What career paths exist for RVTs outside the clinic? Is pet insurance a smart pivot for vet techs ready for something different?

Join host Mallory Dickinson and co-hosts Jenn, Julia & special guest Phil Snow, RVT for a hilarious, engaging episode of Vet Tech Nerd Party as they unpack real-life burnout, the pivot into pet insurance, teaching as a way to give back, and the wild behind-the-scenes story of how a locked-door school shutdown helped spark OC Veterinary Assistant School.

Packed with laughs, relatable insights, and professional wisdom, this episode is perfect for vet techs, animal lovers, and veterinary professionals alike.

🎧 What you'll discover:

– VTNE vs California exam reality + why testing strategy matters long-term

– Burnout even in “great clinics”: emotional drain, hypervigilance, and the silent drive home

– Pet insurance as a pivot: what claim work/training is actually like (and why techs love it)

– How teaching started immediately after licensure — and how it shaped Phil’s career path

– The Heritage shutdown story, the 90/10 rule, and how they got students through anyway

– Building OC Veterinary Assistant School + accidental SEO win + expanding into Lake Forest

– Phil’s best advice for techs: perseverance, durability, and not quitting over one bad moment

🐾 Who will love this episode:

– Veterinary technicians & assistants

– Animal lovers & pet owners

– Veterinary students & recent graduates

– Vet med professionals seeking humor & community

– Techs considering leaving clinics but wanting to stay in vet med (insurance, teaching, training)

– Anyone curious how vet tech programs and licensing pathways actually work behind the scenes

🎬 Timestamps:

00:00 – Part 2 kickoff + VTNE vs California exam talk (and why some techs had to re-test)

06:30 – “Unicorn clinic” reality check: management pressure + burnout still happens

13:30 – Hypervigilance at home + emotional exhaustion (silent drive home vibes)

20:30 – Bernie stories: foreign bodies, “bad dogs,” and clinic culture memory lane

27:00 – Pivot to pet insurance: VPI/Nationwide, trainer life, and why some techs thrive there 33:30 – Teaching right after licensure + interview/CPR presentation story

39:30 – Heritage campus shutdown: locked doors, 90/10 rule, and finishing students anyway

46:00 – Launching OC Veterinary Assistant School + naming/SEO luck + expansion to Lake Forest

51:30 – Closing advice: perseverance, staying flexible, and the crew’s sendoff

🔔 Stay Connected:

– Like this video if you learned something new!

– Drop your questions or share your clinic stories in the comments.

– Subscribe & hit the bell icon to never miss an episode.

Welcome to the Nerd Party. We're not okay – and that's totally okay.

🎧 Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

📸 Follow us: @Pacific.Lens.Studios

📥 Contact: info@pacificlensstudios.com

Season 2 Ep. 9

#VetTechNerdParty #PetInsurance #VTNP #VetTech #RVT