How Up-to-Date Vet Tech Training Can Help Grow Your Veterinary Practice

Posted by Des Sinkevich on January 8, 2026

Over the last few years, many veterinary practices have struggled with an increased workload and high turnover. This has led to veterinary technicians working longer hours and taking on more responsibilities. With more responsibilities and increased burnout and compassion fatigue, there’s a nationwide shortage of skilled veterinary technicians, leaving current workers even more stressed, which can ultimately have a negative impact on the quality of care offered at your practice.

While you may already have a strong, talented, and passionate team of veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians in your practice, increasing their knowledge and skills to include emerging technologies, modern care protocols, and updated best practices in 2025 could offer a viable solution to patient overload – and increase employee satisfaction.

Key Takeaways:

Upskilling vet techs is critical for success

Expanding your team’s knowledge in emerging technologies, telehealth, AI-supported workflows, and fear-free handling techniques can improve efficiency and patient care.

Credentialed technicians add significant value

Skilled, credentialed vet techs can take on advanced responsibilities, assist in surgery, and even handle certain appointments independently, boosting practice productivity.

Training improves retention and satisfaction

Offering education benefits and career advancement opportunities reduces turnover, combats burnout, and increases employee engagement—key in a competitive labor market.

Affordable, flexible training solutions exist

Online programs like Penn Foster’s Veterinary Technician Associate Degree allow practices to upskill staff without disrupting operations, helping teams stay current with industry standards and technology.

What skills should vet techs have today?

Whether or not you operate your practice in a state that requires veterinary technicians to be credentialed in order to qualify for employment, it’s common knowledge that a skilled, credentialed vet tech can make a big difference to how the practice is run. Credentialed veterinary technicians are able to take on more responsibilities, assist with surgery, and, in some cases, take non-emergency “vet tech appointments” without the supervision of a veterinarian.

Today, a successful vet tech should also have a variety of other skills that make them an asset to your practice, including

Relevant medical skills
Communication skills
The ability to perform medical exams
The ability to collect specimens for and run lab tests
Relevant technology skills
Strong teamwork skills
Adaptability
Telehealth skills
Proficiency with AI-supported workflows (such as digital triage tools or automated recordkeeping)
Comfort with handling a growing range of diagnostics and point-of-care technologies
Skills in low-stress handling and fear-free techniques, now considered industry best practice

Dedicated vet techs can learn most skills through approved education, on-the-job training, and continuing education to maintain their credentials.

The benefits of helping employees expand their skillset

Veterinary technicians are essential to a well-run animal clinic and the more credentialed veterinary technicians you have on staff, the greater the benefits for your practice. Besides increasing the earning potential of the practice as a whole, your credentialed technicians can offer vital support to veterinarians and allow the practice to see more patients. But when your practice is overworked and vet assistants and technicians don’t have the full skills needed to be completely successful on the job, practice growth and patient care can suffer.

That’s where offering education and training opportunities can help. Besides ensuring your staff is fully trained and ready to meet the needs of your practice, helping them expand their skillset can benefit your business by

Reducing turnover. Because of the kind of work they do, compassion fatigue, and burnout, veterinary technicians often have a higher turnover rate than other professions. Offering the opportunity to further their education, earning continuing education hours necessary to maintain credentials, and advance in their career at your practice could potentially increase retention. In a recent survey, 77% of respondents said they were more likely to stay with an employer that offers education benefits, while 73% indicated that offering these opportunities improved their perception of their employer. In a tight labor market where veterinary staffing shortages remain a top industry concern, these retention strategies are even more essential.
Increasing employee satisfaction. Employees who love their job and feel supported by their employer are more likely to stay longer and be more enthusiastic about their jobs. By offering education benefits and a clear opportunity for growth and advancement, you can show your vet techs and vet assistants you support them while ensuring they have the right skills to benefit your practice. Many practices may also have success by offering micro-credentials, specialty certifications, or clear advancement pathways within the veterinary team.
Increasing patient quality of care. Medicine, whether human or animal, regularly changes and the industry always develops new technologies and processes to better serve the patient. By assisting your staff to further their education, you can better prepare your practice for the future of veterinary medicine and ensure you’re offering up-to-date care. For example, as telehealth becomes a more in-demand method of conducting appointments, training your staff to properly utilize this service can ensure your practice is cutting-edge. Additionally, remote monitoring devices, digital diagnostics, and AI-supported imaging tools are becoming more common, making ongoing training even more critical.

How to train vet techs effectively (and affordably)

Training your veterinary team doesn’t have to disrupt your workflow—or your budget. With the right education partner, you can upskill current employees, develop new talent, and strengthen your practice without the high cost or time constraints of traditional training programs.

Penn Foster’s Veterinary Academy offers flexible, online learning designed specifically for veterinary practices that want to build a confident, skilled, and credential-ready team. Because training is self-paced and online, your employees can learn around their shifts, reducing scheduling challenges and ensuring your practice stays fully staffed.

Practices can use Penn Foster to train vet techs effectively and affordably and:

Develop staff from within. Turn passionate assistants or entry-level employees into credential-ready veterinary technicians through structured, accredited programs.
Support learning without losing productivity. Online, mobile-friendly coursework allows learners to progress at their own pace while still supporting daily patient care.
Reduce turnover and hiring costs. Employees who see a clear path for growth are more engaged and more likely to stay. Training becomes a retention strategy, not an expense.
Stay current with industry standards. Ensure your staff is trained in the latest veterinary best practices, emerging technologies, and modern care protocols.

With a scalable training model and accessible pricing, Penn Foster can veterinary practices grow stronger teams without stretching already thin resources.

Improve your vet practice by investing in your employees

Through in-depth employer-sponsored education, you can improve employee retention, ensure your staff has the skills they need to be an asset to your business, and ensure that your practice is prepared for growth. With online training like that offered by Penn Foster’s Veterinary Academy, your veterinary healthcare team can grow their skills and advance in their careers. To learn more about training your practice staff online, reach out to one of our training experts today!