Do you have a love for animals? Are you fascinated by the world of medicine? If you answered yes to these two questions then you may want to consider becoming a veterinary technician. This career field is one of the fastest growing career fields out of all occupations. Pet owners consider their pets as part of the family and are willing to pay for advanced medical care. It is estimated that the veterinary technician career will grow by forty-one percent or more over the span of the next ten years.
The veterinary technician is a very important and valuable part of the veterinary team. Most veterinary technicians will work in private practice clinics but some may choose to work in biomedical research or zoo and wildlife facilities. The duties that a veterinary technician will perform will depend on the facility.
In some veterinary clinics, the technician may draw blood from the animal, take and develop x-rays and assist the veterinarian in various procedures that are performed in the office. Some veterinary technicians will obtain and record patient histories.
They may also provide specialized nursing and educate families about the proper care of their pet. A senior veterinary technician may train other members of the staff and assist in surgical procedures.
If the veterinary technician chooses to work in biomedical research, he or she will administer medications orally or topically and prepare samples for laboratory examinations. The veterinary technician in the research setting is required to record information such as the animal’s genealogy, diet, weight, medications, food intake and clinical signs of pain and distress. The vet tech must be diligent and detailed oriented to work in a biomedical research facility.
Many people who go into the veterinary technician field are looking to work at a zoo or an aquarium. There is stiff competition for these jobs. The duties of a veterinary technician in a zoo would include assisting the vet with clinical cases and immobilizing large and small animals. A vet tech that is employed by a zoo will be treating a variety of species including many exotic animals. The work of a zoo veterinary technician is very exciting, but it can be dangerous at times.
How to Become a Vet Tech
A veterinary technician must attend an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited college. This is a two year degree in which the courses are taught in clinical and laboratory settings using live animals. After graduation the student will be able to take the credentialing exam in any state in the country.
A high school student that is interested in veterinary technology should focus on taking as many science and biology classes as possible to prepare them for college classes. It is a good idea to focus on as many math classes as possible.
Each state will regulate veterinary technicians differently. However, each state requires the passage of a credentialing exam after the coursework has been completed. By passing the credentialing exam you are assuring the public that you have sufficient knowledge to work in a veterinary hospital or clinic. The credentialing exam will consist of oral, written, and practical portions. Depending on the state, after passing the exam, you will become certified, licensed or registered. However, most states will use the National Veterinary Technician exam. The passing scores can be transferred from one state to the other as long as these states use the same exam.
If you are interested in working in a research facility it is recommended that you obtain the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science certification. This type of certification focuses on three levels of competence. These levels are facility management, animal husbandry and animal health and welfare. If you wish to become certified in this field you must satisfy a combination of education and experience requirements before you take this certification exam.
The demand for veterinary technicians is expected to exceed the supply because there are very few veterinary technician graduates each year. There are only about 131 colleges that offer the two year program at this time and since the class sizes are kept small, there are only 3,000 new veterinary graduates each year.
A veterinary technology career is perfect for you if you love animals, and you have a passion for their health. The great thing about this career is that it is virtually recession proof because pet owners still want the best for their pets.
