospital Care

What distinguishes RVTs is the combination of technical skill and animal-focused care. In Canada, RVTs graduate from accredited post-secondary veterinary technology programs, successfully pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), and meet provincial registration and continuing education standards.

At Boundary Bay, RVTs are embedded in the hospital workflow 24/7. They assist and monitor anesthesia during surgery, provide hands-on nursing care in the ICU and emergency wards, manage diagnostic sampling and lab work, support trauma stabilization and emergency workflows, and guide families through post-hospitalization care with clear nursing plans. Their role is collaborative, working side-by-side with specialists, emergency teams, and referring veterinarians to ensure continuity of care. For more details on what an RVT might do in our hospital, read our RVT blog here and here.

Mastering Advanced Skills: The VTS Path

RVTs also have the opportunity to specialize. These individuals are called Veterinary Technologist Specialists (VTSs). A VTS is an RVT with several years of professional experience, advanced training, and a rigorous course of study culminating in a specialty board exam.

VTSs are experts in a very specific area of veterinary medicine — such as emergency and critical care, anesthesia, dentistry, or internal medicine. They have mastered advanced skills within their discipline and bring that expertise to the highest levels of patient care. Achieving VTS status takes years of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence in both knowledge and practice. Read more about VTSs in our blog.

At BBVSH, our VTSs play an important role in mentoring, teaching, and supporting both our Veterinary Technologist Internship program and the broader RVT team, helping to raise the standard of care across the hospital.

Supporting the Next Generation of RVTs

Recognizing that transitioning from classroom to a fast-paced specialty hospital can be challenging, BBVSH offers a Veterinary Technologist Internship (VTI) program. The VTI is a structured, paid, one-on-one mentorship program where early career technologists receive real-world clinical experience under the supervision of experienced RVTs and VTSs.

Interns work through learning modules broken down into manageable clinical tasks and progressively assume more responsibility as their confidence and competence grow. Rotations include emergency and critical care, ICU nursing, anesthesia monitoring, diagnostics, and collaboration with specialty teams in surgery and medicine — all within our VECCS-certified and trauma-ready hospital environment.

The VTI program helps new RVTs gain the clinical acumen, time management skills, and teamwork mindset required for high-acuity medicine, while ensuring BBVSH maintains a well-mentored, knowledgeable pool of technologists prepared to meet demanding patient care needs.

Every Day Is RVT Day at Boundary Bay

RVT Month gives us a moment to pause and reflect, but at Boundary Bay, RVTs are recognized every day for their expertise, adaptability, and dedication to animals and their families. Their contribution is central to the success of our hospital and to the wellbeing of every patient we treat.

We’re grateful for the RVTs — and VTSs — on our team, and for the growing number of graduates entering the profession through our internship program. Their knowledge, skill, and commitment ensure that every patient who comes through our doors is given the best chance at care and healing.

Your Path to Becoming an RVT

Training for a career as an RVT in Canada includes two to three years of post-secondary education. To become a Registered Veterinary Technologist, you must:

• Graduate from an accredited post-secondary program in Animal Health, Veterinary Technology, or Veterinary Technician.
• Successfully pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).
• Meet provincial registration requirements, including continuing education.

In Canada, Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Technologist/Technician programs are accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), and in British Columbia also by the BC Veterinary Technologists Association (BCVTA).

The Registered Veterinary Technologists and Technicians of Canada (RVTTC) provides excellent resources on accredited programs and how to explore a career as an RVT.