Veterinary Technician

Vet Tech Training Requirements

To enter an associate degree program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED. Depending on the institution’s admissions guidelines, you may also need to take the ACT or SAT to be accepted by your school.

Proficiency in science, math, or biology is a plus. Working or volunteering in health care or with a local animal shelter or vet clinic can also help prepare future vet techs for their coursework and career.

Curriculum for Veterinary Tech Programs

Most degree programs for veterinary technicians require general education courses in addition to classes covering theory, science, and veterinary-specific subjects such as:

• Domestic Animal Anatomy
• Pharmacology
• Anesthesia
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Therapeutic Methods
• Practice Management

Hands On Training

As part of their programs, veterinary tech students also learn hands-on clinical skills via volunteer requirements or internships, where they gain experience performing duties such as providing care, preparing patients for treatment, and maintaining records under supervision. Clinical hour requirements vary depending on the degree program and location.

How Long Does it Take?

The length and timing of veterinary technology programs can vary. Specialties and clinical hours can extend the time it takes to complete your degree, while work experience and earned academic credits can speed up your schooling.

Full-time students graduate in about 2 years, while part-timers usually finish in three. Preparing for credential exams like the VTNE may add to your training time, too.

How Much Does it Cost?

An associate degree in Veterinary Technology from a community college averages around $300 per credit. Generally, four-year college or university programs, out-of-state schools, and private institutions are considerably more expensive.

Average Salary

How Much Can Veterinary Technicians Make?

The average wage for vet techs is about $36,850 per year. However, those who work in research facilities or laboratory settings often earn higher wages.

Those who pursue advanced training as veterinary technologists or choose to specialize in anesthesia, dentistry, or internal medicine often make significantly more.

Career Overview

What Do They Do?

A vet tech assists in several ways. Technicians perform the initial exam of the animal when it’s brought in, observing and reporting on its condition. They take the animal’s vital signs, draw blood, and get its medical history. Vet techs also perform x-rays, assist in research, and prep the animals for surgery.

Another role of a veterinary technician is to speak and interact with animal owners. This can involve everything from getting the pet’s medical history to explaining how to administer a certain medication. Vet techs can also educate the owners on how to properly care for an animal if it requires any special assistance once it leaves the facility.

Responsibilities

Depending on the office, a vet tech can be responsible for the grooming and bathing of the animals when they’re brought in to help ensure proper sanitation.

Some of the things this can involve are:

• Brushing and cutting hair
• Bathing
• Clipping of nails and claws

Job Duties?

A vet tech can be responsible for a number of different tasks. Whether they’re taking notes for the vet about an animal’s initial observation or administering first aid or vaccinations to a sick animal, vet techs are responsible for a number of different tasks such as:

• Restraining animals during exams and procedures
• Administering anesthesia
• Taking and process x-rays
• Performing lab tests, such as urinalysis
• Sterilizing and prep instruments for surgery

What Types of Skills Should Vet Techs Possess?

Vet techs should be comfortable working with animals. Since those in this position will be involved with different animals in a number of aspects, such as giving first aid, administering exams and grooming, these workers will spend a good portion of their day hands-on with clients.

Workers in this profession must also be able to communicate effectively. Being able to properly explain the conditions of a certain animal to a coworker or pet owner is very important. Also, a vet tech will need to be able to quickly and correctly understand instructions from the vet throughout the day.

Vets techs will also want to have good organizational skills. With so many different aspects to the job, veterinary technicians need to make sure each animal is getting the care that they came in for. Vet techs will take samples, administer different medications, and read from charts. If they’re disorganized, the patient could get the wrong treatment by mistake.

How Do Veterinary Technicians Maintain Their Workspace?

A vet tech maintains their workspace by keeping it clean and organized. In waiting rooms, vet techs can clean up fur and accidents from nervous animals coming in to the practice. Additionally, with different testing, grooming regiments, and treatments throughout the day, technicians can find themselves cleaning and sanitizing after every appointment.

Why Do Vet Techs Need to Have Patience?

Patience is also very important to a vet tech. Some animals will come into the office scared, excited or even undisciplined. It is their job to remain calm and focused in order to properly handle each situation that comes their way. Vet techs will also need patience when dealing with angry and upset pet owners, as well.

How Do Veterinary Technicians Promote Their Work?

Many pet owners looking for veterinary hospitals, clinics, and private practices can find their services online and even in the local newspapers. Small, locally owned practices or animal shelters can also receive recommendation through word of mouth to help spread word about their business.