Technician Professional Development

Implementation Date: 6/10/2009

Date of Last Revision: 7/7/2022

Next Review Due: 7/2025

 

Reviewed by VTH Administrative Team: N/A

Reviewed by VTH Board: 6/10/2009

 

Reviewed by Legal Counsel: N/A

Reviewed by Biosecurity Subcommittee: N/A

Subject to modification by the VTH Director without approval.

Policy

VTH technicians are provided a specified amount of funding each fiscal year to be used for their own professional development/continuing education. This amount is determined on a yearly basis and is included as part of the VTH main operating fund budget.

Guidelines

The VTH veterinary, pharmacy and animal imaging technicians are encouraged to take classes and attend training. There are numerous reasons for professional development including: an interest in lifelong learning, maintaining and improving professional competence, enhancing career progression, keeping abreast of new technology and practice, and to comply with the professional regulations regarding the renewal of their technician license.

Procedure (if applicable)

Funds available for veterinary technician continuing education:

Each VTH technician is allocated $1,000 each fiscal year (full- and part-time technicians) after the technician has passed their initial 6-month probationary period. This $1,000 is allotted for costs related to professionaldevelopment (e.g., travel, hotel, registration costs, on-line courses, etc.). This will be tracked by the VTH Business Office. The balance of the technician’s fund may be carried over to the next fiscal year, up to a maximum of $3,000.

If the cost of the professional development is over the amount in the technician’s accumulated allotment, then the VTH Service Head overseeing the technician may provide additional funding. For example, this extra funding might come from a service area’s internal consult funds or ‘Friends’ account. This will be determined at the Service Head’s discretion.

Paid release time from normal work schedule to attend professional development.

Each VTH technician will determine how they meet the required continuing education (CE) credits utilizing the allotted funds and will request paid release time from their normal schedule as appropriate. Leave must be approved through the process outlined below prior to spending university funds.

The technician may request paid release time from their normal schedule to attend qualifying professional development/continuing education events.

Approval for paid release time to attend such events may be granted based on operational needs. Note that paid release time means that, if approved, the employee will not apply benefits for time spent in professional development or for travel associated with professional development during normally scheduled work hours. Time spent outside of the normal schedule in professional development activities or in travel time associated with professional development activities will not be paid.

For employees who work an evening or night shift, and CE travel or attendance is scheduled for the following day; paid release time may be provided for the shift preceding the travel or attendance day. Employees returning from CE may receive paid release time for their next shift on a case-by-case basis and depending on operational need as determined by the Service Head. Employees should be given the opportunity to rest following a late arrival before returning to work.

Requesting to use CE funds and time:

The employee is required to complete the online CVM travel request prior to attendance to receive approvalfor use of funds and paid release time; this includes CE that is local or online. The employee will receive an email notification if the request has been approved, at which time travel arrangements may be made through the business office. 

Incorporating vacation with continuing education travel:

If vacation time is incorporated with CE travel, the employee must also complete a separate request for vacation leave with the dates and hours of the vacation. The travel request should encompass the entire trip and will overlap the vacation request. Appropriate check boxes should be completed to indicate vacation travel is included. When determining use of leave, it is generally accepted that one day before, and one day after the published conference dates is required for conference travel. 

Mandatory training that may or may not qualify as continuing education credit:

In cases where attendance at training sessions is mandatory and required by the unit (regardless of if it can count as a CE credit) and is not at the discretion of the employee, normal travel and overtime provisions will apply. For example, if a technician is required to attend training off-site for use of new equipment, it would be considered mandatory training and that employee will be reimbursed for all costs according to University policies and will be paid for all time spent in training and time spent traveling per University policies. 
Questions related to payroll and travel for civil service employees should be directed to the HRSC.

Definitions (if applicable)

CE- Continuing education

CVM travel request- Clinic Veterinary Medicines online application used to request usage of funds and leave

HRSC- Human Resource Service Center

Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) - The collective clinical services of the Large Animal Clinic, Midwest Equine, the Small Animal Clinic, and the Veterinary Medicine South Clinic.