- The largest association representing veterinary technicians officially opposes the current Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) or Mid-Level Practitioner (MLP) model.
- Their position statement calls for better integration and career pathways for veterinary technicians.
- A listening session about the statement is scheduled for March 19.
In a position statement released March 12, the association says “this model does not provide adequate clinical preparation and does not adequately recognize or integrate credentialed Veterinary Technicians. It also risks weakening, rather than strengthening, the collaborative team-based model that defines quality veterinary care.”
Proponents of midlevel practitioners compare the position to nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant in human medicine and claim it could help address workforce shortages.
NAVTA joins a growing number of professional organizations opposed to the creation of a midlevel practitioner. Most of the position statements against MLP/VPA issued so far have been from organizations representing veterinarians. NAVTA is the largest association representing Veterinary Technicians in the United States
“Credentialed Veterinary Technicians are essential to delivering safe, high-quality care,” Anna Santos, LVT, MPH, Task Force Chair and NAVTA President-Elect said in a statement on the NAVTA website.
“Our work focused on understanding how the current MLP model could affect these professionals and the veterinary healthcare team. We believe further alignment with established education and credentialing pathways is necessary to ensure strong clinical preparation and meaningful integration within the care team.”
NAVTA has scheduled a listening session and informational webinar about the position statement at 7 p.m. Eastern on March 19. Registration is available on the association website.
