55% of surveyed vet techs say their skills are underused, a Penn Foster report finds

Penn Foster released a report with The Harris Poll on October 22nd, 2026 that sets 36% of pet owners who have delayed or skipped vet care against 55% of credentialed veterinary technicians who say their clinical skills are underutilized. The online school, which trains vet techs, argues clinics could see more patients by letting technicians work to the full extent of their training.

"Our research suggests this isn't simply a pipeline issue," said Meghan Wells, a veterinarian and instructor in Penn Foster's Veterinary Technology program.

Owners say they would book a technician-only visit

Penn Foster's own survey of 509 U.S. pet owners, run in June, shows owners spending more and still struggling to get in.

• 57% spent more on pet wellness products and services over the past year.
• 28% waited three weeks or longer for an appointment, or could not get one.
• 77% rate credentialed technicians as extremely or very valuable.
• 65% have scheduled, or would be interested in scheduling, an appointment with a credentialed technician without seeing a veterinarian.

That last figure is the one practice owners should notice. Clinic traffic is soft too, with U.S. vet visits down 1.9% in the third quarter, according to CATalyst Council.

Technicians blame clinic culture before headcount

The Harris Poll surveyed 206 technicians online from June 8th to 15th, 2026, with a credible interval of plus or minus 6.8 points. 76% said current staffing structures limit appointments, and the obstacles they cited most sit inside the clinic.

• A culture that treats technicians mainly as assistants (44%)
• Clinic policies and protocols (42%)
• Veterinarian trust and comfort levels (38%)

80% of technicians say they are qualified to give vaccines and handle follow-ups on their own, and 78% say the same of routine wellness exams. 71% support a tiered care model that includes technician-led visits.

A New Jersey group already gives techs more work

Penn Foster points to Elevated Veterinary Solutions, a New Jersey veterinary care group that invests in its credentialed technicians in both clinical responsibility and pay. CEO Torie Madore said that trusting technicians with more of the work "improves efficiency, supports retention and elevates the experience for clients and patients alike."

Colorado went further. Voters there approved Proposition 129 in November 2024, creating a master's-level veterinary professional associate role, according to dvm360. Penn Foster's lever is narrower, since the credentialed technicians are already on staff.

For a practice owner, the test needs no new hire. Move vaccines, follow-ups and wellness exams to credentialed techs where the state practice act allows it, and see what happens to the schedule.

Source: Penn Foster via PR Newswire