CaRVTA Mentor Committee

The role of the CaRVTA Mentor Committee is to provide a distinctive Mentor Program which builds on and enhances growth as a California RVT student or newly licensed RVT. The aim of the Mentor Program is to help prepare RVT students and newly licensed RVTs who are committed to a process of life-long learning pursue a career in the veterinary field. We will strive to provide the help needed by individuals who want to obtain a California RVT license and to help newly licensed RVTs assimilate into the profession.

Our vision is to increase the knowledge and standards of future RVTs by providing a network of RVTs that have a desire to help others succeed in the RVT profession.

Our Mentor Program is currently under development. Help us wrap up development—Take your survey today:
CaRVTA Mentor Program Survey

Mentoring is a form of personal development between two people, where an experienced person facilitates the development of the second, less-experienced person, by sharing known resources, expertise, values, skills, perspectives, attitudes and proficiencies. The learner, or mentee, is able to build skills and knowledge, while working towards reaching their individualized developmental goals. Conversely, for the mentor, this opportunity provides further opportunity to strengthen his or her own personal skills and knowledge areas, and become a better leader.

The CaRVTA Mentor Program is ideal for CA veterinary technology students, Alternate Route candidates, newly licensed RVTs, and out-of-state licensed technicians studying to take the California RVT exam.

As a mentor, you will provide the mentee the ability to shape the future of the RVT profession, as well as the veterinary profession as a whole. With your mentoring, you will help give the veterinarian and the mentee the understanding of the value, quality and expertise it takes to be an RVT in practice.

Mentoring will provide the “why” and the “how” procedures are done, reinforcing the education and hands-on experience from veterinary technology schools, while giving the veterinarian a reason to hire the mentee in their practice for their knowledge, skills and abilities.

The mentor will provide real world experiences they have already undergone as an RVT, to help mentees understand and learn that everyone has good days and bad days when beginning their career.

Throughout the program the mentor will recognize the importance of their role as a leader in the hospital.

"Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile."—Vince Lombardi

Mentors can act as a counselor and coach to help with situations before they become a problem, both personally and professionally. We encourage mentors to provide mentees with a model of how to uphold the high standards of our profession, following in the footsteps of many other RVT leaders.

• RVT exam preparation
• Alternate route preparation and guidance
• 2nd year student skills development
• Newly licensed RVT mentoring for career development

1. You will be given the opportunity to shepherd in a new generation of RVTs. By sharing your length and breadth of experience, you will be able to advise your mentee on how to manage their career, achieve confidence in their abilities and attain happiness in their work.
2. You will be a source of information to new RVTs both in good times and in not so good times. You will find a special satisfaction in sharing a funny work story or lending a sympathetic shoulder to a newcomer who lost a favorite patient or was yelled at by a client or employer.
3. You will prolong and continue the hard fought rights of RVTs, and inspire up and coming veterinary technicians to continue to strive for recognition and respect.
4. Being a mentor demands that you act as a role model for a fledgling RVT, and therefore will increase your own self-awareness of your place within the profession.
5. You will develop a lifetime relationship with someone of like interests and desires.

1. You will be given the opportunity to solicit and obtain regular feedback on job related skills from highly experienced RVTs. You will be able to draw from the vast wealth of knowledge and experience from a person who can help support your professional goals.
2. You will gain a confidant and coach to help you through the myriad of questions and obstacles you will face as a new RVT.
3. You will become inspired to pursue the quest for recognition and respect.
4. You will find a role model who will exemplify how to adjust to and succeed in a complicated work environment.
5. You will develop a lifetime relationship with someone of like interests and desires.