Veterinary Technician - Frequently Asked Questions

Animal Health Care Tasks | Client Communication Rule | Internships

Animal Health Care Tasks

The Animal Health Care Tasks WAC 246-935-050 were updated April 2026 and organized in tables for ease of use. The updated tables conform with current practice needs and standards. *NOTE: all WAC references are made to the updated WAC. Please see the CR-102 for references.

What can be delegated?

Tasks that can be delegated are listed in WAC 246-935-050.

Delegation is outlined in WAC 246-935-040.

What if my task is not on the list?

See WAC 246-935-050 (2) which states: Tasks not specifically listed or delegated by the veterinarian, or otherwise restricted, may be performed by a licensed veterinary technician or unregistered assistant under the indirect supervision of a veterinarian.

What tasks are permitted in case of emergency?

Emergency care is outlined in WAC WAC 246-935-050 (4).

What does “maintenance of anesthesia” mean?

Anesthetic tasks are outlined in WAC 246-935-050 (3), Table A.

The unregistered assistant is under immediate supervision of a veterinarian. The supervising veterinarian is present and watching. Any adjustments made to anesthesia are at the immediate instruction of the supervising veterinarian.

What does this mean in a practical sense? This means that the unlicensed assistant can adjust the depth of anesthesia at the instruction of a veterinarian. The veterinarian is making all clinical decisions and is responsible for the adjustment. The unregistered assistant follows instructions as given and does not make any clinical decisions.

What does it mean to “monitor”?

Monitoring includes recording data points, observing for changes, progress, and/or watching a patient for adverse reactions to treatments or medication. Monitoring is NOT adjusting treatment. Monitoring includes analysis, sharing findings and/or observations with a supervising LVT or Veterinarian.

What can an unregistered assistant do during blood and blood product administration?

Blood and blood product administration is outlined in WAC 246-935-050 (3), Table H.

An unregistered assistant can monitor vital signs and overall condition of the patient during the transfusion. Only a Licensed Veterinary Technician (or veterinarian) can set up and actively administer the transfusion (i.e. push, etc.). Unregistered assistants may not set up a blood/blood product transfusion.

What dental extractions can an LVT perform?

Single root extractions are listed in WAC 246-935-050 (3), Table D.

If a single rooted tooth is mobile and able to be plucked out of the gum, it is acceptable for an LVT to remove it.

Based on common definitions of surgery, which include the incising, manipulating and altering of bodily tissues, and according to prevailing opinion among veterinarians, the goal of this rule is meant to clarify that the cutting or blunt dissection of gingiva as well as the drilling (i.e. “burring”) and sectioning of bone constitute surgery. Any dental extraction requiring these types of surgical interventions may only be performed by a veterinarian.

What is the difference between an analysis and a diagnosis?

Analysis is the process of collecting and reviewing data to identify trends, patterns, and meaning as they pertain to a medical problem. Analysis is not equivalent to a diagnosis. Analysis may be completed by a veterinary staff member, but a veterinarian is ultimately accountable for the diagnostic interpretation and conclusion.

See cytology and fecal analysis in WAC 246-935-050 (3), Table E for examples.

Who can perform euthanasia?

Euthanasia is listed in WAC 246-935-050 (3) Table E.

The rules in WAC 935-246 do not apply to euthanasia technicians.

Euthanasia technicians working at registered animal control and humane societies are under the jurisdiction the Pharmacy Quality Assurance Commission, as codified in WAC 246-945-254, and work under the facility license. More information regarding this can be found on the Euthanasia website: Sodium Pentobarbital for Animal Euthanasia | Washington State Department of Health

Rabies Certificates

Rabies vaccination requirements are listed in WAC 246-935-050 (5).

It is the responsibility of the veterinarian to ensure the rabies certificate is printed or electronically delivered to the client. This is also part of the medical record to be retained by the veterinarian.

Client Communication Rule

The Client Communication Rule, WAC 246-933-345 was created in response to concerns raised by the public on the importance of veterinarian communication with the client. This ensures clients can provide informed consent for veterinary care of their animal(s).

The rule formalizes and clarifies existing veterinary communication standards with clients and related record-keeping.

Should the veterinarian review every possible diagnostic measure, medication, or treatment they might administer to a patient?

No. The spirit of the rule is to set appropriate expectations with clients, so they are informed of treatments and diagnostic testing. Veterinarians need not review “every possible” diagnostic measure, medication, or treatment; however, they should review likely and foreseeable care they may administer based on the specific situation.

Veterinarians are held to a professional standard of care, which a competent veterinarian would reasonably provide under the same or similar situation. Veterinarians must inform owners, in an easy-to-understand manner, of the likely risks and benefits of a particular diagnostic measure, medication, or treatment, so that the owner can make informed decisions about care.

Should veterinarians contact the client each time there is a change to the patient's orders for treatment and care? Should they discuss all details of the effects the change might have? Similarly, does every medication used during anesthesia require discussion with the client?

A veterinarian should inform a client in advance about the components of a procedure, medications used and why, risks, benefits, alternative measures, and likely outcomes of a procedure. A general plan and likely and foreseeable adjustments to that plan should be developed and discussed with the client prior to hospitalization so the client can give informed consent. The intent is that clients understand the approach being taken.

In emergency situations or when the client cannot be contacted in a timely manner, it may not be reasonable for the veterinarian to seek consent.

How detailed should documentation be? Is there general verbiage that can be used that would adequately cover everything conveyed to owners or should specifics be written down for each case, listing all differential and definitive diagnoses, proposed treatments, side effects, etc.?

The rule requires a practitioner to document the following topics that were discussed:

  • Proposed diagnostic tests;
  • Differential diagnoses;
  • Definitive diagnoses;
  • Proposed treatments;
  • Common side effects or adverse outcomes from proposed diagnostic testing or treatment;
  • Most likely side effects or adverse outcomes from proposed diagnostic testing or treatment based on patient signalment and disease status. Patient signalment may include, but is not limited to, species, breed, age, and sex;
  • Estimated cost;
  • Prognosis; and
  • Alternate diagnostic and treatment options for the patient.

The rule is intended to clarify the existing standard of care. While the exact amount of detail is best left to the practitioner's discretion, a third-party reviewer should be able to discern the information that was provided and the client's consent to care. The rule's intent is not to create additional requirements for documentation. It outlines the standard that the board uses when reviewing disciplinary cases. This should have minimal or no impact for veterinarians following general standards for documentation.

Must veterinarians discuss with the client every possible side-effect, such as bruising with a blood draw, with each owner?

Veterinarians must inform a client of outcomes that are reasonably foreseeable. For example, if venipuncture is being performed in a patient with ecchymosis of unknown etiology, the potential for bruising and bleeding should be discussed with the client. The client should be given sufficient information so that they can provide informed consent.

Some clients may not understand all the details of what veterinarians try to communicate to them. Can we still treat the patient?

The veterinarian must provide enough information in a manner that the client can understand so that the client can provide informed consent. If that is not possible in a non-emergency situation, the veterinarian should not provide care. In an emergency, if a client is unable or unwilling to provide informed consent, the veterinarian should provide sufficient care to deal with the emergency.

If a client doesn't want to discuss the information, can the veterinarian still treat the patient?

The veterinarian must provide enough information so that the client can provide informed consent. If a client is unable or unwilling to provide informed consent, in a non-emergency situation, the veterinarian should not provide care. In an emergency, if a client is unable or unwilling to provide informed consent, the veterinarian should provide sufficient care to deal with the emergency.

Are there any resources available to help us communicate and provide information to clients?

Yes. Many resources exist. Client information sheets are available for many drugs through the FDA, and many professional organizations offer handouts for clients on a variety of topics such as diseases, treatments, procedures, diagnostics, behavior, etc. Some organizations and clinics have also made resources available to the general public on their websites or other online platforms. The board is working on creating a list of links to available resources. This webpage will be updated when those resources are ready.

This rule is meant to clarify the board's expectations for client communication, based on current standards of care, and will not significantly change how the board handles disciplinary cases.

Internships

Where can I find information on student internship options?

All information on internships for veterinary and veterinary technician students can be found on the internships page.

Veterinary internship laws