But the minimal level of care she was able to provide for them was not fulfilling, so she transitioned into a job as a veterinary assistant at a Humane Society clinic.It was her work there that sparked an interest in becoming a veterinary technician.

She enrolled at Yuba College and soon found herself in the technician student internship program at UC Davis. She spent one day a week for her last semester of school with the Companion Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery Service. Johnston studied under faculty and staff learning exotics handling and basic treatments like checking vital signs to vaccine injections to more advanced procedures like surgical monitoring.

“Most of my training at school was with cats and dogs, so working with exotics was a huge learning curve,” Johnston said. “But everyone was so supportive and taught me more about exotics than I could have ever imagined.”
 

Most of my training at school was with cats and dogs, so working with exotics was a huge learning curve.”

In May 2024, Johnston wrapped up her semester at UC Davis, completed her technician program at Yuba College, and earned her RVT credential. The internship with the exotics service worked out so well that she was offered a full-time position on their team.
 

Now several months into her new career, Johnston says one of her favorite aspects of working with exotics is the wide variety of species in their caseload.

“Our patients are so varied that it’s always a pleasant surprise when you see the schedule,” said Johnston, emphasizing the extensive list including birds, rabbits, turtles, snakes, hamsters, guinea pigs, lizards, fish, and much more. “This is what makes the hospital such a great learning environment for everyone, but especially for technicians like me who are just starting their careers.”
 

“Our patients are so varied that it’s always a pleasant surprise when you see the schedule. This is what makes the hospital such a great learning environment for everyone.”

One of the responsibilities of technicians is to help train DVM students who are on their clinical rotations throughout the teaching hospital.

“I especially like that part of my job,” said Johnston. “Prior to working here, I tutored veterinary technician students, so that skill set translated well to working with DVM students.”

Johnston earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Bakersfield in 2018 with the intent of becoming a marriage and family therapist.

“Before I was able to start a graduate program, I fell into veterinary medicine, and the rest is history,” she said. “My degree is not going to waste, though. I find the theories I learned in my psychology degree are very helpful in understanding the behavior of my animal patients, as well as their humans.”

Johnston credits her early success to the support she receives from the senior technicians. Going forward, she hopes to continue to expand her knowledge base and pursue a Veterinary Technician Specialist credential – an advanced certificate in a specific veterinary discipline.