Good News: Recent Updates on Veterinary Technicians

In the May 2026 issue of Animal Health News & Views, Sam Geiling rounds up recent developments for veterinary technicians and finds real reasons to celebrate in a field better known for shortages and struggles.

The biggest win comes from her home state of Minnesota, where the vet tech licensure bill signed in 2024 takes effect July 1. In April, the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine sent a letter to all veterinary professionals stating that action will be taken on reported title misuse. The law includes a five year legacy period for on the job trained team members, and after 2031 all new licensees will need to graduate from an accredited program and pass licensing exams.

Geiling also covers NAVTA’s new Scope of Practice Report, which documents how unclear and inconsistent laws affect patient safety, team utilization, and career sustainability, along with the April launch of the American Association of Credentialed Veterinary Technicians, a new national association arriving at a time when many state vet tech groups have shuttered. She notes the growth of NAVC’s HiVE events as well, which bring techs, students, and practice managers together for peer mentorship. Not everything is moving forward, though. She flags an Arizona bill that would let on the job trained team members sit for the national credentialing exam without formal education, something credentialed techs are advocating against.

She closes with three calls to action for the veterinary community: report title misuse so boards can actually enforce protection language, push for clear scope of practice and education requirements, and join and volunteer with state and national associations. As she puts it, if you find yourself wishing someone would fix this, that someone may be you.