We’re heading into the final stretch of the year!

With that being said, where are you at with getting your required continuing education credits? Have you been intentional and proactive with earning them throughout the year or will you put it off until the last minute?

We’re all busy professionals, so it’s very easy to let things like CE fall by the wayside. But, doing so could impact your success.

If you’re looking to grow as a professional, get paid more, or become a more valuable asset to your practice, continuing education is the perfect opportunity to do just that. Especially if your practice covers the cost of some or all of it!

Here are some ways you can leverage continuing education in your career.

Add to Your Clinical Skillset

One of the biggest reasons we pursue continuing education is to keep our knowledge and skills up-to-date (not just to get CE credits!). There are always new technologies and treatments coming out. And you can use these to become more valuable to your practice.

Learning how to perform ultrasounds or new surgical techniques improves patient care and contributes to the clinic’s growth.

If you have a particular interest in advanced diagnostics, new treatments, or procedures, try to find workshops or wet labs that will provide you with hands-on learning.

Then you can take what you’ve learned back to your practice. If you are the reason a business can provide a service that your competitors don’t, then you add more value. And more value to the practice can equal higher pay.

Learn Soft Skills

Veterinary medicine isn’t just about the pets. It’s also about the people who bring them in. And a lot of us struggle with communicating the value of our services to pet owners.

Courses and workshops that help you develop better communication skills, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence can be game-changers.

If you build strong relationships with your clients, they are more likely to trust your recommendations, approve treatments, and return to the clinic. When you can demonstrate that you’re good with clients, you become a key player in driving clinic revenue.

And soft skills don’t only come in handy for working with clients. Having negotiation skills can give you an edge when asking for a raise.

Improve Your Business and Leadership Knowledge

Do you have a special interest in the business side of things? Maybe you want to step into a leadership or management position or be a practice owner one day.

Continuing education is a great way to learn ways to help streamline practice operations, build a positive team culture, and increase productivity.

When you can bring practical business knowledge to the table, whether it’s managing inventory or improving team workflow, you help the clinic run more smoothly and profitably. And that’s the kind of impact that gets noticed and can lead to higher-paying positions.

Get Certified

There are many certifications out there that provide continuing education credit for veterinarians and veterinary technicians!

And there are certifications for both the clinical side of things and the business side. Here are a few examples:

  • Fear Free Certification
  • RECOVER Certifications
  • Certified Veterinary Business Leader
  • VTS Certifications for vet techs
  • Compassion Fatigue Professional Certification
  • Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner

And the list goes on! Becoming certified in a specific area allows you to elevate patient and client care or build a positive practice culture, making a business stronger.

Don’t let continuing education be a missed opportunity for growth. If you find yourself signing up for the first CE that’s convenient or waiting until the last minute and doing whatever is available, we urge you to take a step back.

Really think about what your interests and goals are and take the time to find CE that aligns with them. It could open doors that you didn’t even know were there.

Meredith Jones, DVM, CSLP®, AFC®