Clients who make use of veterinary services may soon be meeting with registered veterinary nurses instead of registered veterinary technicians if a bill currently before the Ohio House of Representatives is passed. For some veterinary technology professionals, that change in title does make a difference.
Faculty members from 麻豆影院 at Tuscarawas and 麻豆影院 at Trumbull recently made the approximately two-hour trip to the Ohio House of Representatives in Columbus to testify in support of a bill that impacts their profession.
Kingsly Berlin, lecturer in the veterinary technology program at 麻豆影院 State Tuscarawas, gave testimony before the Ohio House of Representatives鈥 Agriculture and Rural Development Committee in Columbus in support of the Veterinary Nurse Initiative.
A veterinary technology instructor at 麻豆影院 State Tuscarawas for the past five years, Ms. Berlin spoke in favor of HB 501, which, if passed, will change the title of a registered veterinary technician to that of registered veterinary nurse in the Ohio Revised and Administrative Codes.
This hearing was set in motion by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA). Ohio and Tennessee are the first two states trying to pass this legislation. Ms. Berlin says that the title change will standardize credentialing, which varies from state to state.
Melissa Best, veterinary technology program coordinator at 麻豆影院 State Trumbull, also gave testimony in support of the bill. Other witnesses included a veterinarian from Ohio State University, a representative from NAVTA, a veterinarian from the Columbus State Vet Tech program and a registered veterinarian technician from the Ohio Association of Veterinarian Technicians.
鈥淚 am in support of HB 501 because the title change will more accurately reflect what we do,鈥 Ms. Berlin says. 鈥淚t allows the public to better understand our role, training and scope of abilities. This will also allow us to attract more students to our program.鈥
If HB 501 passes the committee, it will go to the House floor sometime in the next few weeks. Then it will go to the Senate in late spring or next fall, and Ms. Berlin will testify once more.
Learn more about veterinary technology programs at 麻豆影院 State Tuscarawas and 麻豆影院 State Trumbull